George Ade, "Vehicles Out of the Ordinary," in Franklin J. Meine, Stories of the Streets and of the Town: The Chicago Record 1893-1900 (Chicago: Caxton Club, 1941); 87-91.

ANY one who keeps his eyes open can find a number of strange vehicles in Chicago, but he must go out into the districts where the people live, and not confine his observations to the down-town district. In the crowded business streets the trucks, delivery wagons and hansom cabs are about the only types to be seen.

At a corner in the southwestern part of the city the evangelist's wagon was drawn up alongside the board walk and a small crowd had collected to listen to the music and read the inscriptions. The vehicle was something like a fancy farm wagon with a canopy top to it, except that the side-boards were not so high. It was drawn by two horses, and the driver sat in a broad seat at the front. Behind him was [end page 87] the organ, which was built as a part of the wagon, being joined to the floor and the sideboards. The scriptural quotations were painted on red cloth curtains concealing the back part of the wagon, where there were two or three chairs. When the curtains were removed and the canopy moved out of the way the back part of the wagon became a rostrum, or pulpit.

The man at the organ played some introductory chords and sang a hymn in a robust voice loud enough for out-door use, and the evangelist made an exhortation.

Then the driver clucked at his horses and said "Getep" and the portable church was driven to another corner and the services were repeated.

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On many of the less pretentious streets the waffle man with his squatty wagon is a familiar and welcome sight. His establishment on wheels is drawn by a patient horse, who is always more willing to stop than he is to start. The wagon, which is of a dull red color, is mounted on low wheels.

The waffle man does his own driving, for his gasoline stove is at the front of the wagon. His cooking utensils, batter, and the rest of the kitchen outfit are kept in shelves at the front, while at the back there is a flat counter where the customers may be served. Sometimes he rings a bell and again he will keep up a mournful, monotonous wail of "Wa-a-a-fles; wa-a-a-fles."

The waffle booth on the corner or the handcart of the "levee" district has been familiar for a long time, but the waffle wagon which supplies families is a thing of recent date.

The old cobbler and his traveling shop are known on many of the streets in the northwestern section of the city. He has a [end page 88] covered wagon, which is fitted up inside with all that is needed in a repair shop. The driver, who is as old and grizzled as the cobbler, labors to keep the horse going, and shouts "Old Shoes to mend!" The venerable cobbler saves rent and gets plenty of work, for the children know him and wait for him, a dozen or more gathering around his queer vehicle to watch him put on the half soles.

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The sandwich wagon or "buffet car" is common enough, especially on the south side between Van Buren and 12th streets, and on the west along Halsted and Madison streets. There are a few along North Clark Street, and now and then one may be found even in the remote districts, especially around the parks or any resort where people congregate of an evening. It was the sandwich wagon that popularized the "ham and egg sandwich," an oily luxury which has been taken up by many of the restaurants.

At first the wagons served only sandwiches, but with growing competition they have introduced cold-meat lunches, baked beans, coffee, hot corn on the cob and other delicacies. If one is not troubled with a false pride one can get a good warm lunch at low prices and stand on the curbstone while he eats it. Occasionally there will be seen a buffet car with a little counter in the back end of it. At the counter are three stools, so that at least three customers may sit while they are being served.

The average sandwich car to be found in State Street has numerous windows decorated with tempting advertisements. [end page 89]The oil or gasoline stove is banked about with loaves of bread, the carcasses of chickens and great knobs of ham. "Albert" or "Charley," or whatever may be the name on the illuminated sign, wears a white jacket and a white cap and takes a professional pride in turning a piece of ham without putting the fork to it.

As a rule, each of these wagons has a "stand" where it remains from an early hour in the evening until the last customers go home, sometimes the break of day. The horse is not kept "hitched up" all night, but is in shelter near at hand, and when there are no more 10 cent pieces in sight he and the "buffet car" disappear.

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An intelligent Italian, whose "territory" covers the residence streets far up on the north side, owns a street piano. It is one of the large kind, mounted on a cart platform. Until quite lately he had to employ another Italian to go with him and help pull the thing. This was not always easy work, especially if the street happened to be rough or a trifle slippery. Therefore, to save himself labor and avoid paying an extra salary, he bought a small donkey, which now does all the hard work. his little animal soon became thoroughly acquainted with his duties. He stands perfectly still when commanded to do so, although the command is in Italian, a new language to him. His head hangs down, his eyes close and the ears droop in a melancholy way until the piano begins to pound out "The Blue Bells of Scotland." As soon as those familiar strains are heard he lifts his head and prepares to move, because he knows that is the last piece in the repertory.

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The fish-peddler's vehicle is nothing more than a box [end page 90] mounted on two wheels, with a pair of shafts in front and a place behind for the peddler to stand. The driver stands back of the box, in which the fish are packed in ice. When a customer calls him all he has to do is say "Whoa," lift up the lid, haul out a fish and weigh it with his spring scales.

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Another strange peddler has a wagon with a hayrack on top and makes his living by selling sheaves of straw and sacks of corn-husks, which are used as bedding in many quarters where foreign laborers reside.

The lemonade wagon and the confectionery store on wheels were common enough in the World's Fair neighborhood last year, but there is an air of novelty about the tin-type "gallery" on wheels now jumping from one vacant lot to another.

Advertising agents are responsible for many of the weird vehicles on the streets. They send out Roman chariots to advertise a new chewing gum, and one of them rather overdid it by having a red-headed woman drive four white horses abreast.

Every one in Chicago must have seen at one time or another those two huge bill-boards, joined at the top, mounted on four small wheels and drawn by a team of shaggy donkeys not much larger than jack rabbits.

It will be conceded that the moving van is the most majestic vehicle to be seen, while from an artistic standpoint the gilded pie wagon has no rival. Then there is the fancy little steam boiler on wheels which is used in blowing out the stopped-up pipes.

Every summer the suburbs are visited by strolling gypsies who make homes in the big gaudy caravans. It would be an interesting procession-one made up of the queer vehicles in Chicago. [end page 91]