THE ORDEAL OF SELLING MATCHES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3139, 16 October 1922, Page 8

THE ORDEAL OF SELLING MATCHES.

(By a. Beginner.) To be "down and 1 out" is an experience I would not wish for anybody. By profession I am a tutor, dependent upon casual supplies of boys "up from the country," who want to see town and at the same time put in a few hours at their studies 1 ; but this holiday-time I have not secured one, and as my advertising money is now non-existent 1 am at my wit's end to know what to Suddenly 1 thought: why should I not sell matches? There must be something in it. when one sees the scores oi match-sellers at the street corners. With the little money I had I bought a lew packets and started on my new job. Full of eo'urage and hope, I took up a stand outside Apsley House, at, Hyde Park Corner. During four solid hours. patiently watching and waiting for the buyers! to come, T made ten pence profit. It's strange how nicely one can calculate when in dire extremity ! Next dav ] did the same, a.nd one passer-by gave me a two-shilling piece and took a. box. I do sincerely hope 1 do him no injustice. T beg his pardon a thousand times over if T do, hut he gave me the impression that when 1 handed him the box he mistook the coin for a penny. It was nearly 9 p.m. and getting dark. So elated was J that when I left T. bought a box from a. poor, decrepit old lady, doing precisely the same work, not a hundred yards down the road, and gave her a shilling. Perhaps it was quixotic, considering my profits for the week were exactly 7s 10d. Put I am, anticipating. As my next two davs brought little recompense T tramped to St. Martin's lane and spent a, few hours there. That stand being worse. T chose Victoria, and for two evenings I made Is 7d and Is 6d profit. I had there one particular thrill. Jumping off an omnibus just opposite my stand, and making towards me with his hand in his pocket, searching for a coin, was my chum of many years' acquaintance. My heart was in my mouth. A hundred and one thoughts were chasing each other through my brain. At the psychological moment, however, a cyclist, dashed by without giving warning, and my friend had to administer reproof to the delinquent, and. in doing so, wandered up the street away from me. I sank back really and truly thankful! Now I am asking myself the questions: Is this pride? Is this sellconsciousness? Out, of a hundred passers-by one is truly sympathetic with the lot of a match-seller. "Here you are, guv-nor (or dad). Never mind abouti a box." is the invariable utterance, pressing a penny into one's hand. Occasionally a facetious, or, shall I say, sarcastic one will. come, by and say: "Well, here's a penny for a box ; I suppose you won the war." I cannot bring myself to it yet, bnl I think tin' best plan is for a matchseller to take up a position near a. public house from 2 to 3 p.m. and 10.45 to 11.30 p.m., and continuously shout his wares, if he wants to make an existence*—not a living—out of the work.