The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-02-16
Tie Eels and 1ptellieepcer
1851 AIR, MD. FEBRUARY II 1900:
WOOING THE DOLLAR.
SOME OF THE CURIOUS METHODS
OF MAKING A LIVING.

Paris Is Notorious For the Odd Pur-
suits and CalIings of Many of Itn
Much Per Faint.
The complcxity of modern civilization
is shown in nothing more strikingly than
in the extreme multiplicity of pursuits by
which men today gain Il living. In the
great swarming ccnters of population like
London and Paris multitude of strange,
queer, out of the way callings, which
even in towns of half million or even
million inhabitants would not give en-
ploymcnt to a single human being are fol-
lowed by scores and even hundreds Of
men who derive therefrom not only the
means of subsistence, but in some cases
an independence and even riches.
Persons who are familiar with the his
tory of popular decisions, which PorUn
once said jestingly that he would write
in work of 500 volumes, will remember
the famous stockjobbing mania which
ragged in Paris under the inspiration of
the Scotch protector and hnancier, John
Law. During the mania the great scene
of operations was the Rue QuinQuepoix.
The business was by law confined to that
spot, whittier multitudeS OF men and wo-
men of all ranks and conditions tlocked to
buy shares in Laws bank and MISSISSIPPI
pi company, which, though absolutely
worthless, rose to 20 times their original
price.
Desks and writing materials for the
transfer of shares were in great demand.
but in a street so densely crowded they
were not so easily obtainable. In this ex-
| igency a hunchbacked man let out his
protuberance for the infatuated specu-
lators to scribble upon, and SO eager were
| they to use it and so literally did they
pay him that he is said to have made in
| few days 100000 livres. 1t was Il happy
| thought that led this man to convert an
| obstacle into stepping stone to success.
| 1t showed that, though his person was
crooked, his mind was straight. Hun
| dreds of nchba cked men would proba-
bly, have seen the golden tide running
| by them for life without dreaming Of
| thus profiting by it.
Since Laws day Paris has been pre-
| eminent for the odd pursuits and call
| ings of many of its citizens. OF all the
great cities of the world it is the one in
| which today the most extra ordinary and
| employed. Nowhere is keener ingenuity
exercised in turning refuse to account
than in this huge hive of industry, where
| literally nothing is wasted. Out Of the
very leavings of the regular industries Of
the metropolis-dirty rags, half gnawed
bones, moldy crusts of bread, cigar ends,
| parings and Feelings of fruit, pieces Of
| squeezed lemon thrown aside by oyster
eaters, pieces of glass, clippings of hair,
etc.-scores Of shrcwd men are contin-
ually realizing fortunes and thousands
are getting their daily bread.
Among the articles thus transformed
by Partisan ingenuity are faded flowers
| that have been flung aside by the beau
| ties to whom they were presented. The
discarded bouquets are collected daily
| from the dirt heaps Of the city, are pickle
over, sorted and the ends of the stalks
| dipped into water, nearly Boiling, where
| by the sap is made to mount into the
| flowers, and they become as brilliant as
if freshly picked. They are then mount
| ed upon rush stems, arranged in bou-
l. quets and surrounded with fresh green
| leaves, after which they are sold by tidi-
| ly dressed little girls who perambulate
| the boulevards and press them upon the
| Parisians.
The following incident shows an origi-
| nality of invention rarely rivaled even by
| the prolific brain of the Yankee One day
| in lawsuit before the Tribunal Correc-
| tionnel Il handsome young lady, smartly
| dressed, was called as a witness The
presiding judge asked her name and then
| her profession or calling. Il faint" an
| swored madame in very low voice. The
| judge thcreupon directed an officer of the
| court to bring her Il chair and allowed her
| to sit down. Don't be afraid, madame"
| said he; 'and please to tell me before you
| are sworn what is your profession"' Il
| am fainting," again whispered the pretty
| witness in Il barely audible voice. The
| gallant vice president now sent for Il
| glass of water, which the lady slipped
| slowly, then bowling to her interrogation
| she appeared to await further questions
Again, the third time, she was asked
| her profession, when, with 4 look Of Won
| der and surprise, she replied, But, Mr..
President, | have already twice had the
honor to tell you that my profession is to
| faint" $40 faintr exclaimed the aston
ished and puzzled judge. How can that
possibly be profession?" The lady ex-
planned that she gained her livelihood by
going every evening in fashionable dress
Saint Martin and there fainting, as
| though overpowercd by the powerful and
vivid acting at the most critical and
tragical moment il the play She added
| that her services We're considered invulu
! able, and that thus far she had given to
the manager complete satisfaction.
We have all heard of dress coats to let,
OF hired jewels ard even of hired we'd
ding presents. but who ever heard of
meat to let? Yet in Paris the fine. appe-
| tiZing joints Of meat and other catables
which are displayed in the windows OF
the cheaper restaurants are simply hired
! to tempt the passing cpicurc. There are
butchers who realize Il considerable in
come from letting out show joints, attract
| i've legs of mutton and nicely trimmed
outlets, disposed with such Partisan art
as to catch the eye of the plebeian bon
vivant. Even clean linen. also. is let out
| on hire, and if you suffer from an excess
of blood you can hire lceches and have
them set biting for n triiiing sum.
Among other odd ways of gaining liv-
ing in the French metropolis are making
soap bubbles. painting turkeys feet, re-
failing lighted fuel. guessing riddles, col
lecting samples and acting as guardian
angel-of only one of which, the last,
have We space for an explanation. Tie
guardian angel establishes himself in the
outskirts of the city. near the wineshops,
where lie does odd jobs during the day
for the shopkpPper, while in the evening
he assists in getting home any of the sons
Of Bacchus who may have drunk too
deeply. In doing this he must be deaf to
all the commands and entrcatics of his
charge to let him enter any of the wine
shops on the way: he must keep him out
of broils, guard his personal effects. even
fight for him if necessary. and. when he
cannot be led home. carry him on his back
or wheel him on Il barrow. The earnings
Of these helpers of frail humanity are
ridiculously paltry. seldom exceeding a
frame or tw" = n;ght.-Saturday Evening
just to Remind Him.
A blatant sample Of the loud voiced,
self conscious. look ut me variety of NAN
took his scat in bus and called to the
conductor:
docs this bus go all the way?"
"Yes, sir" responded the conductor po-
litely.
docs it go far Oxford street?
want to get out there
Yes, SIR was the reply.
swell, want you to tell me when we
get there. You'd better stick n stamp on
your nose or put Il straw in your mouth
or tie n knot in one Of your lips so that
you won't forget it,"
1T would not be convenient for one In
my position to do So" said the conductor
courtcously, but if you will kindly pin
your ears round your neck think | shall
remember to tell you."-London Tele-
graph.