Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1885 — Rejuvenating Toothbrushes. [ARTICLE]

Rejuvenating Toothbrushes.

Americans, as a rule, do not take kindly to second-hand articles, but, notwithstanding this prejudice, they use them many times without their knowledge. For example, a man would as soon think of buying a second-hand coffin as to purchase a toothbrush which had beforfe done faithful service in another’s mouth. Nevertheless, many second-hand toothbrushes are used by thousands of unsuspecting New-York-ers. Very few persons who purchase fine toothbrushes at low prices know where they come from. They only stop long enough to think that they have found a good bargain, without suspecting for an instant that they have purchased a second-hand article, but “where ignorance is bliss ’tis folly to be wise.” One of the ways by which hotel chambermaids make extra money is by collecting the toothbrushes which are left in the rooms by forgetful guests. Thousands of them are collected in the hotels of this city every year and again placed in a sphere of usefulness by enterprising chambermaids and dealers. There are several buyers who almost daily visit the back-doors of the great hotels and lodging-houses in search of these toilet articles, which are known to the trade as “seconds.” For a fine toothbrush, which originally cost from 50 cents to $1 and is stiil.'in good condition, the collectors pay 5 cents, while inferior brushes, or.those which are a little the worse for wear, bring only 2or 3 cents each. The majority of the brushes collected are of good quality and show no marks of use, save, perhaps, a little yellowness on the bristles or handle, for, as a rule, there is no toilet article about which its owner is so particular as tjie brush with which he cleans his teeth, and as soon as it shows traces of wear it is discarded. An industrious chambermaid who has 'charge cf a large number of rooms can collect from two to six toothbrushes a day, for no article of common use, not even an umbrella, is forgotten with such ease as a toothbrush. Of course, the larger the hotel the greater the collection of toothbrushes, and many economical chambermaids add from 50 cents to $1 per week to their salary by the sale of “seconds.” As a rule, the girls figure upon this item of income in addition to stipulated wages much as „a waiter does upon the customary “tips.” When the dealer in “seconds” secures a large bundle of brushes he returns to his little “repairing” room and begins operations. Each brush is plunged into a strong solution of chlorate of lime, which in an hour or two makes it a-i white as snow. Every blotch and dark line on the bone handle has disappeared, the bristles become as bright and glistening as when they were new, and the brush is in fact completely rejuvenated. Then the brush is thoroughly washed in clean cold water and carefully dried. Within a week afterward it has probably been resold and is again in use, perhaps in New .York City, perhaps in Chicago, or some other Western city, where it has been sent as a “superior imported article.”— New York Telegram.