The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-10
HIRED DRESS SUITS.
hiEY ARE MUCH IN EVIDENCE AT A
A CERTAIN KIND OF BALLS.
A Great Business, With Good Profits and
Not without It's Humors-Information
Gathered at One of the Bowery "Empo-
RUINS" by Newspaper Man.

L @seHs' ~ % 1Ns"sPaFef
"Dress suits to hire This is a sign
that one sees frequently nowadays. II
represents growing business. Generally
IL 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 1t invaded Broadway, but Sew
enth and Eighth avenues TEEN with these
alluring offers, the Bowery hasn't block
that doesn't show one specimen, Sixth
avenue Is pretty well represented, and al
most anywhere on the east side down
| town man can run across one of these
signs in few minutes walk from any
given point. AS rule, the dress suit
renting industry is conducted in connec-
tion with the costumers business. Some
times il 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 temper rily obtain
superior evening outfit at prices some
what lower than the ordinary run. Thus
doth tho blithe and merry pawnbroker
improve each shining hour and get dou-
BILE interest on his loan.
But the main business is done in the
NNcN@sA hNheAhS PAuStos Is u
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 a whining tone:
God any old gloze do cell, mizderP /
bays der besd brizes."
If the reply is in the affirmative, he
comes around the next day to the address
given and offers So rs for an evening suit
that cost 500 and has been worn only half
a 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 value, 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 let's 1t go for So, 81,
SO 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
~ up TO $50, as the case may be. His
profit is there. If it is out of repair, per-
haps the proprietor spends 81 getting it |
fixed up. If 1t isn't, so much the better.
Once in stock, 1t represents a capital of |
u. 90 to 81, or, in extra cases, of SO. 90 per |
night. A good sized concern carries per |
haps 100 dress suits, costing in all about |
81, 900. During the lively season the deal |
er will rent probably an average of seven |
suits night, bringing him in perhaps |
SIG. 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'' I
went reporter recently in search of points
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
yited him to sit down and wait, saying:
You have come at u good time There's
a big ball over in Turn hall tonight, and
the boys are coming in every five min
utes.''
1t wasn't that long beforea thick shout
dered young fellow staggered in and said
that he wanted dress suit The proprie-
tor sized him up with a professional eye.
Stand upon the block, please" said
40. Take off your coat and vest"
The visitor obeyed, looking as if he was
about to be executed. Out came coat
rom back room. Then the proprietor
to jam and poke the husky
youth about in a manner which would
nave provoked some men to pugnacity,
nut the victim, being strange to his local
ty, took his medicine without a murmur.
Finally, after "a particularly vicious prod
n the abdomen-to make the waistcoat
'et right-the filter asked:
How does that suit your"
The youth lifted first one arm and then |
he other very cautiously, his fingers stiffly
A tentative shake of his shout
lers convinced him that he was still I'M
lislocated in that respect. Critically he
urveyed himself in a large mirror.
up in the air. said he hoarsely.
Wot's the stripep"
lone fifty" was the reply, "but as
ont know you I'll have to have IS de-
osit.'
DeposlU me eyer quOth the visitor |
auntily. Eve got the backin."
Walking over to his discarded coat, he
reduced letter, which he handed to the
ealer. 1t was from well known east
ide politician vouching for him. So he
ot the suit, which he took away in a
aper after receiving an assuring reply to
is question as to whether 1.-THE bloomers
on the fit
That's kind of business we have to
o." said the dealer when his visitor had
eparted, leaving s1.50 behind, land we
ont lose anything on those risks either.
he politician who backs that fellow is [
God for any price. There's no danger of
is running away With it, but likely he'll
ct mixed into n scrap, and somebody'll ,
Up that coat up the back. Then he'll
ring 1t in here and leave 1t. There'll be
dozen other suits rented here to men
acked by the same politician, and proba-
ly there'll be more damage to clothing.
ii reckon it all up and send a note to tho
and he'll settle on a basis fair
, both of us. wouldn't soak him with
stiff price, because IL l did I'd lose all
Is trade. New York Sun.