antedating of "gandy dancer" (1917)

[Sam Clements]

We've always had 1918.

I don't know if N'archive just added the 1917 _Kansas City Star_ or not, but
there are two 1917 cites.  While the 24 June is the earlier, the 18 November
is more revealing.

_Kansas City Star_  18 November 1917,  no page number, but it says at the
top "Want Ad Section."

(From a story entitled "He's the Rockefeller of the Hot Dogs" about a local
who got rich selling hot dogs for a nickel.)

"Many of his customers--most of them perhaps--are gandy dancers.  To
explain:  The term gandy dancer is applied specifically to a track laborer
whose work when prying on the end of a crowbar, inserted under a railroad
tie, necessitates a jumping up and down to gain a leverage.  That peculiar
movement bears a faint resemblance to some imaginary style of dancing--hence
gandy dancer.  But the floater, he of the faltering feet, whatever his
occupation is a "gandy" in the North Side vernacular.
   The gandy doesn't bother much about his meals.  Besides, eating is
expensive and when his funds are low he must retrench, so that, in no case,
he will go thirsty.  A buxom hot dog at five cents is his meat.  So, being
in the heart of the gandy district, the stand is assured of a steady
patronage, for there are always hundreds of gandies nearby.  At election
times it is a harvest."

There is another reference to "North Side" in the story.

Might be a research avenue for someone.

Sam Clements

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