The San Francisco call., 1906-05-20

In front OF one OF the entrances TO the
United States Treasury Department in
Washington, that majesticaliy slunaber-
ing pile Of sandstone and granite that
has been Uncle Sans bank for scores of
years, stood, one snowy winter day,
barely forty years ago, little girl carry
ing a basket filled with ginger cakes.
apples, oranges. pies and such small food
as the government clerk is won't to in
dulge In for the midday smack
Sadly she watched the hundreds of per-
sons pouring out OF the building at the
noon hour, scores OF them stopping to
purchase luncheon knickknacks from the
aged vendors who lined the stone coping
at the door. and occupied all the vantage
points from which TO lay their snares for
the pennies nickels and dimes that were
let loose in a small food.
For weeks she had taken her stand
there and waited for the stream of
humanity which. like ants from a busy
hill. seemed 10 dart into the outside air.
only 10 pick UP a bite or two of some
pakstable dainty and scurry back into its
hole. Nainly had she tried, from her en-
forced isolated position near the curb
stone. TO attract n few of the purchasers.
She knew. away down in the little heart,
that her bright red apples were fresher
and sweeter than any OF those offered
for sale by the aged negro "aunties" and
the cecrepit white men who had by right
Of eminent domain secured the choice
positions for the disposal OF their wares.
and had held them for years; she knew
that her cs6es were real home made
cakes and that they were freshly baked
by her mother that morning. Her little
tsrts were as clean looking and as dainty
as could be procured al the most inviting
Of caterers establishments; her basket
was tastily arranged and over il was
spread a white tablecloth
This - -
daughter Of naval oficer whose father
had gone TO the War OF the Rebellion and
had been shot 70 pieces. Her mother
Ike thousands of others sf the period.
had been left with a large family on her
hands and with no means OF support
Little Mary, brave and determined had
comforted her mother and prevailed upon
her TO bake some cookies and cakes and
give them TO her TO sell at the govern
ment departments. In those days little
or nothing was said of trusts and COM
binations in restraint Of trade, but break
ing into that wall of persons who had
lived OF the meager profits gotten from
the lunch basket trade was harder than
boring through steel trust armor plate
with wooden drill.
For years these purveyors of apples
and cakes had been gathering at the
doors Of the Office buildings and they
were just as certain fixtures as the watch
men or doormen. Each had his place
picked out and measured OF and there
was no squatting on the staked claim OF
another. Few ever resigned from the
ranks and death came very slowly When
basket man or basket woman was away
for any noticeable length Of time an in
curry was made. II IL was found he
was dead his successor and heir was the
person holding the next advantageous
position. Along the coping for fully
twenty feet on either side OF the entrance
stretched this lunch line. and little Mary's
chances, IL she took up her position on
the end OF the line, were small But she
took fate in her hands, established her
self on the edge Of the pavement and did