Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-30

/ who discover things make a point Of
sharing with their less lucky brethren,
most OF them go of somewhere and
enjoy themselves alone The one who
makes "a haul does not like it talked
about for fear Of the police. As these
lucky discoveries mean days. some
times weeks Of freedom from tramp
ing tho streets, the finders fail 10 see
the ethical advantag Of foregoing a
period of rest and liberty, combined
sometimes with enjoyment and oblivion
purchased at so much a pint.
once In a while even better strokes
Of fortune befall sandwich men than
merely finding valuables In the public
streets. Several OF them have come
into inhoritances. sometimes after years
Of carrying the banner" one man a
few years ago inherited a valuable es-
tate. With the boards on his back
he was about TO march out Of the yard
one morning when he was called into
the office and informed Of his good
fortune. Gravely divesting himself OF
his advertising matter, he shook hands
all around and disappeared forever
from the scene OF his sunorings.
DON'T FORGET OLD FRIENDS.
Some OF those who have experienced
these strokes Of family fortune have
revisited Ham Yard and helped along
deserving cases whose misery they
have shared The Soup Kitchen which
supplies penny q cents) meals 10 the
men In the yard was assisted largely
by an eX-sandwich man who had par
taken of its hospitality. Upward Of
500 men are fed daily at the Ham
Yard Hospice." whore the men can
obtain bowl Of hot soup before start
ing out on their rounds Some years
ago 1t was customary 10 give the
sandwich men "a small advance for food
before they began their days work.
but this had 20 be abandoned. owing
10 the fact that many would take the
money and then, so soon as they we're
outside the yard desert the work and
abandon the boards In consequence a
rule had TO be made that no money was
20 Doe advanced, Sandwich men who
know the ropes always bring q little
food with them or else save a few
cents. out % the previous days pay.
There are two distinct grades OF sand
wich men-those who carry the ordln-
airy boards and those who belong to
what Is termed the "Gcntlemeu's Bril-
gade.' These latter are the pick OF
the men who follow sandwlching as
means OF regular livelihood. They must
be tall and OF "dlstinguc" appearance.
as 10 were. for they are required TO
dress up as "swells' and go about the
streets giving out haudbills. They US
ually are fitted out with frOck coat. top
hat and the usual paaphornalla beht-
ting such attire. Public sympathy
seems 20 go out 10 these supposed
gentlemen In distress" and cOnse-
quently the sandwich contractor does
not hesitate 20 play up this impression
for am Il is worth TO rs rather an adj
vantage TO get into the "Gentlemen's
Brigade for occasionally persons OF
wealth become interested IN these men
and try 10 give them an opportunity OF
improving their condition.
The "Gentlemen's Brigade" has
helped 10 elevate the sandwich mems
profession somewhat IL need no
longer be a fearsome, bedraggied, rag
and-tatter calling but, II a man gets
into tho exclusive Gents Corps" he
at least always can be dressed we'll
even though the clothes be borrowed.
ana though, every night sees the suu-
posed gentleman stripped OF an ais
hnery Ike the wicked prince Ina the
fairy tale.
There IS n standing reward OF ne
cents for every missing set OF boards
returned 10 their lawful owner owing
20 the propensity of sandwich men 90
make the best Of their luck. taking Il
out in various forms OF couvlYiality
many sandwich boards come 10 grief
80 soon as h man makes 'uu0' Of
amy considerable amount be immedl-
ately divtsts himself of his boards.
leans them up against the nearest rail-
ing, ana bids farewell 90 his poripate-
tiC calling for the Time being Occa-
sionally these boards are quite yalu-
able. those with Illuminated devices
having gas generators inside them
sometimes costing about $40 each. 10
b. seldom that boards uf this descrip-
ton are lost. however. as only the
most respectable men are allowed 10
carry them
The pay OF sandwich men Is not on
"a luxurious scale. For carrying illu-
minated boards at night for four hours
the remuneration is go cents. This BE-
the highest pay in the service The
average for o fun days work In 80
cents those who DO night tramping
with Illuminated boards getting cents /
more. Some of the men make go cents
day, but they have tu start work at
"a, m. ana Work up 40 "a late hour
Altogether the NE OF "a sandwlchsr Is
not waltz DREAM 90 some II "a more
likc species of nightmare. We would
not advise any ono just starting out ln
life to consider the profession" fon- |
ously as career
" B NORTHROP.