sicians to be
found in New York. Judging from outward appearances, it must be their
most profitable field, for one cannot walk two blocks in any part of the
city without hearing one or more musical instruments in full blast. A
few are good and in perfect tone, but the majority emit only the most
horrible discords.

Prominent among the street musicians are the organ grinders, who in
former days monopolized the business. They are mostly Italians, though
one sees among them Germans, Frenchmen, Swiss, and even Englishmen and
Irishmen. Against these people there seems to be an especial, and a not
very reasonable prejudice. A lady, eminent for her good deeds among the
poor of the Five Points, once said, "There is no reason why an organ
grinder should be regarded as an altogether discreditable member of the
community; his vocation is better than that of begging, and he certainly
works hard enough for the pennies thrown to him, lugging his big box
around the city from morning until night." To this good word for the
organ grinder it may be added that he is generally an inoffensive person,
who attends closely to his business during the day, and rarely ever falls
into the hands of the police. Furthermore, however much grown people
with musical tastes may be annoyed, the organ grinders furnish an immense
amount of amusement and pleasure to the children; and in some of the more
wretched sections provide all the music that the little ones ever hear.

Very few of them own their organs. There are several firms in the city
who manufacture or import hand organs, and from these the majority of the
grinders rent their instruments. The rent varies from two to twenty
dollars per month, the last sum being paid for the French flute organs,
which are the best. The owners of the instruments generally manage to
inspire the grinders with a profound terror of them, so that few
instruments are carried off unlawfully, and, after all, the organ
grinders are more unfortunate than dishonest.

Organ grinding in New York was once a very profitable business, and even
now pays well in some instances. Some of the grinding fraternity have
made money. One of these was Francisco Ferrari, who came to this city
ten years ago. He invested the money he brought with him in a hand organ
and a monkey, and in about five years made money enough to return to
Italy and purchase a small farm. He was not content in his native land,
however, and soon returned