The Washington times., 1901-10-20

| ton reaped quite a harvest for a while by
| sleanings along the line They were driv-
| en- out Of business by the newsboys and
carriers of the morning papers. who learn
cd the trick, watched the car line and
| found enough to make the regular occupa-
| lion Improbable.
| All BARRIERS, but few others, know of the
occupation 5f razor snapper There
are four or five men in the city following
| this vocation and several others car
ry it as a side line. They make their
| living by trading razors-not selling, just
| trading. Their profit comes in on the
| boot money given with each trade. The
| uncertain and finicky nature of razors is
| at the bottom Of the business. As every
shaver knows, razors sometimes act in
| the most unaccountable manner. More
| over, one razor may be entirely suited to
one man and totally unfit for another. or
| good razor may not fit a particular
hone.
For this reason BARRIERS are continually
experimenting with their tools. changing
and trading to obtain those which suit
them. The razor trader goes from place
to place with a stock of secondhand
| blades. which he offers for trade. He usu-
ally charges from 25 to 50 cents boot, but
will compromise on 10 cents. He never
gives boot, and therefore the boot money
is always clear. 1t viii be seen that II
man makes a score Of trades n day,
many do. the profits are fair. Most OF
these men work irregularly at their trade,
taking a chair during the Saturday and
Sunday rush, when the regular BARRIERS
have not the time to dicSer over razors
One of the proprietors OF a large barber
supply store in this city began eight years
ago a razor trader, so 1t may be seen
that it sometimes pays well.
Old loungers along Kearney Street must
remember particularly picturesque IA
ker who used to hold forth on the corner
of Pine and Kearnev some Two or three
years ago. He advertised himself as
comedian" and, in fact. he did have
some comic gift developed in no common
degree. He pretended to sell only a small
book of his own selections and songs.
After giving a few really good limitations
he would hand out some of the books at
10 cents piece and then say:
IF the gentlemen of the audience will
step into the hall opposite 1 will render
few more selections together with
medley of the latest soLgs.
Most of the crowd would follow. When
they We're once inside, the comedian
would disappear. and quack doctor
would emerge, take of his plug hat"
and deliver medical lecture designed to
make the most healthy man believe that
he was the victim of a deadly disease.
Before he had finished the comedian
would be out on the street again, Taking
In a fresh collection of marks"
He vas a new wrinkle in a fior1rishing
profession that has never been brought
to public attention, that OF 'steerer'' for
for a quack doctor. Hardly a quack in
the city but has one or more OF these
assistants. The doctor" and the steer
er" are often partners. and when they are
not. the latter get fat slice of the fees
The methods are simple. The steerer
hangs around with the other bunco men
watching for rural visitors When he has
found his man and has established friend
ly relations, he leads the conversation to
the subject of disease and remedies Pres
emily, he finds that his new friend Is suf-
fering from some subtle scourge that is
sapping his life. When he has the victim
scared out of his wits he tells how the
doctor" his accomplice, has cured him
of just such a disease and runs his prey
right up against the slaughter. The doc /
tor" does the rest. Nearly every quack !
in the city employs such an accomplice.
Then there is the little negro boy who |
haunts the Tenderloin and makes ten |
times the money that he could make by !
boots and selling papers on the /
strength of his reputation for being a 1
mascot. 1t is supposed that to touch his |
bare head is TO insure luck at the races +
for the whole day. He has his regular
fee-10 cents for ladies, % cents fo- men,
and an honorarium If his patron wins on
ha fhat law 10 hi
strictly in advance and gives no credit.
Every reader Of Israel Zangwilfs ghetto
stories is familiar with the operations of
the schadchan, the walking matrimonial
agent of the Jewish quarter, in the big
cities of the East and Europe. In San
Francisco, thanks to the enlightened be-
nevOlence of the Hebrew residents. there is
no regular ghetto, but there are two or
.hree schadchans plying their trade just
the same With orthodox Jews 1t is a
recognized industry and is pursued in an
orderly and methodicaI maner.
The orthodox congregations have an
other functionary carrying on a trade
still more curious. This is the tenth
man" the parsonage whose business is to
complete the number present in ceremo-
NAL. According to the orthodox rites, ten
males of adult age must be present at
svery service. In all the orthodox syna-
sogues prayers must be offered morning
md night. Furthermore. morning and
light prayers must be said in every house
If mourning for a week after the funeral.
1t is rot always possible to get together
he fun number of worshipers in such
requent ceremonies and attached to every
'rthodON synagogue there is a number of
egularly salaried men whose business it |
5 to fill out the number. They are usually |
I'D men past active usefulness in other ,
mployments, and, therefore. do not re-
Give very liberal sum, but it is enough
o give them a means of liyeihood.-San |
Francisco Chronicle.