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Show The Padrone System. If there is any one so deluded as to imagine that the padrone has no existence exist-ence in New York he should note the nwimarvers of a big, bnrly, coarse featured feat-ured man who watches the "chesanutta" and flower gang which pre-empts the I walks in West Fourteenth street. I stood at the comer of that thoroughfare and Sixth avenue one morning. It was 8 o'clock, and tho gang, numbering twenty-one men, came trooping up the uvenne. The padrone, or tho padrone's agent, was there in waiting. Each received re-ceived a small amount of money, and started off for his accustomed place. The padrone, or tho agent, hovered in the vicinity, and kept a cle surveillance surveil-lance over the men, and at the same time was on the lookout for approaching policemen. Two precincts join on Fourteenth street, so the padrone has no time to shirk bis duty. If a policeman jiasses along the lower side tho signal is passed, and tho Italians cross to tho opposite side. When a bluecoat disappears wound a corner they return. At 7 o'clock at night Fourteenth street is clear of these pests. They meet the ja-drone ja-drone again and turn over to him the receipts of the day. Then they drag their bent figures down the avenue and take a short cut for some Mullierry stm t attic. Seven daysin the week this routine is gone through with, cold or stormy weather not interfering in the least. New York Star |