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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8adac64 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50284 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50284) diff --git a/old/50284-0.txt b/old/50284-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ed4b59c..0000000 --- a/old/50284-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5033 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Boyville, by John E. Gunckel - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Boyville - A History of Fifteen Years' Work Among Newsboys - -Author: John E. Gunckel - -Release Date: October 22, 2015 [EBook #50284] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOYVILLE *** - - - - -Produced by Giovanni Fini, David Edwards and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -[Illustration: THE PRESIDENT TALKING TO THE NEWSBOYS.] - - - - -[Illustration: Boyville] - - - - - BOYVILLE - - A HISTORY OF FIFTEEN YEARS’ WORK - AMONG NEWSBOYS - - BY - JOHN E. GUNCKEL - - - ILLUSTRATED - - - PUBLISHED BY - - THE TOLEDO NEWSBOYS’ ASSOCIATION - TOLEDO, OHIO - - - - - Copyrighted 1905 - BY JOHN E. GUNCKEL - All rights reserved - - - - - To the Newsboys of America, and their Friends - this book is respectfully dedicated - - - - - PRESS OF - THE FRANKLIN COMPANY - TOLEDO, OHIO - - - - - _CONTENTS_ - - - _PART FIRST_ - - Chapter I Page 3 - - ” II ” 9 - - ” III ” 14 - - ” IV ” 19 - - ” V ” 25 - - _PART SECOND_ - - Chapter VI Page 31 - - ” VII ” 35 - - ” VIII ” 43 - - ” IX ” 49 - - ” X ” 53 - - ” XI ” 59 - - _PART THIRD_ - - Chapter XII Page 65 - - ” XIII ” 71 - - ” XIV ” 80 - - ” XV ” 87 - - ” XVI ” 93 - - _PART FOURTH_ - - Chapter XVII Page 105 - - ” XVIII ” 111 - - ” XIX ” 115 - - ” XX ” 120 - - _PART FIFTH_ - - Chapter XXI Page 129 - - ” XXII ” 135 - - _PART SIXTH_ - - Chapter XXIII Page 143 - - ” XXIV ” 147 - - ” XXV ” 151 - - ” XXVI ” 158 - - ” XXVII ” 164 - - ” XXVIII ” 166 - - ” XXIX ” 171 - - ” XXX ” 175 - - ” XXXI ” 177 - - ” XXXII ” 183 - - ” XXXIII ” 186 - - ” XXXIV ” 189 - - _PART SEVENTH_ - - Chapter XXXV Page 195 - - ” XXXVI ” 200 - - ” XXXVII ” 205 - - ” XXXVIII ” 208 - - ” XXXIX ” 211 - - ” XXXX ” 217 - - - - - _LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS_ - - - Page - - The president talking to the newsboys, Frontispiece - - “I am scattering hickory-nuts under this old tree for the - children to find termorrow,” 8 - - The original charter members, 16 - - Ready to start for the first Christmas dinner, 24 - - Where the Boyville Newsboy’s Association was organized, - December 25, 1892, 32 - - A bunch of sellers, 40 - - Festival Hall. Where the National Newsboy’s Association - was organized, August 16, 1904, 48 - - Newsboys’ Band and Cadets—ready to start for - Washington, D. C., to participate in the inaugural - parade of President Roosevelt, March 4, - 1905, 56 - - “I am an officer of the sellers’ auxiliary; get busy,” 64 - - “Lady, I am sorry I run away wid de money,” 64 - - “Trow de cigarette away,” 72 - - “President, I have already licked de kid,” 80 - - Getting familiar with the headlines, 88 - - “Dis here is de dog,” 88 - - Roll of honor—some of the boys who turned in valuable - articles found on the street, 96 - - The Boyville Cadets—when first organized, 96 - - Members of the East Side auxiliary, 104 - - “Firetop,” 112 - - “He sweared at a lady and I punked him,” 120 - - Carriers, 128 - - Carriers, 128 - - First sale of the day, 136 - - Lining up ready to go to church, 144 - - The tough from market space, 152 - - Dividing the papers, 160 - - Two new members, 168 - - “Tenements on the avenue.” In these old buildings, - at one time, lived seventeen families, 176 - - “I will buy from the little fellow,” 184 - - Waiting for the last edition, 184 - - “Billy Butcher, we must have an understandin’, - which corner ob de street will you take?” 192 - - “He was fishing in the lake,” 200 - - Pastime—the beginning, 208 - - Pastime—the finish, 216 - - -“IF you are going to do anything permanent for the average man you have -got to begin before he is a man. The chance of success lies in working -with the boy and not with the man. That applies peculiarly to those -boys who tend to drift off into courses which mean that unless they are -checked they will be formidable additions to the criminal population -when they grow older. - -“No Nation is safe unless in the average family there are healthy, -happy children. - -“If these children are not brought up well they are not merely a curse -to themselves and their parents, _but they mean the ruin of the State -in the