The times., 1901-05-19
THEPASSING OF THEFAKER
Desertion of an Old Field of Coun-
terfeit Enterprise.
In Bygone Years the Curbstone
Salesman Wns Numerous and
VocnI-He Added Variety to Night
Scenes In Cities-oId Time Adopts.


What has become of the army OF street
takers that once made Kansas City a
stamping ground' A few years since a
soap-box orator held forth from nearly
every down-towR corner. while the neigh
borhoOd about the City Hall swarmed
with slow spoken yenders OF metal polish.
cuff fasteners. glue. and needle thread
ers The precipitOus incline on Eighth
Street. between Main and Delaware. was
once 50 crowded with curbstOne statesmen
and the oniookers they attracted that
traffic was frequently blocked The fare
OF the gasoline lamps at light paIed. By
their number. the street light. That dis
trict is now monopOlized by silent deal
er in porous taffy and an equally mute
shoe string merchant, humble successors
OF the former habitues
The street faker. of the type known 10
other days, has disappeared with the no.
madic ROmany fortune teller and the
Neapolitan with the dancing bear, leav-
ing no apparent reason for his going.
Lately a gypsy seeress APPEARED in the
downtown districts, where, with one
grimy hand,-sh pIacked aside the veil
of the future. and with the other reaped
harvest of silver. She was welcomed
as an old friend and a cloud of reminis-
cence followed her. Men reminded one
another of the time when picturesque for
tune tellers were plenty, and whole troops
of the dusky wanderers camped for weeks
on the outskirts of the city. The recent
visitor prospered only because of her re-
semblance in appearance to the old type.
She was filthy with the undisturbed filth
of years, was arrayed in vivid raiment
and strange coins on tarnished chains.
but she lacked the weird fancy that made
the prognostications of her predecessors
half convincing and wholly delightful and
interesting. She was obtrusiveiy CONNER
cial. made no effort to awe or impress her
hearers, and had been to the Chicago fair.
Her discourse snacked strongly of the
Midway. She no more deserved TO rank
with the old time gypsy than does the
present day street faker of gloomy mien
and frOwsy appearance with the gifted
individual whom he has succeeded.
The street faker of few years since
was possessed of talents that commanded
respect from those who studied him. Suave
of manner. glib and eloquent quick-witted
and a keen reader of human nature, he
drew to him the passer-by, aroused his in
terest. charmed him and separated him
from his money. There were takers of
such genius that they habitually perform
ed a miracle of the commercial world in
selling an absolutely worthless article for
a good price. The best of the type were
unsurpassed in their ability to influence
the class upon which they chiefly preyed.
No inspired preacher, aided by tender mu-
sic. subdued light and the peaceful quiet
of the chapel ever wrought more power
fully upon the emotions of his hearers
than has many blasphemOus hypocrite
perched upon a shoe box beneath the light
inc fcr afr
corner At the bidding of conseienceless
takers. chronic invalids have for the time
being been healed. and hopeless cripples
have thrown away their crutches and
walked upright. No less persuasive were
sellers Of soap, tawdry jewelry, glass cut
ters, cleaning powders, and practically
valueless utensils of various sorts repre-
sented to be Indispensable TO every house,
holder.
Not all of the talent" however, sought
to impose upon eredulity with articles of
utter worthlessness. Many sold trihing
motions" that answered some purpose in
a way. Hundreds of business men will
remember seamy-faced. snowy haired
old negro who, for years, sold, near the
city market. tin device designed for
peeling potatoes. To any housekeeper the
"peeler' was well worth the price chars-
ed for ito cents. The genius of the
salesman. however, was manifested in his
ability to sell the article. not only to
and provident husbands, but
to pretty nearly everyone, Of whatever
condition and class. who came his way
and had the necessary dime The old ne
gro attempted no inpromptu oratery in
eulogizing his wares. He delivered set
speech with only occasional slight varia-
tions for the benefit OF some hesitating
listener. He began in a stentorian tone
that startled tiInid folk at some distance,
and gradually allowed his voice to die
away until only those Immediately about
him heard the final whisper. He simply
said:
This peeler Deels potatoes. parsnips,
peaches, parsley. pears, peas.
etc, etc.-every known vegetable and fruit
having a name beginning with P.
Among his fellows the prince of takers
was he who managed to sell the most
worthless article for the largest amount
Of money Judged by this standard, the
)ne to whom belonged the imperial crown
was. undoubtedly. an individual, smooth
# face and speech who for years offered
'or sale so-called magnifier designed TO
protect impurities in drinking water or
any liquid food. This man possessed
nature far above the demands of his call
ng, as well as a sort of eloquerce happily
effective in catching and holding the at
tention of passers-by. He was seemingly
familiar with the chemical properties OF
foods and the impurities common to each
ltiad His magnifier was merely clear
glass ball two inches in diameter. which,
ooked through from one side, slightly en-
arged drop of water ciinginS to the 9TH
~ OF course, the thing was worthless.
Jut that important fact did not prevent
he sale of thousands at % cents each
This same faker like many of his kind.
made a practice of attending picnics and
airs held within radius of fifty miles OF
Kansas City. At such places, when trade
vas brisk, he advanced the price OF ths
pagnifiers and reaped a rich harvest A
ew years ago. at political picnic held
n the. eastern part of the county he sold,
Is ne afterward boasted, l50 nagniners
or dollar each. and bitterly regretted
lot having taken more with him.
The shrewdest members Of the protes-
ion made large sums OF money during the
Mild seasons of the year. In traNetlnS
bout to smaller towns near Kansas city
me- or perhaps two working together,
reuuentiy took in $40 $50 in an after
room and evening. Ten dollars repre-
ented an Indifferent days business,
hough practically ali profit after the IL
ense was paid.
Many of the cleverest takers were
are-faced swindlers, resorting TO almost
ny method to relieve @ victim OF his
old brick merchant, implicated the Gus
Omer in such a way as TO make forced
eparation embarrassing, IL not impossible.
faVOrite trick was TO sell Tor 81, more
T less a small cake of soap about which
he faker, in full view of the audience,
ad apparently wrapped a IS or so bill