The Washington times., 1901-12-29

your name engraved" on d clean bit Of
white pastel oard at the stand of the side
walk card-writer.
This is the man. who, during Christmas
week, coined the proverbial barrel OF
money. and added an interesting feature
to the street scenes Of holiday time. There
are several Of the writer's about the city.
Their stands are on the Avenue. and are
patronized by the high and lowly the
wealthy and the poor. the gentleman and
the tramp. The Christmas card. the New
Year greeting and the cardboard accom-
paniment of the Yuletide gift-all these
were written by the man on the curb.
Their Remarkable skill.
The best writer in Washington. and
there are several of his class earning
their daily bread by the skill OF their
pens. is colored man. What he cannot
do with a bit of paper, a pen, and bottle
of ink is not worthy of mention. for his
accomplishments are varied and his skill
almost wonderful
The colored man and his table are a
familiar sight. His stand is the Mecca
for all those whose time is llm,ted. or
whose educations are capable OF being de-
scribed by the same word. Here during
the days of Christmas time. when the
mercury hoYc-ed in dangerous proximity
TO the zero mark on the bulb. he sat in
a corner, as snug and comfortable as the
circumstances would permit, and wrote
for the passerby.
lie and the men Of his craft are the sole
survivors in bustling, hustling. busy
world, Of the scrivener Of the days OF
Chaucer, who wended his wa. about the
country, engrossing by the taler- OF his
great genius, wonderful pieces Of work
FOR the ivy-coyered monasteries, or pus-
ting into imperishable so~n The songs an!
poetries OF the sage and Minstrel This
last reminder OF the rece OF men OF the
days OF which Charles, T. "a le has written
is today forced by the trend of circum-
stances to adapt himself to the meaner
necessities OF life.
Regular Employment Declined.
No more are sacred parchments made.
destined to last for centuries. but, on
the contrary. mere visiting cards. or per-
haPs letter now and then, nra the pro-
duct OF the work. II IS - be doubted.
though, that the art has degel lsra5sd, i,r
the sidewalk manipulation OF inky flour
ishes is still genius in lis way, and
contrives to execute work which might
be sought for in the school room or COL
lege and never found.
One OF the asphalt scriveners has been
offered positions in schools OF VI: :.,us
standings throughout the country, but be
has declined to accept mem. Your true
sidewalk artist, whether he writes cards
or draws pictures upon the pavement, Or
sings for pennies. is at heart a Rohe-
mian. and he seorns the conrcntionalities
OF life.
No Office OF educational work for him,
although his services as q teacher OF
penmanship would be very valuable in
almost any institution Of learning He
prefers TO wait upon the necessities of the
vsgrant wayfarer, and to charge at the
rate OF 25 cents for favors. In addition.
and Of course this has great weight, even
with a Bohemian. a sidewalk writer can
make from s. to SIS a day, and the work
is pleasant.
Patrons I'm All Ranks.
Among the patrons Of the curbstone
man are persons in every walk OF life.
from the begear. who has barely suf-
lcient to ply the charge necessary to OBJ
tain single card, for admittance into the
presence OF some one OF whom he desires
favor. TO the fine lady, who drives up in
her carriage, and makes the footman leave
the order she wishes executed.
There are many such on the lists of the
street card writer Tlis work, for the
fashionable world, is done at home, when
the labors of the day have been COM
pleted, and It is surprising to what an ex-
tent the society lady is obliged to cali
upon the man who makes his living by his
pen.
The principal work which he does is in
the filling out OF engraved invitations. 1t
would be too expensive. and practically
impossible for the name Of each intended
guest TO be engraved upon the invitation.
The society woman's own handwriting,
or even that Of her friends or private
Eecretary is not apt to be OF the char
acter likely to adorn the handsome card.
The card-writer's services are enlisted,
and he can fill out programmes. announce
nents OF marriages. and various invita-
tons, in a style scarcely less beautiful
than the engraved portions.
IonEcd for the street.
One OF these writer's, whose stand is on
Pennsylvania Avenue, for some time held
a position at the White House, where his
duties were simply to FIJI out the hundreds
Of invitations issued there. He did the
work for some time and gave satisfac-
tion, but the longing TO be back Oh the
streets was too strong FOR him. and he
drifted back into his fayorite vocation,
happy. II today be made many pieces of
money, and Indifferent Of the morrow
which might mean anxious waits with
nothing doing"
There is a story, carefully guarded in
the annals of the craft, that the Secretary
Of War, during the difficulty with Spain in
1898. was not too proud to enlist the ser
vices of the wayside scrivener. On the
occasion in question the carriage of the
Secretary drew up with flourish at the
curb in front Of the stand, and the writer
was informed that ne was wanted at the
door.
As result OF the brief conversation
which followed tho card writer repaired
TO the War Department, and for several
months, until long after the clone Of tho
war, he was cn Uncle Sans pay rolls
rs an expert pennan. drawing Il good
salary. Here his work was Of fine char
acter, requiring the highest talent.
Not all of the patrons, however, are Of