future_.” - - PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT. - - - - -_PART FIRST_ - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -On the corner of one of the principal thoroughfares, in a very large -city, there was located, fifteen years ago, a small grocery store. -In front of the building the enterprising owner displayed fruits, -vegetables and other goods; articles that were particularly tempting to -boys. - -In a near-by cottage there lived a very bright boy, twelve years of -age, and familiarly known to every one in the neighborhood, as Jimmy, -the newsboy. And that meant a bad boy. - -On the disappearance of an occasional apple, an orange, or if one of -the fruit-stands was upset, it was declared that Jimmy did it. All -fights around the corner originated from Jimmy. - -So bad was this boy’s reputation that every one in the ward, including -several Sunday-school teachers, was kept busy looking for a favorable -opportunity to give Jimmy, what they thought he deserved, “a good -licking.” - -The groceryman was not slow in letting his customers know how bad Jimmy -was. - -He was kicked, lectured, preached to, and a dozen times a day was -pushed off the corner. - -He was abused because he annoyed men and women by his misbehavior. - -No one ever stopped to ask this boy where he lived; what about his -parents, his home life, or to see if there was really any good in him -worth trying to develop. The bad was visible, and the people seemed to -delight in their vain efforts to correct him by censures and kicks. - -There was no question about Jimmy being bad, about as bad as any -street-boy would become who had his own way, and, whose parents -permitted him to go and come when he pleased, and to associate with bad -company, particularly boys older than he was. - -Jimmy was a leader of a gang of little toughs who always met at the -corner, in the evenings, and delighted in making it unpleasant for -those who lived within hearing distance. He was strong, quick, and -could throw to the ground any boy of his size, and never hesitated -trying a much larger boy. He was the terror of the corners. - -Yet with all his bad reputation, no one ever caught him doing anything -for which he could be punished under the state laws. - -Circumstantial evidence was all the groceryman could produce at any -time he was accused. The boy who “squealed” to the groceryman about -Jimmy had to remain away from the corner until he thought that Jimmy -had forgotten it. - -Jimmy was a typical newsboy. - -He was not happy in fine clothes. He did not use the many slang phrases -which so frequently become a part of a street-boy’s life and enjoyment, -but he had everything else. - -He had a small route, perhaps thirty customers, for morning and evening -papers, and when he had delivered his papers, he would hasten down -town, get a new supply of the latest editions, and join the boys in -selling on the streets. - -He was an early riser, like all carriers, and long before the neighbors -thought of getting up he was out on the street, and in all kinds of -weather. - -The station agent from whom he procured his morning papers said: “There -is not a more faithful boy in the city, from a business view. But he -has to be served first. He has a way of his own in pushing ahead of the -crowd and is always among the first on his route. He pays cash for what -he gets, but still, he is a bad boy.” - -A gentleman who lived in the neighborhood, and frequently called at -the grocery store, became interested in Jimmy. There was something -naturally attractive about the boy. There was a twinkle of his black -eyes that was really fascinating. - -“I would like to see what is back of that activity,” said the -gentleman, one day to the groceryman. - -One afternoon, late in the fall, the gentleman was standing on the -corner waiting for a car when the groceryman called him. - -“You said you would like to see what Jimmy, the newsboy, was made of. -He is up to some mischief now. He just bought a sack of hickory-nuts, -and I’ll bet a cooky he is making some one unhappy.” - -Two blocks away was a large lot, with a high fence around it. Scattered -about the lot were a dozen or more hickory trees. The gentleman saw -Jimmy climb the fence, walk to the farther side of the lot, and when -under a heavy foliaged tree he stood for some moments looking in -every direction. Finally he began to scatter hickory-nuts under the -tree. Very carefully seeing that they were dropped all around this -particular tree. Sometimes he would take a handful of leaves and cover -over a lot of nuts. To the