The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-09
'low," of course, means working on the
level-that is, the street level.

'low,' of course. means working on the
level-that is, the street level.
TREATMENT OF CUSTOMERS.
The crowd was an avariciOus one, and ]
had to place ten or twelve handkerchief in
a package, with two or three pieces of cheap
jewelry, before they would give M TO cents
for them. 1 did not count the handkerchief
Each time 1 said Here's another one" /
dropped a corresponding one from the back
of my hand into the pile which lay in my
box. They thought they were getting some
thing for nothing; and I find that all sue
cessful business men adopt that method OF
treatment to their customers.
had taken a few dollars, and things
were looking bright for a good days bust
ness, when | was told to close up.
1t was a plain clothes man who ordered
me to cease work. / thought he did not
know that / had been to police headquar-
tiers, so 1 told him it was all right, that
had squared myself.
Squared nothing" he said. "This towns
closed, an you know it. Git along"
/ told him I'd be hanged first. 1 had given
up s. Of good money, and | did not propose
to be buncoed by him or any other ''flatty,'
as we termed plain clothes men. He arrested
me. l knew better than to make a protest
when L was tried: if L had Cleveland would
have never seen more of me-the police
would not have allowed me to get out of the
Union Station. 1 paid my fine and learned
the lesson that no matter how small your
graft the police are willing to take all
you can earn and then turn virtuous.
The Mecca of all good men and great
New YOrk-had never received any atten-
ton from me. / determined Immediately aft
er my experience in Cleveland to make a
Decline for the largest city in the United
States.
knew that the town was closed, save for
the fifteen days preceding Christmas; but i
knew also that there was much money to be
picked up by an energetic fakir in the half
hour sneak pitches, which can be made
between the coming and the going of the
roundsmen If one is careful to 'see" the po-
liceman first.
New York is certainly the easiest city in
this country. The majority Of its citizens
the East and North rivers; deck themselves
with sagacious complacency, and buy more
gold bricks than all the world put together.
And yet, l, too, think New York is great.
UNTRUSTwORTHY POLICE.
But the police-they are impossible. Long
before New York even toyed with reform its
police could not be trusted. My knowledge
was gained at the corner of Nassau and
Ann streets. after 1 took in more money. in
a half hours time, that l ever earned be-
fore or since.
1 was, as usual, appealing to the cupidity
of the crowd. and was wrapping bills of
various denominations around small pieces
of soap, placing the soap in a box. and CIV
ing the crowd a chance to take away my
money for so cents per opportunity. L had
given the policeman on the beat a dollar.
But when he saw the money rolling in, CON-
passion for his fellow-citiZen, or professional
jealousy, moved him TO dart across Ann
street and try to catch hold of me. L thought
some of his superiors had appeared in sight
and that he was only %feigning. So, closing
my satchel, / broke through the crowd and
ran toward Park row. / was surprised when
I turned around to find the policeman was
in the act of reaching for my collar. i let
him take hold of me-. Then 1 asked him to
tell me what was the matter. The way that
policeman talked to me was a shame. Be-
fore he reached the station house / thought
i was the most hardened criminal in the
world. and my captor a very Cerberus.
The usual fine was imposed the next morn