Evening star., 1912-07-21
Washington's
Curb
Market.
,M1E ESaSH1S SssErSR7N2NSM0H7MTSMn ~
r~HE casual observer passing along

T~HE casual observer passing along
18th street I'm the vicinity OF T.
and G streets northwest any morn
ing between the hours OF and II O'Clock
may notice little groups OF men gathered
here and there along the curb engaged
in most earnest conversation. II he will
stop and listen before any of these little
gatherings he will learn that every one
is discussing things pertaining to real
estate. loans. building operations and
stocks. He will notice also that the
groups are made up OF all sorts and con-
dtions of men
This is the curb market Of Washing
tons financial center. Here wonderful
deals are planned and never executed.
Here the unfortunate worker will tell OF
the remarkable commissions he Is going
TO make on the morrow as he borrows a
quarter from his more fortunate neigh
Dor to buy his breakfast. Here can be
found the young man with empty pock-
cts and barrels of confidence. Just enter
ing in on the real estate field telling his
schemes to the cd man with broken
shoes and tattered clothes. who once was
a prosperous real estate broker with Of
fees of his own.
About II O'Clock the groups break up
and the members OF the curb market
tate offices TO see IL they can persuade
some one to buy this or that piece OF
property or TO make loan on this or
that house or farm. Often weeks, and
sometimes months, pass before a single
deal is made. but every morning always
finds them gathered along the curb talk
ing over the big deals and the large COM
missions they are going to make the
next day.
In the curb market are men who are
as near real Bohemians as il is possible
TO find in Washington When one of them
does manage TO pull off q deal he is al
ways ready to divide down TO his last pen
ny with the others. When these deals are
made there is great doings until the last
cent OF the commission money Is gone
If one particular member OF the market
earns big commission every one OF hts
friends on the market shares in his good
fortune. Sometimes there is big sup
per at the rooms Of the successful one
For the most part the members OF tho
curb market are men. either old or young.
who at one time conducted offices OF their
own. and either from lack OF ability
of funds. through misfortune failed
to make good. The lure of the big deal.
with its thousands of dollars in commits
sions. keeps them at 1t day after day
and year after year. The young mem
bers of the market never lose their smiles
and never become discouraged They
firmly believe that the end of the rain
bow is right around the corner and they
never lose faith in their pots Of gold. ON
the other hand. II is pathetic to see some
of the older men trying 10 smile beneath
the weight OF failure.
There is a story that testifes to
the large hearts of the members OF the
market. The boys don't tell IL them
selves but the story Is known In one OF
two of the big real estate Offices 4 few
days before last Christmas eve one of the
oldest members of the curb market went
home to find his gray-haired wife in A
dying condition He had not earned a
fxr 20. - ei.
men on the curb had been able TO pull
off a deal The next morning the wife
died. and the old man tottered down town
to tell his troubles to the boys. The curb
was deserted ten minutes after the story
was told, and every man was hustling
about town, IL his life depended upon
IL, to raise some money. They all met
again late that afternoon. and with sor-
rowful eyes told a tale of failure. Not
one of them had been able to raise a
cent. They talked the matter over and
decided that something must be done.
At last one of them hit upon a scheme.
and after the others had listened and sig
niied their approval. a committee was ap-
pointed to wait upon one of the largest
real estate brokers in Washington. The
committee laid the matter before him.
and pledged every cent in commissions
that the gang would make In three
months to the real estate broker on con-
dition that he would give the old man
enough money to see him through his
troubles. The real estate broker con-
sented and it be said to his credit
that he refused to accept a penny from
the members of the market when they
came around with their first installment
the following month
During flush period few months ago
one of the curb brokers decided to get
office. He hired little bit of a room
in one Of the office buildings. and sat
back and. prepared to get rich. He
bought his furniture at auction. and
among the articles was large book case
with glass doors. He lined the doors
with nice white curtains and placed
large streamers Of pink paper on the
shelves that were meant to hold boo -.
Then he hied himself forth and bought
many dishes. and pots and pans baked
beans sardines and many other eatabes
that require no cooking.
Ii was a heaven-sent blessing TO the
boys along the curb. Every day ANA
sometimes twice day they had "A great
repast OF baked beans. rye bread and
sardines. When the stock ran out some
one always managed to scare up do
lar or two and the larder was replenish.
ed There were ten of them gathered
about the festive board one afternoon
when hard hearted janitor investigated
the sounds of mirth that foated dsWn To
the basement and that was the last OF
the banquets.