The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-05
THE SHIP OF THE
/ BOARD WALK

ATLANTIC CITY, Feb. f.-lne Atlanuc Ivy
! rolling chair Ia controlled by trust. II is
usually pushed by negro who ofttimes
is waiter out Of employment II has
rubber tires and Is constructed 70 carry one,
two or three persons.
The chairs for public hire are owned by
about ten different persons. who have com
bined to maintain prices. IL ia stipulated
that any member Of the trust breaking the
rules Ia punishable by forfeiture OF s25.
The chair is used for other purposes
besides carrying humanity. Drummers
find II a handy conveyance for their sample
grips. II has been used to move furniture
and other household articles.
When the big fire occurred a troupe OF
performing seals we're on exhibition on
foung's Ocean Pier The owner became
alarmed over the rapid Roadway the fire
made. fastening TO station, he ordered
one chair for each seal Thus the scream
ing animals we're safely removed from the
structure. 1t was an odd procession as 1t
wheeled up the Boardwalk
Originally put on the market rs an i'm
proved Invalid chair. II ia still used as such
but most of it's patrons by far are those
that are blessed with good health. Young
couples do their spooning in a rolling chair
The number Of marriages resulting from
chair spooning ia large
The average chair pusher Is wise and
philosophical and Ia well rewarded. The
North Carolina darky is more attentive and
conscientious than his Northern brother
and his bank account at the end Of the sea-
son Ia much larger.
The busiest season for the chair pusher
Ia throughout Lent and spring when more
nhut rtai In matt mt nt.~f,,
To the great throng on the Boardwalk dur
ing the hot weather OF summer the chairs
hired then are few.
Some Of the negroes have returned to their
Southern homes with enough wealth To
supply the necessaries for the balance of
their lives. The wealth was not secured
solely from fees, but by listening 10 con-
vereations between occupants of double
chair and making quick use Of such infor-
nation gained, "a tips on the races and the
stock market
The chair pusher is ever on the alert for
those who frequent the cafes or imbibe too
much of the salty ozona. They are the best
and most profitable custom-rS They pay
well for the trouble they give the attendant.
Atlantic City's annual floral parade is
somewhat of a misnomer. 1t Ia a parade Of
chairs bedeoked and trimmed with flowers
or ribbons and il peculiar to this resort.
The larger hotels enter most of the prize
winners. The occupants OF the chairs
women from the hotels. The parade was
witnessed by 100000 people last summer
II was one Of the delights of WI Ting
fang. the former Chinese Minister to this
country. to ride in chair and view the COS
mopolitan tbrong on the promenade. On
one occasion Mr. WI was costly ensconced
in chair backed close to a pavilion critically
scanning the crowd OF happy looking
pedestrians. He desired to smoke, but had
no match.
-You" he ambiguously exclaimed to a
p8Rserby.
The man grinned and walked on. Two
barefoOted newsboys caught the appealing
gestures Of the envoy. and both made a
rush and fell or him. nearly upsetting
him The Youngsters picked themselves
Up ard made away a. a policeman APP
preached
M WI wied otherwise. He requested
that the Logs be brought 70 him. The
boys. experimenting trouble, hesitated
moment before presenting themselves be-
fore him.
Boy give me match said Mr. WI
Two matches shot forth from the smaller
of the two. and the elder. after emptyinR
his pockets of merry go-round rings,
handed over q small handful Of matches
The Minister accepted them with proflise
thanks. As the curious crowd that had
gathered around the chair dispersed he
turned to his left and addressed an elderly
man who had been staring at him.
Il have learned from personal observa-
ton that it is customary for little boys in
America TO carry a respectable supply OF
matches he said II you haven't got a
match. all you have to do Is to ask a boy
Don't ask a man. II shows that the boys
neraly all of them, smoke cigarettes. | am
sorry TO see such deprayity among the
young.