Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-04
ODD WAYS OF LIVING,
Some Singular Occupations Found
and Noted by Census Men.


Some Singular Occupations Found
and Noted by Census Men.
From the New York Mail and Express
There can be no better Illustration of the
truth of the moss-grown expression that
-'one-half of the world does not know how
the other half lives than is found in the
discoveries made by a number of census
agents this week. Occupations that were
never known to exist have been unearthed
by these questioners and have given the
students of odd jobs and unique livelihoods
food for much thought.
For instance, who ever had heard of
man in Greater New York whose sole bust
ness, Improbable as 1t may seem, Is the
making of monstrosities? This distin-
guished individual lives on 9TH avenue and
turns out sea serpents and mermaids as
readily as the tailor cuts pair of trousers.
One of the census takers dropped into
East 45th street yesterday and found on
door that confronted him at the third land
ing the name Prof Abunson." The pro-
fessor had long whiSkers and considerable
Voluhility. and said in reply to the query
to his occupation that he was profession
al spanker. He showed business card and
an advertisement in a German paper, which
said: tnruly and Maynard boys discip
lined at parents residences"
Usually a census taker does not ask any
unnecessary questions, but this one was so
interested in the strange vocation of the
long-haired professor that he spoke quite
feelingly of what pleasant occupation it
must be. The census taker has seven boys
who are said to be experts in the art of
devflish annoyances. 81 always see the cul-
prit before 1 decide upon the amount of
punishment" said the professor Some
times they see me first and then l lose
Job.
AS rule. 1 infiict the punishment in
room in which there is a clock. | always
insist that the parents tell me how long I
am to spank the refractory boy. Girls? oh.
no. [ never spank girls. I had a call once
from man who said he had a very way
ward son. | called and found a Yale grad
uate hve-ten in his hose, and as he threat
ened to throw me out of the window unless
l Immediately left by the door I did not
stand upon the order of my going. Some
parents find 1t hard to chastise their boys.
They call me in and I do the lob"
One of the census takers discovered close
TO Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn man
named Bremen with a sign reading Cock
roach Killer to United States Navy" Boot
makers to her majesty the queen and can
diestick makers to his royal highness the
Prince of Wales are eclipsed by this novel
occupation The cockroach killer made his
reputation" twenty-five years ago when
he removed twenty-one barrels Of reaches
from the old wall-sided Pensacola He does
1t with sort of paste, and is an expert. so
much so that he was examined by the Navy
''p'tl liltHl when years ago CAPTAIN Nc
Gala. then on trial for cruelty to the sail
ors of the Enterprise. said that the reason
he could not read the Articles of War" as
required, was that the cockroaches had
eaten this great document.
Another queer occupation discovered is
conducted by a man who calls people -
His chief customers are those who have to
get up at unusually early hours such as
bartenders, policemen. motormen and the
like. ITS not very profitable, though" he
said. "and sometimes It's dangerous. I've
been arrested several times for going into
railways before daylight. and once I got a
| black eye from a man who threw an alarm
| clock at me when I called him.
The woman whose business It Is to col
| lect corks, and who Is said to make $40 a
| day. Is another. queer one on the long list
| OF oddities. She gathers all the whisky
champagne and mineral water corks
| through a number of employees and sells
them to the firms that originally cut them
| Close to Bellevue Hospital Is a woman
| who sells bottles. Big-hearted Tom Bren-
| nan gave her the idea, and also a stand
close to the dispensary. and she has been in
business outside the gloomy walls for TWEEN
ty-hVe years. She has four barrels of bot
Ties In the shed-like structure. which is
| about half the size Of an ordinary news
| paper booth. The poor who go to the dis
pensary for medicines usually fail to take
| bottles along. The dispensary does not fur
| hlsh bottles. nor are they sold inside Its
gates. The ''bottle woman as she is call
| ed, sells for I or 2 cents each glass bottles
| OF all sizes ranging from the half-ounce
vial to the one big enough for horse lini-
| ment The peculiar thing about this wo-
| man Is that she has frequently not only
| given women and children bottles free hut
mas also so given them money for bread. "Sell
| apples? she echoed. mo this is a more
| profitable business Besides, selling apples
! Is too common"
still another odd business Is that Of an
| east Side firm which Is down in the books
| as an 'eJectment company" The firm does
| nothing except get rid of tenants A mem
| Der OF the company says that the chief req
sons Tor dfspossessing tenants are non-pay-
ment Of rent, bad habits and children. Said
| ne: We had case last month on the west
side that cost US 800. An aged woman
| half blind. had lived in a house thirty-eiph hi
years and was unable to pay her rent we
| mad to treat her with a great deal moro
| consideration than is usual for she cried n
| good deal, but she finally consented to leave
| without legal action"
| Up on Broadway near 57th street IL a man
whose business 1t is to bite Off dogs tails
he says the animals must be Of an age at
winch their tails will be tender He doesn't
| believe In knife, because every dogs tall
has worm in 1t. and the only way to re-
move 1t Is to bite the tail off The cause or
all the diseases OF dogs Is this worm he
adds. The man had dusty, dinpy Mace
and funeral look that Inspires confidence
| In those seeking his aid in his rema HE
occupation.