The Washington herald., 1912-06-30
"OHOEO SHINED?"
HEARD NO MORE.
Bootblacks Who Carried BOX"
Forced Out by Men with
Elaborate Stands.

This cry OF the trade made by the
bootblacks who carried a box" Of
few decades ago Is heard no more ex-
cept in the smaller cities, says the Bos-
ton Herald. Occasionally in a crowded
section OF a large city there are still to
be found few sinners" who have reg
ular calls to make at ofices where they.
are admitted, and while polishing the
shoes Of some big man Of Affairs over
hear important business matters dis
oussed. And there is yet 70 be reported
a case where these men Of to-day or the
boys who formerly followed the busi-
ness ever broke a confidence
What has become Of the boy with the
bootblack box? Twenty-Five years ago
they were as common on the streets as
the newsboy Of to-day. In fact. at that
time these street urchins followed a dual
occupation, selling the morning papers
until the business men were settled in
their Offices and then making the rounds
with their bOotbiack boxes. which con-
tanned their stock in trade-a brush or
two. a dauber. a box Of backing. a
brush for cleaning the shoes, and a
whisk broom for brushing the clothes
Not forgetting the little piece Of car
pet each boy carried to kneel upon. for
most Of the shOe-shining done then was
done on the streets. the patron leaning
against a wall or stepping into a friendly
saloon and taking a chair while the lit
tie fellow before him polished his all
calf shoes.
Prominent Men Former BOOtbIncI<s.
To the older generation this passing
OF the bootblack with his box has been
keenly noticed, for few public men OF
twenty years ago there were who did
not have a protege among these little
fellows Indeed. there are a goodly num-
Der OF prominent men Of to-day in the
United States who got a start in life
from a bootblack box and the helping
hand Of some generous PATTON.
To-day there are many stands carry
ing on an exclusive bootblack trade.
Some OF these are occupying stores
where high rents are paid. and not
few are fitted up in a very neat manner.
There are scores OF men following the
business altogether. including places
where barber shops are supplied with
stand
When the street urchin had control Of
the business he resented the Intrusion
OF any one on his corner and fights
were both frequent and fierce. for Il
there was any one thing these boys
could do better than put a high polish
on shoes II was In putting one on the
eye OF an opponent.
AS a rule there were few foreigners
among them. and the lot of boy who
could not speak good English was any
thing but aSroSy one. Many Of the
boys who followed the trade were or
phans or youngsters who ran away from
home. Let success follow their trade
and they took in the ''teaters." ate and
slept we'll But II perchance business
was bad and they were broke. a cup OF
coffee and dOughnuts satisfied the appe-
tite while a packing case with paper or
excelsior was used for a bed.
II has been remarked many a time by
men who knew these tiny tads" that
every one OF them were sturdy chaps and
sickness was unknown in their ranks.
The better class long ago had shining
parlOrs and with their success others
soon began putting in better chairs.
handing the morning paper out to be
read and in other ways catered for the
trade. 1t was not long before they made
heavy inroads into the trade OF the box
boys. and the latter slowly and doggedly
gave way to the bOOtblack ''parlor."
Trade Became a Profession.
As with the boys so it was with the
older bootblacks who had the stands.
the men who followed the trade were
for the most part the American-bOrn
sons of Irish, German, or English par
ents. Soon the Italian made his appear
ance in the field with his parlor. and
succeeded in getting himself universally
disliked for invading what had been con-
sidered by them to be a field which
would be impervious to the attack OF
Inva sion by foreigners.
But these frugal Italians. well salts
fed with less money than the American
Youngsters. slowly but surely IN a decade
49, hFNvH
who had grown up discarded the trade
and with the worldly experience gained
became. as a rule, settled in either a
trade or following to which they stuck.
The boy with the box upon finding his
trade waning soon gave il up to sell
papers or took de Job what de old guy
what he shined" had given him
For many years the Italians held un-
disputed control Of the trade. and on
several OCCASIONS attempts were made
% secure a monopoly OF the business.
Iut these failed, and with discomfort In
heir ranks they paid little attention
Il first to the fact that the Greeks were
iIowly eIbowing their way into the boot
black field. To-day Greeks hold absolute
control OF it, and quite a number are
What might be, from their standing. on
Easy Street
Trade Gradually Worked West.
The East was quicker to adopt the
rtands than the West. and this caused
many Of the boys 10 become travellers
Who gained fame for knowing the
-nIted States better than many promi-
tent people. It was no uncommon Oc-,
urrence for these youngsters, from
weIve to eighteen years OF age, to beat
heir way across the continent, and Wis
ting every State a half dozen times be-
ore they settled down. The brakemen
nd conductors were not unkind to the
,ootblacks, but drew a very distinctive
Inc between the sinners and the hoboes.
Passengers on the trains also helped
hem out by screening them between
eats or under a board on which they
we're playing cards, and the blind bag
age to the travelling sinner Of twenty
id years ago was as common a. a
arlor car Is to a travelling man Of to-
ay.
Even in the matter OF shining shoes
here has been a big change, and the
rush is but little used to-day, whereas
4 the old days the boy who had Rus
ian bristle and a camers hair brush
0 put on the finish was envied by his
sss progressive associates. Then Ma
on's and Bixby's backing was used.
little the best Of II, as he could
loisten the backing and use his dauber
D its full advantage.
Nearly one-half Of the people Of Dsn-
mark live exclusively b. Agriculture