Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-20


- wrapper arrives with tub of Ice and
stands chopping it into bits for cold drinks.
The hot potato man drifts along. The hockey
pokey man and the hot dog man. They station
themselves at the corner and wait for diners
to drop their pennies.
The undertone Of voices and the stunning
of feet suddenly dies while those who intend
to eat nibble at ice cream or chunks OF bread.
Suddenly, from around the corner-just down
from the Bowery-comes running skipping and
hopping the most unkempt figure Of them AL. :
He has the face, eyes and witch Of dope
user-and the mannerisms. He Is swinging q
coat In front Of him as he runs. In all; prob
ability he has just lifted 1t from some res
tAtlrant hAtrack s-sf..-'t
Hey, Julius" he shouts. ''I got that coat
fur yuh. I toll yah I'd get yah coat :"
He runs up to the heavy man on the side
walk and losses him the coat. And it isn't .
bad looking coat at that. Much better, in fact.
than the one the seller Is wearing. Julius utters
only Q grlnt Then he reaches down IN his
jeans and pulls out nve-cent piece The deal
Is over. The hopping. jumping figure has re-
ceived q nickel for his time and trouble and
coat.
Dozens look on. Not q word passes among
them. Not even wink Here are hundred
or more men who meet daily and exchange no
word Of greeting and no farewell. when they
speak it is TO ask: what yah gimme for these
shoes?" Or What you gimme for these
much. They merely hold up their wares and
hear price recited. Or they specify price
and watch q head shake. tss
Petty thieves begin to arrive with their morn
ing's plumber. And in their wake come camp
followers, who pretend to be petty thieves.
They deal furtively and in whispers.
gold watch with fancy dial appears msd-
denly in q hand hidden behind Q half-opened
coat. Several grab for it. There are deniandg
to see the works and the number Of jewels.
But the trader shakes his head. He fears tlaat
monogram engraved upon the case win betray
his pilferings.
"Ah. yah probably stole It, anyhow" snarls
particularly tough character. II wouldn't give
yah dime for 1t. S'pose q ny cop catches
me with it? And I'm left holding the SACK
:. Keep 1t, big boy--keep it'll"
There are men with furs hidden beneath
coats and men who reach down into a tattered
pocket. bringing out cheap ring--the result
perhaps. Of cheap burglary job
And there are buns on the verge of sprouting
into tin horn sports. Even In greyiand, there
are q scattered few who try after a cheap
swank There's q fellow. who twists q reddish
mustache into little points.
few steps away are three overly dapper
Negroes In the yellow suits. of the musical
comedy variety They are selling cheap rings
With large red stones One deals in loaded:
dice. And one is displaying some sort Of
mechanics utensil.
what Is it?" asks q curious bargaineF.
II dunno" admits the Negro. ..Jes' picked
It up-jes' picked 1t up"
II HE man slips back over the city and slad-
ows creep along the cutters In disgust Ct
the dizziness Of. business q few pack up and
move on. A few grow desperate and all but
give away their odds and ends their rags and
their tatters -
A tat man steps from the dark tunnel coofE
way Of q shop and begins to, take down the
gold braid and brass button uniforms
The business day is nearing an end at the
Beggar's Bazaar.
Some jingle few pennies in their pockets.
Some have no more than what they brought
with them in the morning. Some shufie OF 10
Bowery fop houses, $50
Tomorrow It win begin all over again-the
same men and the same tattered wares And
the gutter as q symbol Of their status For.
here Is spot where . man Is never entirely out
but he's always down. - - *t.fts m ~.