Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1909 — QUEER PROFESSIONS. [ARTICLE]

QUEER PROFESSIONS.

Novel Occupations Employed by Enterprising Men to Make Lucrative Livings. Few people are aware of the existence of some novel occupations out of which many an enterprising man is making a lucrative living. One of the queerest of these is that of the expert "smeller.” Scent-makers need some one with a very delicate sense of smell to aid them in blending the ingredients of perfumes in proper proportions. Queen Alexandra’s ■ favorite perfume—violets—costs £lO per ounce bottle, and in order that it may be correctly blended before it is passed for Her Majesty’s use, it has to run the gauntlet of five professional “smellers.” Many of the larger firms of perfume makers pay their “smellers” from £5 to £6 weekly, and they are insured against cold and the loss of their sense of smell. Contractors for the lighting of streets, large public buildings and pleasure grounds often employ “smellers” to trace escapes of gas, Is being the sum paid for every leakage reported. Another occupation which is distinctly prominent on the register of Mr. Chesterton’s Club of “Qusar Trades” is that of acting as "best man” at weddings. He is in great demand during this, season of the year, and on bank holidays often finds his way to as many as a dozen marriages. His duties are chiefly only connected with the ceremony at the church, and on account of this he is classed with the minister, and his fee is not fixed. Sometimes he secures as much as £5 at a single wedding, besides a handsome present from the bridegroom. But in the majority of cases he is not nearly so fortunate, and his usual fee may be classed at about £2 2s. At this rate he makes more than enough to yield him a fair Income. He must be suave, adroit, nlmble-wltted and patient. He never gets rattled, never allows the groom to commit any glaring error, and keeps a watchful eye upon the bride and her maids to see that everything passes off in proper style. - Then, if his engagement extends to entertaining the guests at the luncheon or party afterward, he must be able to sing and dance, be conversant with the latest of card games, and reply to many of the speeches on behalf of his clients. But of queer occupations none could be more unique and weird than that of the professional “mourner.” Such was the proud boast of a man who recently died at Ramsgate. During his career he calculated that in the capacity of mourner his fees amount to no less than £3,500. From a very early age he developed a somewhat melancholoy interest in funeral ceremonies. . Indeed, .his interest was so marked that, ten years ago, when he was 62, he laid claim to have attended 6,000 funerals, and no such event seemed complete without the presence of “Alec," as he was popularly known. The solemn knell never failed to bring him hot-foot to the church. He was present at the first interment in Ramsgate cemetery, : attended 200 burials in St. George’s churchyard, and, although there are on an average 1,800 funerals in the locality, “Alec”, a short time before he died declared he had not missed 50.

For many years he supplied notices of deaths to the local newspapers, made all arrangements with the undertakers regarding graves, transacted business with half a dozen firms of stonemasons and florists, tolled the church bell for hundreds of funerals and would complete his duties toward each client by assisting the relatives around the grave and afterward into the carriages on the journey home. A number of what are known as professional “matchers” are to be found in the vicinity of Farrlngdon road, London, who make bis profits and keep large business houses. There is a good deal of money to be made out of the game if the "matcher” pursues the proper course. The stocks of articles required for "matching” are made up mostly from sales at private houses around London. At many of the private sales there are lots marked “odd Chinaware," or “Mixed China Ornaments,” which comprise, perhaps, from 50 to 100 dainty vases and old trifles of that sort. Being assorted in this way they are often ignored by the ordinary dealer, and when the “matcher’s" chance comes at the end of the sale he can usually procure the lot for sc. When they are sold, after “matching” purposes, the lot often yields 30 times the amount paid in the first case. At a recent sale particulars came to light of a “matcher** casually purchasing a small piece of Chelsea ware from old stuff in a miscellaneous lot The price paid for this by the "matcher” was 3d, and two days later he found no difficulty in disposing of it for 85s. The customers consist chiefly of mechanics and housewives, and the articles most commonly in demand are all kinds of crockery ware, decanter-stoppers, etc. The fees of professional “matchers** usually range from £5 to £lO to' "match” the required articles at a large sale, and if the number is large a small commission is also paid him. The "matchers” in a smaller way, who deal exclusively with domestic articles, do not charge a fee, but make their profit on the cost of the article required.—London Tld B!U.