The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-23
AN EAST SIDE PHILOSOPHERS.
The Old Scissors Grinder who Makes ConiI
and Peddlers' Supplies.

and Pedd1ers' Supplies.
A certain block in a lower east side street
boasts among It's long-settled residents a scis-
sors grinder who has climbed 10 the dignity OF
owning and running a manufacturing plant.
yet pursues his old calling still, Juggling his
archaic-looking machine with Its jinelinG bells
about from door to door In the uptown streets
and in country districts. Just as he did before
fortune favored him. The plant occupies a
queer, below-.he-level work place In the rear
Of q big tenement.
Il make nearly all the chestnut roast
ers' stands that go on the streets and all the
scissors-grindlng stands and bootblack stands
says the old man. II don't make many boot
black chairs nowadays. They're made at the
big places. but these small stands that are
handy to carry from place to place and can be
pumped down on any corner that happens. I
make allthose. The rags and bottles men get the
frames and bells for their carts from me also.
and I make light trays and boxes for the hand
peddlers to carry about. I've been in the bust
ness twelve years at this same stand and can
sell all / make. II you know how to buy your
materials right it's q good business, but some
times think I make the things too good. They
last so we'll that it lessons the demand for new
ones. Some Of those mamie goats you sec on
Roats-are old stagers. used season after sea-
son: | do a lot OF repairing, and painting from
stands stsa5d to so Sfa n Il S ssa 1 pslnt o ts.n w tsshrs %s1tS
makes them look. clean and costs less, There's
Oiotheshorses. ironing boards. towel So racks and and
Sse ssss 1Ssss q .a Sc s s1s ssSild 1eS t 5SHsses. legs
fms io thyi oq iit HGa shop.d th hs Vent l could On. d make so Sof-
tines 1 turn out ssG many y as sS1 dozen a eq mo s0Re-
children's collins for the Jews. You know it's
ssaipst The Jews r5,elislsn T. have ine and OK.
put on them. inst the plain. common WOOD.
with nothing put on to hide t. and no lining
flowers. like most people like to have. Just
f ha u.s. mo op9in g;h a ySo n nEd peddier was in for a
plain SS3 CONN. as cheap as Tco9id make L. It
thing Sy his dead. but because he and ii bis Vile VIE
arc old country orthodox people. and they be-
.ss body WA hinder the spirit in getting to
Are there, many scissors grinders going
about now2 Yes. lust the same as ever. I
out on the road through the country. and il a
man knows his business and has good man
RSs ssSi and scf GS1 turn IN d bis hand Taia,v to ether things
9 l had no notion Of grinding scissors.
there was a better chance in America. I came
here and found no chance at all. besides. l
get work after a long time and had spent ali
WOOu SUN. borrowed the tOOlS TO work with,
and made me q scissors-Rrinding outfit, the
same framework that l carry about with me
now: / was above my business when / first
took to Twas ashamed OF the MACHINE on my
back and OF the bells jingling-but I've learned
better since.
/" I made the first money to. get my tools and
hire this, place. and atterward to hire the help
you see, by scissors grinding. and I never mean
20 give ~ up until I'm too old. I've got regular
circuits i make out through the country each
year. and It has always seemed to me that since
got. more humble things / have prospered.
Americas the best country for the italian, and
IL he's willing to work he'll get along"
This scissors grinder and manufacturer OF
cofins. mamie goats and household wares
is of distinctly higher type than the ordi-
nary itinerant peddler. His face is OF a
thonghttul cast and on the bare little table
are papers and also books whose, we'll
Whatever his difficulties with. English first.
he has now mastered it completely. and only the
foreign accent and q certain quick excitability
Of manner and gesture betray his race, 'Th
honor is mine." he says promptly In response
TO the visitors acknowledgment of the inter
view and bnres his white head with quite a
chevalier's air. Whatever philosophy ~Rustains
the old man and keeps him cheerful and gentle
hammered In his dinRy cellar workroom in that
undressing neighborhood IL a mystery, one Of
the occult secrets OF east side culture. Perhaps
on his scissorS-grindink pilgrimages about tho
country no takes In enough OF fresh mir and
sounds to last him over and fortify him for the
fray. which may be the reason he clings SO to
the calling when now he has n better paying
business,