The Washington times., 1912-10-28
OFFICER OF
j. S. NAVY IS NOW
SHOE shine KING
Capital Man, Retired for Ill
Health, Is Making Big
Fortune.

Lieut.. Philip vasa Mohun, a retired
paymaster OF the United States Navy,
who Is making q fortune each year out
Of a highly organized shoe shining busi-
ness In New York, was born In WASH
ington, went to school here, and is we'll
known among naval officers.
Lieutenant Mobun Is sold 10 be maxi
ing 800, 600 year out Of shining shoes
In New York. He does not do the man
ual labor himself. naturally. but he mas
a, young army of mon and boys who
tired payinaster proposes TO extend his
system to other cities. and IL reports
are correct proposes some hne day to
invade Europe and clean the shoes or
France and Germany, as they have
never been cleaned before.
Rear Admiral Philip Andrews. chiei
of the Bureau of Navigation, and 9th.
er Navy Department officials are well
acquainted with Mohun. and are more
than a little pleased at reports OF MS
success.
Gets Threatening Letters.
Mohun is now but forty years old.
He was on the olympic with Dewey at
Manila, and was retired because Of I'll
health. He started this business one
d,y after viewing with disgust a medi-
ocre polish which he purchased on Park
row. " -.
To-day, just Ave years after receivins
the Park row polish. he S is , known as rohs .hs
who. are making a success, he Is re.
Geiving any number Of letters In which
his life Is thi eatened. v.
One letter promised death unless Mo.
hun QUITS driving various competitors
.Mohun has ten polishing stands In
New York and Jersey City. He sayt
that each nets him a .pront, OF $iooV
per nnnum and that he will not es.
on that profit A Mohun shine cost
10 cents, but a guarantee goes with 1t.
"rm driving nobody out of busi
ness" said the "Shine King" yesterday
less than 10 cents let him shine.
Five years ago. after left tn
ravy because of Ill health. was sell
ing real estate. ! was working on ;
commission basis. but found that no
body wanted TO buy the real estate
had for sale. had a little money AM
began to cast about for some place T.
put 1t where II could work for me
Down on Park Row one day ] climbe,
into bootbiack's chair. The operate
bestowed upon my feet one OF the wors
shines that vas ever manufactured.
Worked in Polish Factory.
Il resolved to study the art.
worked In polish factory for 81!
i, months. There / learned what wa
good polish and what was not.
| started at the Grand Central station
| after making arrangements with TIL
| management and leasing the stand a
a yearly rental that brings my ex
pcnses there up to $4,000 a year
II Incorporated the business under, tn
name Of the Hpdson. Terminal Boo
fBlacking CoIhpany. 1t is capitalized a
10000, and own all the stock. l hav
! bad all kinds OF opportunities OF In
/ creasing the capital. Only this morn
| ing a lawyer wanted me to increase
% 100000 and let a client OF his In. 70
$4,000. refused.
81 am starting other stands In Ne,
York. ] have taken place in tn
| ongacre building, for which hav
to pay "a yearly rental OF $500. ]
costs me seven and three-auarter cent
to shine a pair Of shoes and | make
| profit OF two and quarter cents.
o" nv oDerators Sl.50 day and non
| of them makes less than s. week.
| am In this business to stay because
| have taken ten year leases on eac
| stand
| "Of course, the art OF polishing boot
Is lowly one. But It is honorable. Nor,
| over. II In lucrative. 1t Just goes I
show what big things can be develone
| from mere incidents. l suppose tha
had I not had that boy give me ths
moor polish should still have been try
'-r to induce some one to buy RET
estate that he did not want d,