gentleman this was an unusual transaction, -so he walked around to the big gate and followed a path across the -heavy grass, and went to Jimmy. - -“I have a curiosity to know what you are doing,” said the gentleman, -“and if you have no objections I would like to have you tell me.” - -Jimmy took him by the hand, that he might hasten towards the sidewalk, -and when away from the tree, he said. - -“You see, mister, termorrow is Saturday. There’s no school. Across the -street lives a whole lot of little boys and girls, and some of the boys -don’t like me very well, but that doesn’t cut any figure with me. They -comes over here every day after school and particularly on Saturday -and hunt for hickory-nuts; but these old trees don’t bear any more; -they’s dead. But that one over there, with the leaves, sometimes has -hickory-nuts, but this year nary a nut is on the old tree. So I bought -these here nuts an’ scattered ’em all around the ground, an’ termorrow -I’ll sneak around the fence and watch the girls an’ boys gather them. -Won’t they be happy?” - -“I should think they would,” replied the man. - -“They are real hickory-nuts, too,” added Jimmy, “I blowed in fifteen -cents at our grocery store. If you want to you may come termorrow an’ -I will guarantee you will see the happiest bunch ever gathered under a -hickory-nut tree. Will you come?” - -“Well, I should be delighted to come; and I will be there before you -will,” replied the gentleman kindly. - -“You see,” said Jimmy, “I cannot come until I deliver all my papers, -an’ that’ll be about eight o’clock. If you get there before I do, don’t -you ever tell who put the nuts under the tree, will you?” - -“I promise you, Jimmy, I will not only keep it to myself, but I will -not even go on the lot, until you come.” - -A few words about Jimmy and his home, and they parted as friends. - -“Under the hickory-nut tree termorrow there’ll be a dozen happy girls -an’ boys, an’ some of the boys don’t like me,” rang in the ears of the -gentleman all during the evening and frequently in the night. - -What a sermon, sowing and reaping. - -[Illustration: “I AM SCATTERING HICKORY-NUTS UNDER THIS OLD TREE FOR -THE CHILDREN TO FIND TERMORROW.” - - _See Page 7_ -] - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -Saturday morning was an ideal autumn day; a day children delighted to -go into the woods after hickory-nuts. - -A few moments before eight o’clock the gentleman was slowly walking -around the great lot when he saw Jimmy running at full speed down the -street towards him. - -Under the great trees were a dozen little boys and girls, and the air -was filled with their merry laughter as they excitedly gathered into -their baskets the hickory-nuts that Jimmy had so kindly dropped for -their pleasure and happiness. - -“They tell me, Jimmy, you’re a bad boy,” said the gentleman as they sat -on a stump of a tree, in sight of the children. - -Jimmy made no reply. - -“Well, I don’t care what any one says,” added the gentleman, “I don’t -believe it. Your little act with the hickory-nuts has taught me a -lesson I never learned in books. No boy would do that unless he has -some good qualities in him. I feel honored to have this privilege of -seeing those children so happy this morning, and to think who did all -this. Jimmy,” and he took his little hand in his, “I want you to make -me a promise—I want you always to be my friend. What do you say?” - -This was something Jimmy never heard of before. He was accustomed to -being kicked, and censured, and for a man to ask him to be a friend -was, what he afterwards called, “a new deal.” - -“Sure thing, I will,” he said frankly. - -“Now I want you to come down to my office, Monday after school, and we -will talk over something that I want you to do for me.” - -“I’ll be there,” replied Jimmy, and after a moments thought he asked. - -“And can I bring some of my friends with me?” - -“Certainly, that is exactly what I want you to do. Bring your gang, all -your friends, particularly the little toughs, and when you come into my -office don’t let any one stop you from seeing me.” - -“Oh, don’t be afeared o’that, we knows as how to get there.” - -A few other things were talked about and they separated for the day. - -As the gentleman rode down town he thought of the events of the -morning, of the life of a newsboy. These little wiry, nervous street -boys, alert of eye, and lithe of limb, who flock the principal -thoroughfares of our great cities at almost all hours of the day. - -Newsboys and bootblacks, boys whom the world seems to have forgotten. -By peculiar conditions