Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-04-04
HUMAN SIGNBOARDS.
THs MEN WHO CARRY The BANNERS
FOR ADVERTISERS.
one Of the Brotherhood who Per~ra-
bulate. New Hork's streets Tells
of the Methods and Rule. which
Govern His Peculiar Occupation

of the Methods and Rule. which
Govern Hfs Peculiar Occupation
His aspect was that OF a creature
hopelessly gone 20 seed His move
ments betrayed n ustlessness which
fiery. sodden face. framed IN unkeDpt
white hair and beard denoted was born
OF mortal apathy Prom bis neck hung
q cheap nickel clock over his slender.
narrow shoulders loomed a great oil
cloth banner Inscribed with gilt letters,
which advertised 70 State streets null
titude the eminent superiority OF some
body's shoes. Tor be was q peripatetic
syn man who went floating along IN
the human sea until an eddy tossed
him into a side street with a precipl-
taVion due perhaps 70 the presence OF q
dingy. forlorn little saloon OF evil and
farreachinE odors. into which the Gu
rious observer invited him that be
might get 2 story.
who an T. Nobody but the vet
eran hammer luECer 10 State street
Otherwise. Viewed as an atom OF the
social system I'm a blot child Of the
gutter and all the usual rot which an
emotional Imagination may be able 70
supply. ! never was long on adjec-
tives. and sentiment and I parted com
pany years ago But as say. In the
veteran banner packer in this human
wilderness. for I have been az II
through storm and sunshine for seven
years and that wiki few Interruptions
20 appease the longings Of moral de-
Hnquency common 20 the race of ban
ner packers Appear 70 have some
educationf don't know. Maybe I
had once. but I'm too much OF a Dbl.
lOsOpher for Renaissance"
Better remove your-your banner"
suggested the curious observer as they
entered the dingy. forlorn little saloon.
You'll feel easier"
Cant" replied the red faced packer
laconicaNy- Locked IL"
Locked IN, You don't mean ftTp
Yes. that's gospel fact continued
the packer. edgiDg himself through the
narrow door. You VIII notice that
the shoulder pieces attached 20 nv
banner are part Of an iron band which
goes around my waist Al the back
the band works on hinges. and II IS
locked on me By the foreman OF the
banner packers when / start out in
The morning / come back 20 the start
Ing point al noon. and the foreman
unlocks them. leaving me free for an
hour 20 eat n ] have the price OF 2
Dorsel or so. or 10 loaf around wishing
was some one else. with my teeth
aching from too close an application
10 truHes and pheasants. II / haven't.
Then al ! O'Clock I am locked into ny
iron frame again and set forth 20 pacI
the banner until g o'clock. when my
work for the day ends and / am AZ
liberty 20 20 70 my lodgings"
virtually. then you arc a prisoner
during your working hoursrn said the
curious observer.
virtually. yes" responded the ban
ner packer I am one Of the hun
creds who are patrolling the streets Of
New York today In iron frames and
VINO are Just as much imprisoned as
our friends in Sing Sing OF the male
factors who parade 10 ball and chain.
For certain hours we move I'D and
down locked 10 irons. and. although
our shoulders may become racked with
pain. we have no relief except al the
noon hour and quiz ~ time. unless
we return between times and resign
our jobs"
Why are you locked in the frames -
Because the advertisers demand il
Many months ago they discovered that
q majority Of their peripatetic sign
men were dishonest and availed them.
selves Of every opportunity 10 hide
their signs as soon as they were out
OF sight Of the establishments employ.
ing them"
Are banner packers governed By
any fixed rulesT'
To be sure we are. We are not al
lowed 10 walk the thoroughfares II
couples. and we must not keep our ban
ners out in a rain which seems we
enough 10 do them serious injury. W,
are forbidden 70 talk TO persons wht
accost US during working hours anC
are particularly enjoined from CONVEX
sation with packers engaged by riva
concerns. To be caught taking q drinL
means instant dismissal
What territory do we cover? TIL.
whole Of Greater New York. Each on,
Of US has a defined district and is for
bldden 70 overlap another's on pain OF
dismissal But men In my profession
are not punctilious. and when we car
get together for a chat and a pint Wa
never fall 70 embrace the opportunity
Few besides members Of the fraterni
~ seem willing 10 talk 70 a banner
packer. We are outcasts. pariahs. tn,
spurned Of all the little world. How
ever. II isn't worth while 70 rehears,
our personal histories In detail. w,
come from all classes, the highest al
well as the lowest, from every walk O
life. but all OF us are united on on,
common plane. and that is hopeless in
competency. We're the failures. IN,
social wrecks. whom your bushes.
man scans askance and passes on al
beyond the pale Of commercial recognI
ton He doesn't want US. Nobody Will
have us except those advertisers whc
think banner packing a good thing fl
their business.
Our pay is very small. The averag,
compensation is so cents a day and ;
meal or two. or from IS cents TO 81 70
those packers who do not get a grul
stake. However. there are not man,
OF US who can get 81 a day."-Nev
York Telegraph.