The  headquarters  of  this  class  are  in  or  near  the  Five  Points
district.  They  form  a  regular  confraternity,  and  have  their
own  laws  or  customs.  They  are  generally  sharp,  shrewd
lads,  with  any  number  of  bad  habits,  and  little  or  no  prin-
ciple. They  are  averse  to  giving  much  information  with
respect  to  themselves  or  their  society,  admission  into  which
requires  a  payment  of  two  dollars.  To  what  purpose  the
money  thus  obtained  is  devoted,  it  is  hard  to  say,  but  the
object  of  the  association  seems  to  be  mutual  protection.  The
"  Order  "  establishes  a  fixed  price  for  labor,  and  takes  care
to  protect  its  members  against  the  competition  of  irregular
intruders.  The  established  price,  for  blacking  a  pair  of  boots
or  shoes,  is  ten  cents.     When  it  is  known  to  a  member  that


THE   SECRETS   OF   THE   GREAT   CITY.  265

aa  outsider  is  blacking  for  a  less  sum,  the  fact  is  reported  to
the  society,  which  appoints  a  delegation  to  look  after  the
presumptuous  individual.  He  is  promptly  warned  that  he
must  work  for  the  regular  price,  or  "  quit  work."  If  ho  de
cliaes  to  do  either,  his  head,  in  the  elegant  language  of  the
society,  is  "  punched,"  and  he  is  driven  from  the  street.  The
affairs  of  the  society  are  managed  by  a  "  Captain  of  the
bootblacks,"  whose  word  is  supreme,  and  who  wields  hia
power  as  all  arbitrary  rulers  do.