these boys are used to being at odds with the -world. It need not be told that our newsboys, as a general rule, -as people know them, are regarded as a swearing, stealing, lying, -dishonest lot of young criminals, and these qualifications are -recognized adjuncts to their business. With these conditions is it -not a wonder that any of them ever succeed in working their way into -the ranks of respectibility? People who curse and kick them, as they -did Jimmy, never stop to think that these neglected newsboys, of -today, sharp, shrewd and keen, may be the thieves, the burglars, the -highwaymen; or the successful patriotic citizens of tomorrow. - -No one will dispute the fact that, the street-boy is surrounded on -every hand by degraded and vicious men, with drunkenness regarded as a -desirable condition, and the indulgence in drink only limited by the -ability to procure it. - -Among many, robbery is regarded as a fine art, and the tribute of -praise bestowed upon rascality. If christian people do not find -time, amid the rush and roar of the city, in their mighty struggle -for wealth, to lend a hand to lead him out on the highway of honest -success, what is to become of the street-boy? - -Is it not true that many a boy is bad because the best part of him was -never developed? - -It is not that a newsboy is so much worse than other boys, but simply -that the other half of him didn’t get a chance. - -If you, dear reader, will take time to get into the real life of a -boy, as the gentleman did with Jimmy, you will be surprised, as he -was, at what you will discover. How quick he is to see an opportunity -to do something bad, and when discovered, his conscience brings the -blush of shame to his cheeks. Take boys like Jimmy, the leader of a -gang of toughs, his acts on the public highway, his language, his -ragged clothes all indicating neglect and evil designs, yet get his -friendship, his confidence, and he will prove, as did Jimmy, the best -and most faithful friend you ever had, not only in his youth, in his -teens, but long after you have forgotten him. - -No matter how bad the boy is, how miserable his environment, that great -spark of good, that something, no one can explain its power, its -influence, is still there. To get into touch with that life, to draw -out the goodness of heart and make it a tangible blessing to the boys -of our land, is the work every man and woman ought to try to do. It was -this object the gentleman had in asking Jimmy and his friends to meet -at his office. He felt that opportunities of this nature come but once -in a life time. - -George Eliot wrote: “The golden moments in the stream of life rush past -us and we see nothing but sand. The angels come to visit us and we -only know them when they are gone. How shall we live so as at the end -to have done the most for others and make the most of ourselves.” We -become good ourselves only in the measure that we do good to some other -soul. In Jimmy, the newsboy, no one stopped to see what was sleeping -under the cover of extreme mischievousness. They were always looking -for bad and they found it. Neglect is the mother of more calamities -than any other sin, and who are neglected more than the newsboys? - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -On the following Monday morning, at the appointed, hour, Jimmy, with -eight other boys, was at the office of his newly-made friend. - -It was an interesting picture, an exciting scene. - -Noisy, loud talking, several answering questions at the same time, some -turning over books, papers, investigating everything in sight. Sharp, -shrewd, busy at every moment, quick to answer any question and the -replies always satisfactory, and to the point. - -“Don’t you know anything,” said Jimmy to a friend, who was trying to -investigate how a typewriter was made, “let that meechine alone.” - -It was soon in evidence that Jimmy’s word meant something, for each -boy obeyed him without saying a word, except a little grunt of -dissatisfaction, to show he hated to obey. Not one of the eight boys -had clean hands. Not one a coat with a button. Three safety-pins held -holding positions in some of their coats. Not one used a handkerchief, -and the slang would puzzle many a lawyer. - -As one of the boys lost his cap he said: “Some kid five-fingered -it.