the most common signs of such a stand. Some of these stands
sell soups, some oysters, some coffee and hot cakes, some ice cream, and
some merely fruits and apples. In Wall street they are kept by men, and
pies and cakes form the staple articles of trade. Candies and nuts are
sold exclusively by many. Such candies as are not to be had of any
confectioner in town. Women never sell cigars or tobacco, though many of
them never take their pipes from their mouths during business hours.
Some of them offer ladies' hose and gentlemen's socks, and suspenders,
yarns, worsted hoods, and gloves. A few women sell newspapers, but these
are rapidly giving way to men.

[Picture: STREET VENDERS.]

The newspaper stands are located principally on Broadway, in Wall street,
and around the Post Office and the ferries. At some of them only the
morning or evening journals are kept, but others offer all the weeklies
and the illustrated papers as well.

The venders of cheap neckties and pocket book straps are mostly boys or
very young men. They frequent the lower part of Broadway, which is also
the favorite haunt of the venders of cheap jewelry. Pocket books of
every description are sold at marvellously cheap prices, and photographs
are displayed in such lavish quantities that you feel sure that every
dealer in them has bankrupted himself in order to afford a free art
exhibition to the crowd of little ragamuffins gathered around him. Toys
of every contrivance adorn the stands above Canal street. The dealers in
these articles are strong, able-bodied men, who prefer to stand on the
side walks pulling the strings of a jumping jack, or making contortions
with a toy contrived for that purpose, to a more manly way of earning
their bread.

The balloon men, the penny whistle and pop gun dealers frequent the upper
streets, where they are apt to be seen by children. The lame soldier
sets up his stand anywhere, and deals principally in shoe strings,
neckties, or in books and papers that no one ever reads. Towards
Christmas large booths for the sale of toys are erected on some of the
east and west side streets, at which a thriving business in toys and
fire-works is carried on.

The Chinese candy and cigar sellers are to be found between the Astor
House and the South Ferry. No one ever seems to buy from them, but they
continue in the business, and thus afford proof positive that they have
their customers.

The dog