The Washington herald., 1908-02-16
Sells Poor Boy Stock of Goods
and Asks No Cash.
SCENE RECALLS EARLY DAYS
LendOn Man Tells Customer How
His business Began-TwO Waits,
SeIlings Goods on Christmas Eve,
ThrOwa Tosether-ResuIt Is Part
nership and HEge building.

LuGgate HiH seemed strangely deserted
had forgotten what ! had read IN the
newspapers. and when / found the penny
toy sellers gone I had not the heart on
the energy 20 look for them elsewhere.
Instead I took myself 10 the huge es-
tablishment Of Shenkowitzy & Smith, in
the neighborhood of Houndsditch. They
We're about the biggest people in the
wholesale line Of penny toys and other
little things of the gutter and curb indus
try. and / had struck up a warm friend
ship with the firm since my FIRST visit
to the place 10 purchase a few gross OF
penny toys for distribution at a poor
childrens treat
| had asked for ShenkoWitzky and had
been told that / could see Mr.. Smith
hale and hearty gentleman, who might
have been any age between forty and
sixty he had himself conducted me
through all the rooms Of the six OF
seven floors OF the vast warehouse and
had added at least "a gross Of toys to my
purchases. by way of discount" as
he said, and had given me the most
pressing invitation to come and see him
again. And so now ! determined to call
upon him and to talk 10 him about the
sack Of Ludgate Hill
Quite mechanically and unintentionally
II once more asked if I could see Mr.
Sbenkowitzky, and was again told could
see Mr. Smith / thought il strange. but
forgot about it the moment Mr.. Smith
came forward 30 greet me with his cheer
ful face
Delighted to see YOU again. >my dear
auntie.' he exIaimed Got a Christina
treat on. l suppose? Nc, no. / mean a
Chanucah treat wonderful holiday
that, Of your people. with its memories OF
the brave deeds of the Maccabees and
ts pretty custom oE lighting tiny colored
candles. Let me conduct you over the
establishment. auntie2
Il am s0rry I have no treat on hand.
remarked. 4 came on the spur Of the
moment when I found Ludgate Hu de-
serted"
Sad, sad, remarked Mr.. Smith, shak-
ing his head.
Room Full Of Toys.
He led the way to the penny toy whole
sale department AT the back, a long
room crammed with thousands Of toys
stacked in dozens and crosses on the
shelves. There were six statesmen and
two customers
Usually al this time OF the year. be
said. this room is packed with Il crowd
Of traders 81 all ages and sizes Now
as YOU see. IL j. deserted. That. however
doesn't trouble me much You couldn'
stay here long auntie. YOU would hear
some pitiful stories-s0me Of them true,
he added slyly
The two customers seemed TO be hav-
ing some sfiiculty with the statesmen, and
We walked forward % listen Ragged lit
tie urchins they were both one Of the
boys. slightly taller and thinner than the
other, rushed eagerly TO Mr.. Smith.
Say guY'nor.' he said hoarseIy. me
farver's very ill-siraight. he is Doctor
says he's got 10 have a teaspo0nful of
brandy every five minutes
THAT viii just suit him" said one Of
the statesmen. with "a laugh.
Hush; ] know what ne means. re-
marked Mr. Smith. "WeH2" he added.
addressing the lad
We've only got the teaspoon. - said
the boy.
And you want me to give you the
money for the brandy said Smith
NO. sir; straight I don't want you
70 give me tick for couple of dozen
toys"
Mr. Smith pointed to the notices in the
shop Terms strictly cash and NO
tick "
The lads eyes filed with tears
Yes. know. Mr.. Sniff. he said. "but
Ii isn't true You do give tick 20 some
Of US and I've brought a surety. straight
/ have"
"Who?" asked MIR Smith. kindly
The other boy stepped forward
Goes surety for Friends.
Me. sir, Marky Sol9mons," he said. Il
ike in the Dutch Tenter ground, you
know, sir. Spltalaelds. Used TO have a
farver wot kept a stall in the Lane.
Muvver docs so now. I'm known here,
and you can ask about me at Old Mauta-
que street school. Won a scholarship. ]
Old sir. but faryer died. and ] had 10
chuck the scholarship 20 help muvver"
Mr.. Smith stopped the boy.
Give the bows what they want. on
tick. he said 10 the salesman. lie led
the way TO his private office, where tea
was prepared. he did not speak until
he had gulped down cup of tea Then
he said suddenly:
Perhaps you are surprised. my dear
young lady" and his voice was not
quite steady. Il don't always do
business in this way. I'm afraid I'm un-
neTed. But it reminded me Of my first
meeting with Shenkowitzky."
Il should like to meet him" I said.
That was the first tine I heard him
mention his pardners name
I'm afraid, said Mr.. Smith, grave!y.
that he also is in the stage Of requiring
brandy every five minutes. He's paying
the penalty for his strenuous existence
and early exposure. Doctors at Nice are
trying 10 keep him alive. I'm glad ne
was not here to see what ! have lust
seen. 1t would have unnerved him COM
pletely"
''Why?" I asked.
Because, was the answer. 1t was
almost identical with the scene ghicb
was the beginning of Shenkowitzky q
Smith. Listen. It's about thirty. forty
years ago-I forget exactly. was
like that lad with the dying father only
in my case it was the mother. 1t was
bitterly cold 7 was hungry; I had no
voice left My tray remained full.
Sturdy Boy Busiest.
Next TO me in the gutter was sturdy
little Jew boy, doing a roaring trade We
were outside one of the biggest shops in
st. Pauls Churchyard I have no con-
nection with the firm opposite. yelled
the Jew boy. and everybody stopped and
laughed-and bought. Three or four times
he emptied his tray and came back with
a new stock and new supply Of jokes
Il said something very bitter-I do not
remember what-to the Jew boy, and he
turned on me with a panied expression
in his eyes. He seized my tray I was
too dOwnhearted. too feeble to resist.
He offered my goods for sale. his voice
sounding stronger than ever, his humor
and breeziness more telling. Soon HeE