—took it with his hand.” It was an interesting crowd. - -“Well, you are on time, Jimmy, and I see you have brought some of your -friends with you,” said the gentleman. - -“These is part of de gang,” said Jimmy. - -“Do you boys all want to be my friends, just the same as Jimmy is?” - -They replied, “Sure thing; cert. Yes’m.” - -These friendly words brought the gang closer to the gentleman’s desk. -And more papers were disturbed. The ink was investigated and one of the -boys wanted to know why it wasn’t red ink. Another poked his finger -in the ink stand and made black streaks down the smallest boy’s face. -The gentleman was shown quite a number of articles they had in their -pockets. Nails, buttons, marbles, pieces of slate-pencils, etc., all of -which had to be admired. - -“Say, you, mister,” said a nine-year-old dirty-faced, bright-eyed boy, -“I had trouble gittin’ here. De con. wus onto me an’ I had to take two -lines ’fore I rode into de office wid out blowin’ in a cent.” - -“Well, quit your wasting words,” said Jimmy. - -The boys gathered around the gentleman, and he said: - -“My! what good you boys can do in this world with all of your push, -and energy, your hustling, your good health, you boys can turn up -something, and I’m going to help you do it. How would you like to help -me make all the men and women who buy papers of you learn to love you. -Learn to speak kindly to you?” - -“Aw, de peoples don’t care fur us.” said a boy Jimmy called “Indian.” - -“Well, I don’t know about that. There is one thing certain there can be -no harm in trying. The trouble is, people don’t know you, and you won’t -let them get acquainted with you. Let’s make a start. First, I want to -know if every one of you wants to be a friend of mine? You do, that’s a -good start. And whenever you see me on the street, it doesn’t make any -difference what I am doing, or who I am talking to, will you come to me -and say, good morning or good evening?” They all agreed. - -“And another thing, when you boys are down town and should you hurt -yourself, or get into some trouble, lose your papers, your money, or -some one frightens you, I want you to call on me, and I will try to -help you. Notice, I say when you are in trouble, because when you are -doing well and everything comes your way, you need no assistance. You -can take care of yourselves. What do you say, boys, to this?” - -[Illustration: THE ORIGINAL CHARTER MEMBERS. - - _See Page 14_ -] - -They all promised and were glad of the opportunity. - -This was the first intimate talk with the gang. - -Two days later, while the gentleman was very busy in his office, into -the room came one of the little visitors followed by some of the gang, -he was limping and crying as if his heart would break. He paid no -attention to any one in the office but made directly for the gentleman, -who seeing him, excused himself from his business friends and said to -the boy, - -“Well, now, what has happened to you?” - -“A man shoved me off de sidewalk into de gutter and me foot struck a -piece of glass,” he replied, between sobs. His foot was bloody, and -the more blood he saw the louder became his cries. He was taken into a -near-by hotel, his foot carefully washed, a handkerchief tied over the -wound, his tears wiped away, and when back into the office he said: - -“I thank you, sir.” - -He picked up his bundle of papers, all pain had disappeared, the smiles -again came to his pretty face, and with his friends, left the office, -singing a popular air. - -The result of this little act of duty added fifty new friends. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -A week later, a little colored boy entered the office crying. He was -known on the street as Midnight. - -“Tree boys trowed me down in de alley, an’ swiped me papers.” - -Four boys came with him. They wondered what would be done. While -talking with him, Jimmy dropped in. Not quietly but made everybody get -out of the way. - -“I know the three kids,” said Jimmy, “and I’ll go after them.” - -So Jimmy left on his own accord. In fifteen minutes he returned -bringing two boys. - -“There, you kids,” he said, “give Midnight back his money fur de papers -you stole.” - -It was done. Midnight’s eyes resumed their natural brightness, and he -left happy, thankful to Jimmy for his interest. - -To the gentleman this was a revelation. The power one boy can have -over a gang of boys ought to be used for good. Such vital energy, such -quick action, such nerve and endurance, all this must be used for -doing good, for helping each other. My! what a boy who has influence -among his fellow companions, can do. If each boy could be placed -on his honor, each boy aiming to do the best he can to uplift his -associate, trying to correct the little evils from which spring so -many crimes, how much happiness, how many useful lives would result. -If men would try to