Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-20
HIRED DRESS SUITS.
THEY ARE MUCH IN EVIDENCE At A
A CERTAIN KIND OF BALLS.

- WIN VJlN NtN0 Vt 0N660s
A Great Business, With Good Profits and
Not without It's Humors-
Gathered 1t Ono Of the Bowery "Empo
RUINS" by Newspaper Man.
"Dress suits to hire This is sign
that one sees frequently nowadays. II
represents growing business Generally
1t is found on the side streets in such dis.
tricts as lie between the slums and the
better localities, or on the second rate ave-
nues Fifth avenue has not yet displayed
it, nor has it invaded Broadway, but Sew
enth and Eighth avenues TEEN with these
alluring offers, the Bowery hasn't a block
that doesn't show one specimen, Sixth
avenue is pretty well represented, and al
most anywhere on ii east side down
town man can run aG.vss one of these
signs in few minutes walk from any
given point As rule, the dress suit
renting industry is conducted in connec-
ton with the costumer's business. Some
times it Is side issue Of the ready made
clothing trade, and there are not a few
pawnshops where citizen who is known
to the proprietor may temporarily obtain
superior evening outfit at prices some
what lower than the ordinary run. Thus
doth the blithe and merry pawnbroker
improve each shining hour and get a do,i-
bic interest on his loan.
But the main business Is done in the
regular renting places. Profitable is a
mild term for it. Barring reasonable ac-
cidents, trade in this line which is well
worked up pays percentage that would
make most gilt edged bank stock look like
tinsel instead Of the real thing Anybody
can find out where the supply for the bust
ness comes from by wandering about in
the down town business districts. Sooner
or later he will be approached by greasy,
insinuating, nasal voiced, suave unshaven
young Hebrew-there are many in the
business, but the type varies not a whit
who says to him in whining tone:
'God any old gloze do zell, mizder? ]
bays der besd brizes.
If the reply is 10 the affirmative, he
comes around the next day to tho address
given and offers So rs for an evening suit
that cost 500 and has been worn only half
dozen times, and he weeps bitterly when
told that the offer isn't good enough He
will take any kind Of clothing provided
he can get 1t at one-tenth of its "aluo, but
the dress suit is his particular prey Let
him but scent one, and there is no rest for
him until he buys it. One thing he will
not do, however, and that is pay more than
$40 for any suit. OF course the majority
OF his attempts at purchase are failures,
but he frequently runs across an outgrown
or somewhat worn suit of evening clothes
whose owner carelessly lets it go for So 81,
IS or $40, the last point only being reach
ed after heartrending lamentations by the
buyer. Straightway he takes his purchase
to the rent shop, where he sells it for from
s. up to $50, as thct case may be. His
profit is there. If 1t is out of repair, per-
haps the proprietor spends 81 getting it
fixed up. II it isn't so much the better.
Once in stock, it represents capital of
81. 90 TO 81, or, In extra cases, Of So. so per
night. A good sized concern carries per
haps 100 dress suits, costing in all about
81 200. During the lively season the deal
er will rent probably an average Of seven
suits night, bringing him in perhaps
Sl2. As the busy season extends over
three months his 81 900 investment brings
him in 81 900 each winter without count
ing the spring and fall trade in weddings
To one of the Bowery 'emporiums'
went a reporter recently in search of points
regarding the peculiar trade. The presid
ing genius of the place, after explaining
some of the details. among which Were
not the financial statistics given above, in
vited him to sit down and wait, saying:
You have come at good time. There S
big ball over in Turn hall tonight, and
the boys arc coming in every five min
utes."
1t wasn't that long before thick shout
dered young fellow staggered in and said
that ho wanted a dress suit. The proprie-
tor sized him up with a professional eye,
"Stand upon the block. please" said
he. Take off your coat and vest
The visitor obayed, looking as if he was
about to bfr executed. Out came coat
from Il baoS room. Then the proprietor
proceeded TO jam and poke the husky
youth about in Il manner which would
have provoked some men to pugnacity.
but the victim, being strange to his local,
ity, took his medicine without a murmur.
Finally, after !; particularly vicious prod
in the abGomen-to mako the waistooat
set right-the filter asked:
"How does that suit you?"
The youth lifted first one arm and then
the other very cautiously, his fingers stifily
extended. a tentative shake of his shout
ders convinced him that he was still IN
dislocated in that respect Critically he
surveyed himself in a large mirror.
Up in the air." said he hoalsely.
"Wot's the stripe:'
lone fifty" was the reply, 'but as |
don't know you III have TO have s. de-
posit."
Deposit me eye!" quoth the visitor
jauntily. 1--WE got the backin. -
Walking over to his discarded coat, he
produced letter, which he handed to the
dealer. 1t was from we'll known east
side politician vouching for him. So he
got the suit, which he took away in "A
paper after receiving an assuring reply to
his question as to whether 1.-THE bloomers
is on the fit"
That's kind of business we have to
do" said the dealer when his visitor had
departed, leaving 81 so behind, land we
don't lose anything on those risks either
The politician who backs that fellow is
good for any price There's no danger of
his running away With it, but likely he'll
get mixed into a scrap. and somebody'll
rip that coat up the back. Then he'll