The sun., 1909-11-14
THE Old CLOTHES MAN.
Somewhat Different at the Present Day
From His Predecessor.

Somewhat Different nc the Present Day
From His Predecessor.
Italian fruit vender with horse and
wagon. his outfit drawn up by the curb
In front OF a house In q residence street.
vender talking with a man standing on
the sidewalk who has two or three pairs
Of trousers and Q Goa over his arm: an
old clothes man this, and he and the vender
are dickering over one of the pairs Of
trousers.
Obviously IL the old clothes man could
sell them to the vender here in the street.
very likely not far from where he bought
them. he would be turning his money
over quickly and also saving himself
the trouble OF carrying that much OF his
gathered stun home. The vender looks
the trousers over. but the two don't
agree on the price and so they don't make
a trade but no hard feelings.
The vender gets cigarette out OF his
pocket and lights it and then the old
clothes man gets \ cigarette out OF his
pocket and puts It between his lips and
then lights It at the vender's. and then the
old clothes man turns and starts on his
way, with Il Ca clo'. Ca clo'. and AZ you
cry YOU realize how different from the
old time old clothes man Is this. his suc-
oessor OF the present day.
The old clothes man OF other days may
not have been an old man. but whether
he was old or young he was likely. to be
shabbily dressed; he wore old clothes
himself-he dressed his part, IL might
be said; and while he may not have been
humble In manner he was likely 70 be
slouchy. in bearing. How different tho
Old or middle aged he may occasion
ally be. but mostly he is a young man.
and outstanding. alert and well dressed.
The man talking with the fruit vender
might easily have been, as far as his
clothes went. a man who had come out OF
the house. q boarding house maybe.
which the vendors wagon stood.
Well clad the old clothes man OF the
present time is pretty sure to be in a
dark suit. black not unlikely. and with
a derby hat. and he wears presentable
linen; he Ia far from shabby; In appear
ance and In bearing he 70 a business man.
Meet him walking along the street
carrying no spoils OF his trade and not
in cry and you would never take him
for an old clothes man; in such case he
would look precisely like any other
moderately well dressed man OF his
age proceeding to his work or business.
whatever or wherever it might be.
him what might be described as a badge
OF trade. In his right hand he carries
a folded rolled up newspaper which he
uses as q sort of wand. At work he may
walk the sidewalk or he may take to the
middle OF the street. moving slowly,
deliberately and as he walks, crying
Il ca clo.' ca clo, he looks aloft
along the various stories Of the houses
and II he spies face inQuiring and re-
sponsive, a possible seller. he raises his
newspaper wand toward that person az
TO say: Have you something TO sellp"-te
halt there il the answering nod is afirma.
tive. to pass on IL IL is negative, still
chanting the L ca olo,' L ca olo.' and
turning occasionally TO look back to set
IL by chance he has overlooked some
body or IL somebody has changed hif
mind and now wants to see him.
Business this is now. the work OF the
modem old clothes man. and pursued
mostly by younger men. alert and keen
and Of such appearance that you may
not hesitate to ask them In II you have
old clothes TO sell. and in these days
az you make toward home you might
have handed to you in Broadway by
some well dressed man whom certainly
you would never have taken for an olC
clothes man a card giving the old clothes
mans name and business address, tc
which you could send II you wanted him
TO come to you.