New-York tribune., 1900-12-30

stations. and the equipment of through express
trains with libraries.
In the early days Of the news butcher he had
more less of a monopoly. Passengers found
themselves in need of book or comic weekly to
enliven the tedium of the journey or a basket Of
fruit to check growing hunger. The sale of the
comic weekly has been considerably dimin-
shed by the introduction Of humorous matter into
the daily newspapers, which to be bought at
almost every The need for the sale of eat
ables on the train has been met by the introduc-
ton Of the dining
With the decrease in business there has been a
corresponding increase in the persistence and often
times the impudence of those who pursue it for a
living. Correspondingly also the prejudice of the
public against the news butcher has grown apace-
reporter for The Tribune. in travelling recent
ly over Western bound express train out of this
city, encountered three different newsboys between
sunrise and midnight. Each knew his business. but
piled it in a different way
In the first six hours OF the journey the passen-
gers of the train the helpless victims of big
bury fellow, whose fat face rolled up in folds at
every turn Of his head He had a voice which
sounded as If it came through a ten-foot mega
phone. Everything about the vendor loud. On
entering car he closed the door with slam
If to advertise his coming. The door shut the
butcher shouted with his eyes riveted the occu-
pant Of the nearest seat, long list of weekly
magazines. He then showed assortment of his
wares. arranged in fan shape on his left into
the face of his intended customer, who chanced to
be effeminate young fellow. with his hair
plastered to his head and accurately parted in the
middle.
The victim murmured something of remonstrance
at being held up in such summary fashion and
fdgetted uncomfortably in his seat. The butcher
came to still closer quarters, and the nervous
passenger finally bought weekly to rid himself of
his prosecutor.
The butcher continued his tactics with the rest
Of the passengers sometimes meeting with open
occasionally with unreserved surrender.
ANYTHING TO SELL. GOODS
The butcher who came on the train next was
e pale faced. tow headed boy. who tried to work
the sympathies of the passengers. He
made a speciality OF confectionery, and wherever
he found some mother with more children
he almost always drove bargain by exciting the
appetites of the little ones. He laid the sweets be-
fore them until the mother compelled to buy
some bonbon or other to still their cries.
The third butcher said little, as if he knew that
his presence was not wanted. but sought to adver-
tise his and the interest of the pas
sengers by leaving with each of them a package
of candy a novel He would then leave the car
for minutes, and later return, as If to give
the impression that he had just as soon give away
his goods not. If any one desired to show a sub
stantial appreciation of his philanthropy by pay
ing for 1t, however, the butcher refused the
money.
The news butchers in the employ of a news
agency and work on a commission. The news
agency pays the railroad for the privilege either
commission or certain fixed amount eacn year.
on the trains as rule operates the news stands
at the stations tons aiong the road Consequently; it
the butchers continue 10 hester the traIeIIi NH
lie relegated into biissful oblivion.
A member OF the Union News Company. which
operates the principal railroads running out OF
this city said yesterday:
TT rests entirely with the railroads whether or
not the news butcher should be abolished We
understand that the public has look on the
surprised if he disappeared within two or three
years"