WHAT'S THAT MAN’S JOB?”

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16869, 16 October 1920, Page 3

WHAT'S THAT MAN’S JOB?”

STUDYING FELLOW PASSENGERS

Have you ever tried to guess the everyday occupations of your fellowpassengers in tho train or tranicarf It is not so hard as one would think. Keen observation is all that is necessary, coupled with a. little practice, for the average person to "place” his fellow-men in their proper vocations with A fair amount ot accuracy. You see that young man opposite holding out his right hand with his fare;' Notice the small, hard swelling on the lop joint of his’middle finger.' Well, that is caused by the pen ho handies all day long. Did you notice how his hand went instinctively to his right ear when his neighbour asked for the loan of a pencil.' Obviously, then, he is a clerk.

That thick-lipped man who alighted ot tho last stopping place was probably cither a bookmaker or a paper-seller. If tho former, you would probably find his voice throaty and hoarse; if the latter, hl> tones would almost certainly bo nasal. A lot of observation, n little deduction, plenty of practice, and tho game becomes easy to play. Remember that there are very few occupations, active or sedentary, which fail to leave their distinctive marks.

For instance, tho porters at Co rent Garden and Billingsgate Market* invariably become quite bald after a few years, owing to the padded cups they wear to relievo their heads of the pressure of tho heavy loads they carry. They also develop in time a Lump at the back of the neck and a habit of walking with the head bent. Timber porters, furniture removers, coal heavers, and warehouseman all develop a ‘‘hurnmio,” as it is called—a lump of hard flesh at* the napu of tho neck caused by the friction of loads against tho flesh.

If ho fails to get a "hummio” thn warehouseman will acquire a form of deformity making tho left shoulder higher than the right. It in usual tor alt kinds of porters to bear ilpi weight of their loads always on the right shoulder, causing an elevation of the left shoulder, until in time the deformity becomes permanent. This deformity is popularly called ‘‘carrying shoulder.”

Butchers,' bakers,’ and greengrocers’ delivery men invariably develop “knob knee” after » few years at their job—the left knee-cap becoming hard and knobby through resting the icavy basket upon it whenever a halt i» made to deliver goods. In many factories whore men have to work among the din of noisy machinery, and tho perpetual clatter of looms, the workers develop ■ a peculiar contortion of the facial muscles much resembling a broad grin. This is a very common deformity among the glass-cutting fraternity. Few men can work for long with the irritating rasp of machinery in their ears without acquiring what rs commonly known as “glass-cutters’ grin.” As a visitor to a glass-cutting factory in the Midlands once remarked: “I never in all my life saw a happier looking lot of workers 1” Workers who always employ hand tools are all subject to certain malformations of particular joints of the fingers or hardening of the flesh whore the handle of the tool presses. Bricklayers, and pointers in particular, often acquire a deformed joint on the ' index finger—commonly called “bricklayer’s butt”—caused fry the constant use of a trowel in a certain way. Similarly, train and ’bus conductors have an affliction peculiar to their calling known as “conductors’ thumb.” This is caused by the continual use of the clipper used for punching the tickets. Unfortunately, it • occasionally leads to cramp in the hand and has been known to cause neuritis in the nerves of the wrist.

gailmakere, without exception, get a palm as tough as leather after a few yeans. It is known ae “sallmaiers’ palm,” and when a man has followed the occupation for a number of years, the palm of his right hand becomes almost as tough as the sole of hia boot.

, You can always tell a groom by his walk, a sailor by his roll; while a policeman’s stride speaks for itself. The habitual criminal of the lower orders betrays himself by his “shuffle” acquired during years of prison routine. Even the “highbrow” professions leave their little marks on those who pursue them. There are few clergymen who could disguise themselves to such an extent as to entirely hide their calling. So it is,, with the schoolmaster. Little mannerisms, such as strict attention to detail, exactness of speech, cling to him wherever he goes and betray him to the keen observer. In fact, it would be very hard to find' any trade or profession without its trade mark of some slight physical deformity, or peculiarity of speech or expression, to betray its adherent. So bear these little characteristics in mind, and next time ,you have a few minutes to spare, stand at the corner of the street, and see if you can “spot” the everyday occupations of the passers-by.