The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-06
A PLEA FROM THE FAKIR.
He Explains Something About the
Ways of His Business.


Ways of His Business.
Editor Morning News: Being one
of the fakirs alluded to in yesterdays
News, I want to thank you for the
generosity of the sentiments expressed
and for the very conservative treat
ment of said genus homo, it being so
very different from the abuse that he
generally receives from the newspa-
pers of the country. Your article is
we'll written and strikes the proper
chord. AS a general thing the papers
of the country class the fakir as
very Objectionable character, which he
does not deserve.
The enterprising and industrious
fakir who runs his honest cane rack,
knife board, baby rack and other
such small and legitimate games of
skill is surely entitled to a little con-
sideration, and it is seldom that he
has much of a roll in his pocket from
his precarious calling. He does we'll
during the season of street and agr-
cultural fairs to pay his legitimate ex-
penses.
Of the little money Qf any, that he
quits ahead at a fair, he is simply
distributor in many ways.
For instance, about 40 came down
here from Montgomery. Their railroad
fare at IS each, was $780, living here
for two weeks, at 81 per day, $3.50 priv
ilege at Fair each, say twenty, $500;
beer, cigars and other foolishness dur
ing stay, at only 81 day, $780, lum-
Der, drayage and a hundred incident
ais would swell the total to over 81, 900.
There are probably two hundred fakirs
or more here from distant points,
spending a similar amount which if
they all got privileges would show the
amount left in the city about $4,000
Two of us started from Chicago the
nrst OF June, attending street or agri-
cultural fair every week since. We
had about $25 when we started. We
toured Illinois, Wisconsin and finished
up through Tennessee, Alabama and
Georgia. We Travelled about 1000 miles
at an average of ~ cents a mile, which
would be $120. Five months board at
bum boarding houses, called dollar-a-
day hotels. where often there was no
soap or towel to wash, $780, Drinks
and other incidentals too numerous to
mention, at moderate, 81 a day, $3.50:
privilege at $40 a week, 5000; lumber,
ETC., SIS.
This would show about $500 expenses
and here we land at last in the beau
tiful and hospitable and charming lit
tie city of Savannah, to attend her
state Fair with our little legitimate
game, and with less money in our
pockets than we started with the first
or June, and we are made sad by dis
covering a rule by the Fair Associa-
ton that was not made or would not
hold good at any of the street or other
fairs we attended the whole season.
namely:
The giving of an exclusive privilege
to those who apply for any concession
at the State Fair, even without the de-
sire of many for such exclusive priv
ilege. This is working an unfair in
jury to many honest fakirs, who came
here with the best of intentions. and
at great loss financially to the State
Fair. For instance, l understand that
the jewelry privilege was sold for $40,
exclusive, while I am told that there
are 25 or 80 that would give $40 or SIS
each for the same leach and all to
operate).
Would it not look strange If a man
had the exclusive privilege in this city
for theater, and another for a saloon,
and another for meat shop or bak-
cry?
Don't you think 1t would look more
liberal for the Fair people to sell a
privilege to everyone that came along
and wanted one, as all other fairs do?
The old saying holds good among al
most all the fakirs to his. brother in
business: "The more the merrier, my
boy. Put your honest little fake up
next and close to mime
Now, Mr.. Editor, having been so kind
and generous in your article of Mon
day, as regards the honest fakir, won't
you have the kindness to say word
in his behalf to the management of the
Fair that they may quash the "exclu-
sive rule" and give us all (many of us
far from home) a show. Yours very
truly, Thos. ]. Hayes.