instill into the young hearts of our boys, our -newsboys, because they are tempted more than any other class, a spirit -of trust and love, instead of a spirit of fear and hate and revenge, -what a happy unselfish world we would have. Suppose these newsboys, -the boys who are so often accused of being bad, would be treated as -Christ treated wrong-doers, not as criminals, but as misdirected and -misguided boys, putting everything in their way to encourage them to do -right. Suppose they were warned of danger, were propped up when about -to fall, and personal efforts were made to find the good in each boy -and to cultivate it as a husbandman would his garden—pulling out and -destroying the weeds, removing the germs of disorder, and keeping a -watchful eye over all even until the ripening of the fruit. What would -be the result? The gentleman gave the subject considerable thought and -concluded to try the experiment. - -From the material at command it was surprising how many little good -things sprung up where least expected and from soil considered as -absolutely worthless. Like some products of the garden, good came from -unexpected places. - -Taking advantage of conditions and circumstances, the number of friends -increased so rapidly that when cold weather set in, over a hundred -little hustling friends of the street were added to the list. - -Winter came with snow and ice and cold winds, making it hard for the -carriers to deliver their papers before the breakfast hour. The little -sellers were heard only a short time after the newspaper editions were -out, and they were compelled to seek warm places. It was noticeable -that the saloons of the city were the only places open to these boys -seeking shelter and warmth. - -There were several gentlemen in the city heartily in sympathy with the -new movement among the newsboys, and among them was a generous clothier -who presented, through the gentleman, fifty overcoats to be given to -the poorest newsboys. - -To select fifty of the most deserving, for the entire hundred were in -want, was a very difficult task, especially as those interested had but -little experience with boys of the street. - -But Jimmy came to the rescue and he and the gentleman began to deliver -the coats. When forty-five coats were given there remained twenty boys -who were equally as needy as the others and there were but five coats -left. How to select five boys from this number was the question. - -Jimmy accomplished it. - -The next day the gentleman was asked to go into the alley in the -rear of the post-office where he met about sixty boys. Twenty of the -poorest, those whose names were booked for coats, were asked to “stand -in line against the building.” Jimmy asked them to name five of their -number who were very poor. - -“You see, Kids,” said Jimmy, “we have only five coats and if you select -the five boys needing them it is all right.” - -The boys quickly named the lucky sellers. - -Midnight, Peanuts, Bluster, Swipsey and Bundle were unanimously chosen -and the orders were given to them. - -This was a great surprise to the gentleman, for what he had imagined -would be a difficult problem was satisfactorily settled in a very few -moments by the boys. - -“Boys, come close to me,” said the gentleman. It was difficult for him -to stand as they crowded so closely around him. - -“I am surprised at your way of doing business. This is one of the -greatest things I ever saw. It shows you boys can take care of -yourselves and I believe you could manage worse things than dividing up -a lot of coats. For this nice little act of yours I am going to give -you a first-class Christmas dinner—” - -Not another word could be heard. That quiet, listening bunch of boys -was quickly changed to a turbulent, noisy crowd. - -Several policeman came into the alley to see the cause of the noise. -It wasn’t common everyday cheering, but yelling. The invitation was -accepted—it seemed by a thousand voices. - -“All right, boys, get your little friends and meet me at the -post-office steps Christmas morning at eleven o’clock.” - -“Say, Mister,” said Swipsey, a bootblack, “only sellers and bootblacks -in this deal?” - -“Yes, only sellers and bootblacks this time, and I don’t want a good -boy in the crowd. I want only boys who are bad. I want all the gang and -their friends. I want poor boys, but they must all be newsboys. That -is, they must sell papers or shine shoes, and not a boy must come in -dress suit.” - -[Illustration: READY TO START FOR THE FIRST CHRISTMAS DINNER. - - _See Page 25_ -] - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -Christmas