The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-21
SALE OF BUTTONS
BOSSED BY brick
Gang Leader Takes Charge
of Southwest Forces.
Shows Result.

"Bricktop" Mccartney, brick for brew
ity, the weIl-known and tried gang lead
er Of the southwest, whose most press
ing occupation is acting twelve years
OF age, but whose avocation today is
selling Playground buttons, sat upon the
worn marble steps of the old Metropoli-
tan Bank building In Fifteenth and look
ed philosophically at the "surging
throng'' about him.
''Youse kids" said the Brick, "has
got to get busy wild desc buttons and
his companions of the southwest gath
cred closer. I'VE amt gona let any of
desc guys from Doopong Surcle an Con-
net'cus avnoo beat US terday,' and with
one bound he was in the middle OF the
pavement. hat IN hand.
Cant I sell yer button. lady9 It's
all Ger the Fairgrounds. lady. fer kids
wot won't ter grow up strong like you
an me-" The lady. smiling, bought
''hfty-center," ans Brick returned 10 his
companions.
Brick was one of about LOCO sinilar
kids who came w to the button head
quarters this mGTning TO lay in supplies
OF the black, green, blue. and red but
tons, all with the picture OF President
Taft and the legend Il am for play
grounds" upon their shiny faces.
The lobby Of the old bank was crowd
ed with boys and girls. young women
and older women. few young men and
several middle-eged men. all Of them so
busy that it might have been taken
for an annex to an amateur stock ex-
change.
Before 9 o'clock there were 1850 vol
untary workers on the job I'm various
parts of the city. Most of them were
BOYS who were willing and anxious to
work .heir heads of. The spirit of rival
~ manifested by Brick was evident in
other places tco.
why, Minnie Williams, what ARE
you wearing that good hat for today.
It's awful pretty but you don't catch
NE comm out 10 sell buttons dressed
up like that"
Huh, Smarty Cat" replied the girl
addressed as Minnie, Il guess I solo as
many butto' as you have MISS Per
kins.
Purchase Tags.
While the lobby Of the old bank was
filling up and emptying of its sellers OF
buttons, and workers for Fairgrounds,
out in front automobiles came putting
up and stopped. got red or white tags.
smoked up, and whirred away, kids"
on bicycles dashed madly up 10 the curb
and stopped, while impatient button
vende9s hoped off for more supplies
The committee, after supplying all the
boys and girls with buttons, sent auto
mobiles, loaded down with pretty young
women, decorated with flags and tags,
out into the highways and byWays TO
tag houses and machines, and in gen
eraI 10 aid in the raising of the play
ground fund.
Several pretty girls who never sold
anything and who probably never will
again. unless on some similar occasion,
were out in the machines, and IL must
be a hard-hearted or very much bent
man who refuses them a few cents for
a button or tag today.
Business Men Prey.
Many a staid old business man on
his way down this morning on a street
car or foot came to with a start when
a small perhaps, a dirty-faced, urehln
with legs spread apart and with con-
ddent smile, stuck under his nose a
bunch of buttons, with President Taft
smiling from them.
Buy one button mister, won't you ?
We amt got quite enough to build them
Fairgrounds yet. Won't you take blue
one" yelled one strident-Voiced child
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