A Novel Calling.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 April 1914, Page 8

A Novel Calling.

A novel way of augmenting a meagre weekly wage was that of a man who was in the habit of buying old portmanteaux and trunks. He found numbers of people glad to dispose of them when they got shabby or a bit out of repair, and

frequently obtained them at a very low price indeed. After undergoinga little renovating at his hands they were ready for sale. By means of a, cheap advertisement he succeeded in finding easy sale, for these serviceable articles. During the long hoKday season the demand was the great-' est, then sometimes he could have sold more than he could supply.

He found it a remunerative business, for, owing to his being able to procure them at a very cheap rate, they carried a good profit. In renovating them he was very careful not to remove the labels, for he found that he could make shillings more of a portmanteau or bag well pasted over with foreign and provincial railway labels to both men and women who possessed a weakness for posing as great travellers among their acquaintances. Indeed, he used to specially lay himself out to cater for this class of customer, and occasionally sold a bag at a figure in excess of what it had

cost when new