The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-04-12
QUEER THINGS PICKED UP.
Some Have. a Mania for Rescuing
HnirDins, Rubber Bands,
and Such Like.

Chicago people are greatly given to
picking up things in the streets. Just
what they do it for nobody knows, not
even the collectors themselves in many
cases. But the man or woman who
commences to pick up things in this
manner is lost. There is no knowing
to what lengths or what eeSentricities
the habit will eventually lead and carry
its victim.
A man whom almost everybody 10
Chicago knows something about no
ticed wire hairpin resting on the side
walk before him one morning Just be-
fore Christmas. He wondered idly as
he journeyed downtown just how
many hairpins of various kinds might
be picked up on the streets in single
month. During the month of January
he tried to find out In the 27 working
days of this month he picked up over
hundred hairpins. From his home to
the street car and from the street car
to his office he traversed daily-he
could not see to pick up hairpins in the
knowledge that he found and rescued
oyer a hundred hairpins in the course
of that ten blocks in a month has been
of great satisfaction to him-nobody
knows why. His wife estimates that
he ruined several pairs of gloves in the
course of his efforts and lost any
amount Of small change, while he aid
MT even save the hairpins, but these
triaes never troubled him. He is still
picking up hairpins and expects to at
tain a marvellous total during the three
months which he sill allow to elapse
before again taking stock" of his
finds
Last summer it was rumored in all
sorts of business and professional cir
cles that the picking up Of rubber bands
in The streets and on the sidewalk was
lucky" Again nobody knows why;
nobody ever did. But nambers of. in
tellectual and otherwise sensible Chi
cago people picked up rubber bands
last summer and autumn and numbers
OF them are still pursuing the elusive
rubber circle. One wonders why.
The habit OF looking for and picking
up lost money IS an ancient one. T.
strengthens as i. grows. 1t has been /
roughly estimated that at least two
thirds OF Chicago's feminine popula-
tion are victims Of his habit in varying
degrees. while plenty Of men snc-
cumbed o II long ago Money so found 4
is also 'luclzy If it does neces-
state he spoiling OF Drand-new gloves
o. the soiliHg of dainty finger tips. The
man who finds money in this way usu-
ally spitS upon it. This operation is
performed for luck" also.
Then there are people who make a
practice of watching for and picking
up postage stamps. cuff links, hatpins,
lead pencils. rubber erasers. pocket
books and knives. finger rings and
bracelets, brooches. watch charms
anything and everything. in fact.
which may be lost and found. Few
'f them know or can tell why they DO
his They have got into the hsbis
1f 50 doing. that is an. But always
hey can be recognized at sight. these
queer victims Of the finding habit -
ind this by their peculiar carriage
II the head and neck. Gibson girls
Ire anything but plentiful in Chi
ago; there are too many sharp cable
urres and wiid-driring and excitable
eemsters allowed about the streets
or that. But most Of the population