The Red Cloud chief., 1897-04-23

10 Az III
through the Fifth avenue of the east
side. Such ingenuity is shown in the
wording and construction Of these bar
gain bulletins that the attention of even
the most fastidious shopper cannot fail
TO be attracted. Few people outside
the "Bowery set" have any idea of the
cheapness with which 1t is possible to
live in this city. With a dime. break
fast; a full course" dinner for 13
cents, or a dinner less pretentious for
3 cents; a supper for 10 cents and a
room and bath for the same price, the
Bowery ledger estimates that he can
live well on so cents a day. With this
income he can procure the suggestion
OF i~ntoxication and often the real arti-
Gle Itself, by the judicious mixing of
Scent WHISTLES and 2-cent beers after
he has paid for his three meals and a
bed. But the Bowery ledger must spend
something for dress. Bingham shirts
and sweaters, jean pants and second
hand shoes, great as their durability Is,
do not last forever. They must be re-
newed occasionally and this renewal
costs money. Despite the fact that the
Bowery ledger is tied down by few
conventionalities, his hair will grow,
and, while 1t is not necessary TO. him
to have 1t trimmed as often as some
others, 1t will attain such length at
times as to render its removal impera-
tive. To indulge in these luxuries of
dress and toilet the ledger must fore
go an occasional breakfast or dinner
or sleep all night under a stoop instead
OF In a cot, which is not the actual
hardship it might appear to be. II it is
q hat he wants a little economy prac-
ticed In this way will soon enable him
to lay by a sufficient sum to purchase
a derby of the "forget-me-not" block,
which seems to be the prevailing style
on the Bowery. So il is that the Bow
cry shops exist and placard their doors
and windows to attract %covetous
glances and then the patronage of the
ledger. There Is a perpetual bargain
day on the Bowery. One enterprising
clothier has a lashy suit of checker
board fashion on exhibition in a glass
case In front of his store. The suit is
advertised as the Just Tell Them That
You Saw Me" style and the price is
marked down from SIS to $2.9S In plain
figures. "a nobby hat thrown in with
this suit on account of special sale to-
day" is the way the sign reads. There
are several "cleaning-out sales of over
coats In progress in the same vicinity.
--latest styles of London listers, Just
imported" are advertised as selling
from 81 up to 81. New shoes Of the
Piccadilly lasts are offered for sale at
so cents a pair in one place which is
little more than a hole in the wall,
although IL sports a gaudy glass front.
The tonsorial bargain combat is one
Of the features Of the Bowery. Numer-
Gus BARRIERS poles bear placards which
read: "Shaves, plain, 3 cents; bay rum,
5 cents" The ledger may have his
locks refulgent or otherwise trimmed
and scented for 5 cents. He has his
choice, too. OF having them cut by ma
chine or by scissors. Machine Cut or
All with Shears for a Nickel" is the
way one of the signs read. "A Clean
Towel Guaranteed to Every Customer"
Is the additional inducement held out
by some of the BARRIERS. There are
~"tonsorial emporiums," too, and STU
dos of tonsorial art" which differ lit
tie in appearance from the ordinary
shop. tur CO a rule these places charge
5 cents foi a plain shave" and z cents
for shave with bay rum" feeling that
they are justified. no doubt, in lacking
on the additional 2 cents because of
the superior dignity of the name in car
mine letters over their doors. The
Bowery restaurant signs and bills OF
fare make interesting studies. AS a
rule a turkey dinner is rated as almost
a luxury, for 20 cents is the price usual
ly appended to this item of the daily
bulletin. For a roast beef dinner 3
cents seems to be a common price. Due
respect is paid, too, to any religious
sentiments the ledger may have. for
on Friday q "fsb dinner" is offered for
8 cents. A full course dinner with
two vegetables and napkin for 10 cents
Is advertised In front OF one place
where there is a d~eafening clatter of
dishes and an odor Of cookery that
smells to heaven at all hours OF the day
and night. The hotels. Raines law and
otherwise. also afford a fruitful field
for observation to n one interested
In Bowery business methods. Rooms
range In price from 10 to rs cents.
"hot and cold baths or shower baths
are offered to all customers free of
charge. The rooms" usually mean
compartments six by eight, with par
titions so thin that they sway and
creak with every draft Of air. So far
as the penny Raines law sandwich is
concerned, that is come to be regarded
as an established institution and calls
for no special comment. The one-cent
sandwich is a fitting accompaniment
to the Bowery beverages. Be It known
that the Bowery ledger may be willing
to 90 without an occasional breakfast