The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-15
The Only Headquarters for Military Clothing.

park-loungers' estimate of this grotesque
calling, and add their measure of con-
tumely to the not especially happy lot or
the average sign carrier. Hack drivers and
waggish cabmen slash at his banner or
head topping with their whips as they
drive by and young bullies gibe at MIN.
The drivers whip cash the sign and get
the poor bearer in trouble, and sometimes
he answers his tormentor with a blow
that precipitates a street fight and results
in an arrest. That night there is one sign
missing from the count of those unbound
from the banner-packers shoulders, as
they file one by one into the narrow quar-
ters where the signs are stored. Men IKE
" TO get into the police courts are not de-
sirable employees Only the sign-bearer
who is patient under insult and avoids be-
ing drawn into street brawls Is wanted
so the vast majority patrol their beat III
tie benumbed, unnoticing fashion that IL
best calculated to avoid unpleasant COM
ment.
The members of this humble army OF
sign-bearers, who patrol the main avenues
of the town from the Battery to Harlem
and from Eighth avenue to RiVingtoh
street although tramping each separate
" and soIemnly In his own prescribed DIS
trict nave a common bond TO unite them,
and that is the universal intuitiVe recoSm-
ton of the various slips and packshuhhsS
that have reduced each and all OF theih 70
this dernier resort. Incompetence Is, Oh
course. one main cause, Ill luck OF au-
verse circumstances another, but the lK-
ing for drink enters prominently IN the ms
torv If their misdeeds and misadVenture'
Numbers az them behave beauufuiiy LOT
months get together as much as NV u
80 and then, unable to w'thstaha tih9
dizzv hight of affiuence, spend the ehtne
sum in one great celebration that u'slSi9
their employers interest ana leaves
tau If rnud-smirched banners and trade
trainings as tell-tale witnesses Oh 'l"li
might. So they are cut adrift once inore
M army as a whole is recruited from
,bo ranks of a midde-aged and settied, II
not a sober-going, constituency. Boys are
ennnloyed as stop-gaps at times put 'hey
are too prone to mischief 10 make await
abIe material Moreover, they are hot
strong enough to carry the banner. ooine
few firms have lately dressed UP women
In Igh@ advertising gear-that is Win no
tangible burden to carry outright put ohe
hrand of their calling blazoned eonspicu-
C,isIv on some detail of their attire or APP
nurtenance. Half-a-dozen young women
dressed In brilliant plaid gowns, ana wear
ing exaggerated sun bonnets, nave pech
rcncb in evidence during the last rev Gays
in certain busy parts of Broadway. lheir
sun bonnets and capcs arc decorated WIN
letters announcing the virtues OF nc"
natent medicine which is described at
Greater length in the yellow hand-bills Of
gared to passers-by The brotherhood OF
banner-packers is doubtless much disturb
ed nv this invasion of their field OF work.
but they may as well take IL phhosophi-
cally as sign of the times; Tor the noors
NJ the various occupations, from the nlSh-
est to the lowest, have one by one Deeh
opening to women who have entered eager
TO- hn
as 20 the proper limits of their sphere
However repugnant such a spectacle
NAV he to others, the sign-bearers them
sslves are glad to have the work to DO
even in awkward guise; and cases are
cited where the calling patiently pursued
led to more hopeful conditions. Forelgn-
ers unacquainted with the Enghsh tongue
or with American customs are CAD OF
merely mechanical occupation until they
can find their bearings, and men out Of
work volunteer temporarily rather than
remain idle. These are willing TO carry
banner. but refuse TO Put on any clown
like garb that may go with it. The mere
carving of q banner, whatever It's start
ling purport is regarded as less humiliat-
ing than 10 be tricked out In harness OF
odd trappings that not only interferes
with the wearer's movements, but that IS
SO ridiculous as to create stir wherever
he appears.
The sandwich man prays for sunshine
and clear weather on days calculated to
damage his letterings and equipment his
services are dispensed with and his source
~ revenue cut off All trades, from cob
bling 70 Matchmaking, from tailoring to
typewriting and dentistry, now have their
banners abroad in the land, and the num-
her of moving testimonials to the value Of
cough mixtures, nerve tonics and baking
powders increases from day 20 day. The
cafes and restaurants, however, are In the
lead and the most glarlngly attired re-
tainers are enlisted In their service. The
love of fantastic display is a craze that
grows with what 1t feeds on. and superin-
tendents of trade establishments revel in
the chance afforded for showing off fresh
oonceits in this uncouth but startingly ef-
fectjye mode of advertisement.