morning came without a cloud in sight. The sun was warm. It -was an ideal Christmas day. The boys were to meet at eleven o’clock, -but fifty newsies were playing around the corners of the post-office -as early as seven o’clock and at ten o’clock they came in groups of -five and ten from every direction. When the gentleman appeared he -was considerably embarrassed at the noisy reception. The boys formed -in line by twos and as the hundred and fifty marched down the street -yelling at the tops of their voices the good people of the city stood -on the sidewalks wondering what had broken loose. The boys when near -their destination, arriving at the top of a hill, without warning made -a break for the bottom, like a flock of sheep scattering down a hill. -They ran screaming as only boys can. At the door of the building, -where they were to have their Christmas dinner, they were met by six -policemen, who held them at bay, requiring them to go up stairs single -file. - -The tables presented a sight that even grown people considered, “one of -the most attractive layouts ever seen in the city.” - -Flowers, fruit of all kinds, with “a mountain of turkey” and candy “to -burn,” greeted the boys. In just five minutes after the newsies were -seated there was not an orange, an apple, a banana or a piece of candy -in sight. All disappeared as if by magic. Ice cream and pie were first -to receive attention. Turkey and chicken were later in demand. In half -an hour the tables were cleared of everything that looked good to eat. -Not only were the pockets of the boys filled with oranges and apples -but their shirt-waists and pant-legs were bulged out with the things -that pleased them most. Only six fights were recorded worthy of notice. - -An entertainment followed the dinner. It was the kind and character -they could understand and appreciate. Interesting and earnest talks by -newspaper representatives, were sandwiched between acts. The object -of the gathering was well defined by the members of the press. Their -gentleman friend wanted the sellers and bootblacks to start a Newsboys’ -Association. This was received with the usual noisy approval. He -wanted an association which the boys themselves would run; make their -own laws, elect from their own numbers the officers, and everything -connected with the running of the association to be under their -supervision. On that Christmas day one hundred and two boys were -enrolled in the new association, and their gentleman friend elected -president, with Jimmy as vice-president. - -The president was requested “to get busy,” and, “prepare rules an’ such -things as we can work by.” - -After this meeting, Jimmy’s friend was known as “Mr. President.” - - - - -_PART SECOND_ - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -A dozen or more newsboys can be seen at almost any hour of the day, -dodging here and there around the corners, down alleys, or playing in -the rear of the circulating offices of the great dailies. In all kinds -of weather they will be found at their posts, prompt in delivering -their papers to subscribers, or upon the streets crying the most -important of the many head lines of the transactions of a day. Would -it be possible to get this noisy, hustling crowd of boys together and -gradually to bring this great power, this great force, into a channel -for doing good? To form an association where the boy would be “de whole -thing” with only the hand of man to guide where it was necessary? To -simply push the button? In short, would it result in doing good among -the class of boys who are neglected in more ways than men and women -imagine? Reflection resulted in adopting a name that would imply -everything— - -“Boyville.” - -It means work with and among newsboys by the boys themselves. - -The Boyville Newsboys’ Association. - -It was at once organized, and in its preamble of incorporation was -written the Golden Rule. In the formation of Boyville it must not be -understood that its mission was to draw good boys from good homes; but -rather to give help to bad boys, come from where they may, when they -appear on the streets—away from home influences. Whether they come -from the most palatial residences on the shaded avenues, or from the -crowded hovels of alleys, from poorly kept tenements, or even those who -are compelled to sleep in public stairways, barns, or wherever a boy -can creep under shelter without being noticed. - -With one hundred and fifty-two newsboys, sellers and bootblacks, -enrolled as active members for life; with an unwritten constitution and -laws that