The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-06
PAY Cash cLO'.


Manhattan's so-cailed Ghetto con-
tains nearly 100000 Russian. Polish.
hungarian and Roumanian Jews, Its
most active centres are Iudlow, Orch
ard, Hester and Bayard streets, which,
for density OF population. PICTURESQUE
squalor and the Babel-like Jabber OF
It's denizens probably cannot % dupli-
Gated in any other city Of the world.
It's domain extends from Rutgers to
Fourth street and from the Bowery 10
the East river II Is from this region
that the heavily bearded gatherers OF
cast-off clothing come forth daily and
tramp through the fashionable resi-
dence streets droning their monotonous
PAY cash clo'." at brief intervals. as
they wistfully gaze at doors and win
dows eager for the coveted cali"
These men are of unmIstakable Abra-
hamic origin, and by reason OF their
past prosecutions have become exceed
ingly shrewd and suspicious. While in
quest of information reporter came
across ''Reb" tan abbreyiation Of rabbi)
Shimshah, who In his Yiddish jargon
said that he came with numerous
progeny from Wilma, Russia, where he
had been a popular '5aldarsher" Qec-
turer), but on his arrival he found Lud-
low street and the Beth Hammedrash"
blouse OF Learning) chockfull OF bal
darshers" OF all sizes and ages; so, like
Othello. his occupation was gone.
To make ends meet he resolved to
join the "old clio pilgrims, and having
procured an old bag made OF bed tick
ing OF the regulation pattern, which he
rolled up and carried under his arm.
and with 20 cents as cash capital, he
was fully equipped for his new enter
prise. Luckily he had a call from
servant girl on the first uptown street
he struck. and his eager. eyes We're
gladdened by her display OF four COM
piete suits, and other odds and ends,
which her mistress had told her to get
rid OF. "Reb' Shimshah bargained for
the lot, while appealing 10 the girls
sympathies with fairy tales OF dying
wife and Ave sick. hungry children.
Finally the girl accepted the - Of
fered for the lot. and then "Reb' Shim-
shah selected the best suit and begged
the girl TO let him take II with him and
leave the 75 cents as deposit until his
return for the rest. With his booty he
rushed home, and with the aid OF his
family proceeded to "klobber" (clean)
and fix up the suit, after which he bore
it TO Hester street and sold 1t to sec
ond-hand storekeeper for $3.50. Then
he returned and secured the remainder
OF his bargain, which he said ''vos
goot days work." He said that in Will
ma he made a great deal OF money by
combining pety with liquor. On Satur-
day he was a "tzaddick" (righteous),
while during the week he vended ''vod-
XII (sprits) with much profit. explain
ing that he left Russia because the
Muscovite police had offended him In
Efforts to make him obey local revenue
laws Of which he disapproved
1t Is in the heart OF the Jewish quar-
ter that old clothes find their market.
In London Petticoat lane is noted for
its Exchange" a large brick building
whose owner has made a fortune by
charging a halfpenny admission from
each visitor. Paris has Its temple,
where a large wholesale business in old
clothes Is the daily routine. The trade
here is centred chiefly in Hester and
Bayard streets.
The female "old clo " gatherers are
more fortunate than the men. as they
advertise and depend for their calls
upon responses by mail, which contain
as a rule appointments. They say that
for consideration ladies' maids great
ly aid the female buyers by persuading
their mistresses to get rid OF all. old
fashioned clothing. This is taken to the
buyers shop. where a dressmaker and
sewing machine. remodel. them Sld
make them very salable.
Both the male and female gatherers
OF old clothes carry novelties In trinkets
and imitation laces. which they seek to
trade off for the garments to be pur-
chased, and then the profits are enor-
nous. PAY cash clo'" is a. great in
dustry, as the demand among the man.
ual workers for secondhand clothes is
said to be increasing.-The Sun.