Milford chronicle., 1895-11-29

/ taking into consideration thofact that the
I planes are procurablc at comparatively
! low price l45-and that it is necessary
to purchase new oneonly onoeeaoh year.
Is very profitable especially to class Of
persons who, in their nativo country, con
slider themselves well TO 60 If they arc able
TO earn 40 or 90 cents day.
The Italian organ grinder is an inter
esting being. He IS Industrious, enter
prising, frugal and, above all, law abid-
ing. His liic is simple TO a remarkable
degree, but does not reach the point Of self
denial. He is very little given to dissipa.
ton, and his earnings, for the most part,
are placed away safely, where they may be
used in the future to bring him comfort in
his native land. He is at all times look
ing for the "main chance" and never
loses an opportunity to earn the small
boys and little girls penny.
Germany, Switzerland and France. ow-
ing to their close proximity to Italy, are
the most attractive countries to emigrants
from Italy but the United States by no
means loses its share Of them
A remarkably largo number Of them
land on tho shores Of this country, but 80
per cent Of them do not remain. Their
ulterior object is to amass sufficiently
return TO Italy and spend tho remainder Of
their lives in comfort and without labor.
This is especially the case with the street
piano players. It is seldom that any one
Of them romans hero longer than six or
seven years.
Their mode of living here is very cheap
Their dress is neglected .dmost to the point
Of responsiveness, and their table is meager.
Macaroni and spaghetti, it is true, have
their charms for them, but it is seldom in
deed that these two products of the sunny
country are found on their tables. The
expense is too great, they say, and it is
only ON special occasions that the two
dishes are eaten. Their main means of
sustenanoe consists Of boiled beef and
bread, with small quantity Of beer occa-
sionally Any one who visits an italian
pianist's house can find at any time a
quantity Of beef, which boils necessarily.
This forms dish somewhat in the nature
OF q broth, and, together with a small por-
ton of the beef, is eaten with great deal |
Of satisfaction. The expense is somewhere I
in the noighborhood Of 10 cents day, and I
the cost Of living after this fashion does
not exceed 25 cents day.
The musicians labors begin quite early |
and end late, At S O'Clock they are upon /
the street, all travelling in different direo- /
tions. The instruments are not housed .
until at night, when tho time limit pre-
scribed BY law expires. During this period .
there is worry little rest. Not little time
is consumed in wheeling the pianos from
place to place. which is no easy task.
There is an agreement between the or
gan grinders as to the route to DO pursued
by each one. TO each piano is allotted a
certain territory, and the pianist is warned
not to trespass upon the precincts Of his
fellow musician Occasionally an in
fraction Of this understanding occurs. The
down town districts, however, arc free
from restriction, and each piano player is
allowed full swing ON any street he desires.
There are 10 regular rates, but a cent
piece generally warrants the playing OF
about ten selections. Washington Star