The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-11
1T1NERANT EYE DOCTORS.
Quack Nomads who Practice Among
Country Folks.

Country Folks.
improvements In transportation, the mai
order system in the department stores. ant
the ambition on the part Of the country
store to keep abreast Of the city establish
ments have almost destroyed the peddler's
occupation.
Many Of the men who had regular
routes which took them weeks to cover
with their wagon load Of general mer-
chandise have become local merchants, and
the basket men who used to visit the
houses in the suburbs of large towns have
been crowded out by the trolley cars. In
the New England villages, which once de-
pended to great extent on these peddlers,
one may still see the tinware man, the ped
dler who buys seconds" from the UNDER
wear factories, the rat-trap and hardware
man, or the shoe peddler, but the German
| or irish wandering merchant who used to
drive up to the farmhouse and display his
| wares in the largest room and sell goods
! to the farmers wife, to the man servant
and to the maid servant, and then threw
IN little extra in the way of a pair of
gloves, an apron, string Of beads for the
baby, or top for the little boy in pay
ment for nights lodging, has become
memory.
But since his departure from the scene a
new character has made his appearance in
the form Of the oculist, and he is doing a
large business, in some instances to the
detriment Of the eyes of those who patron
lie MIN. The older men in this line were
once jewelry peddlers, and eyeglasses form
ed only part Of their stock. They car
rled rings, earrings, watches, shirt buttons.
ana gold and silver trinkets of all kinds.
ana those who were good statesmen often
induced men and women to buy eyeglass-
es simply because they were cheap and be-
coming. The jewelry box was an expen-
sive investment, and it took more money
to replenish 1t than the business would Jus
tify. and one after another of the peddIers
substituted for it an equally large box Of
eyeglasses, and made the sale of these ar
ticles his occupation. Some Of the peddlers
found the business Improbable, and left
the road" but many who were gifted talk
ers and who had the quality of humbug
well developed had DR." or Professor"
prefixed to their name on their business.
cards. and established routes over which
they Travelled adjusting glasses and selling
eye washes. Many of these itinerant oph.
thalmologists remained in tie business
only short time. but a goodly number
still travel through the country. Their
coming is advertised by dodgers and post
ers, and one successful "eye and ear ocu-
list as he called himself in the early days
OF his career, used to travel through the
Mohawk Valley with a brass band.
DIR. Quack will be at the Farmers
Hotel from 10 o'clock in the morning
until o'clock at night for week. Come
and have your eyes tested free"
This card usually brings hundreds of
people to the country hotel parlor, and
nearly all go away with a pair CT glasses |
or spectacles. The doctor" has the room |
decorated with test cards, the centre |
table is strewn with instruments, mirrors |
and pamphlets, and large case of ties. !
lenses occupies a conspicuous place. II |
the man is of the advanced pattern Of |
wandering eye doctors he has an oph-
kaleidoscope and all the paraphernalia |
necessary for the examination Ct the hu-
man eye. and these, with his glib ten u. |
and his ability to juggle with technical !
terms and learned phrases. are his stock
In trade. The towns through winch these
men travel have many inhabitants who
praise them and tell of their skill. but
they also contain many people whoss eyes |
have been injured by the travelling eye
doctor. One of the most successful Of
this class Of peddlers was hungarian
whose route was along the line Of the
New York Central Railroad. He WIS
oaA'y man VI uo st1uCdtlOu, VINO wore \
diamonds, but was exceedingly careless
as to his linen and the condition CT his
hands. story which he told with great
slee serves to illustrate the methods Of
some men in that branch Of business.
Our young horses broke down." he said.
one evening near - and had to put
p for the night at farmhouse. The next
morning made dicker with the farmer
or horse. giving my lame animal and a
Ice sum to boot We had breakfast and
hen l sold the old man a pair Of gold
immed glasses. fixed up the old lady with
new pair. sold them each pair to have ,
n hand and showed two Of the young folks ,
hat their eyes were growing weak and
eeded strengthening with glasses Before {
came away had all my money back, and :
he new horse stood me at little OF moth !
ag.' :
The wandering eye doctor is not awed by ,
be presence Of regular practitioners. but ;
lakes his visits regularly to many places :
! the immediate vicinity OF New York and :
dvertises his coming and his skill in the :
anne way as he would at Spraker's il he :
ere making tnur of the Mohawk Valley. )
New York Tribune.