were made to suit conditions, and that were subject to change -at every meeting; with meeting places in alleys, in vacant store-rooms, -theatres or wherever boys could meet on short notice, Boyville was -started. Trustees were chosen from newspaper representatives, and -leading citizens, but the detail work, the real work among the boys, -was placed in the hands of the president—to make a success or failure -of the project. It was first found necessary that the president should -keep in personal daily touch with every boy, not in bunches but each -boy, sellers and bootblacks. A membership card was issued. This card -simply let the public know the bearer was a member of Boyville, -Newsboys’ Association. For this, and all benefits of the association, -the boy paid nothing in money. No assessments of any kind. Nothing -that would permit even a donation. He was simply required to obey the -rules—not to swear, to steal, to play craps, a game so common among -sellers, or smoke cirgarettes. - -[Illustration: WHERE THE BOYVILLE NEWSBOYS’ ASSOCIATION WAS ORGANIZED, -DECEMBER 25, 1892. - - _See Page 27_ -] - -There were but three officers, the president, vice-president and -secretary. The two latter, newsboys. Jimmy the newsboy, and Johnny the -bootblack, both leaders of gangs. These two boys were told that the -success of the association depended entirely on their work. They had -charge of the one hundred and fifty-two members. Their first orders -were: “that each boy must watch the other boys and correct a fellow -member for doing anything that would disgrace the association. They -must not wait to see an officer to punish a member for stealing, -swearing or playin’ o’craps. They must not depend on what they heard, -but on what they saw. Take the law into their own hands, and punish on -the spot.” - -The end of the first month found twenty-eight membership cards taken -from boys who had violated the rule, “you must not steal,” and nine -taken from boys who smoked cigarettes. The fines were from five to -fifteen days. When the fines numbered fifty membership cards, the -president made arrangements with a theatre to admit the members, -permitting no boy to enter unless he showed his membership card. The -boys who were fined, and did not have their cards, were dealt a pretty -heavy blow, for boys. A little banquet was given and again no boy -admitted to the hall without showing his card. This occasional hit had -its effect in reducing the cards in the hands of the president to an -average of about ten a month. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -The membership increased so rapidly and the detail work became so -extended, that it was found necessary to increase the number of -officers, from two boys to eleven. The constitution and by-laws -provided a Central Association, which was officered by boys who -had experience upon the streets, as sellers and carriers. The -vice-president gradually became familiar with the objects of the -association, and the work among the boys. He was a typical newsboy, a -good street-seller and his power was felt among the boys, especially -those who were inclined to be bad. A secretary was elected from the -ranks of the carriers. He was a good worker. The treasurer was a boy -who received the unanimous vote of the association. The money he -received was small donations, from benevolently-inclined friends. This -was used for purchasing flowers for sick boys, etc. The real work of -the association depended upon the executive committee of five members. -Like most organizations, the committee-work centered in the chairman. -The chairman of this committee proved to be one of the most active -and faithful boys of the association. He left nothing undone in his -efforts to unravel a difficulty or in correcting and building up a boy -who had done wrong. The four boys on his committee were untiring in -their efforts for the success of the association. This committee was in -constant touch with the president. - -The membership committee of three boys looked after old as well as new -members. Each applicant had to be submitted to them for approval. - -With these eleven officers, all boys under fourteen, the association -began life. The constitution and by-laws embraced in its power and -force simply one aim, one object, to do good among the boys. To do it -effectively, and make the results lasting. To build up, never pull -down; to encourage honesty, to watch and warn a boy. - -The work among the street boys became more interesting as the months -rolled on, and, at the end of a year the membership of Boyville had -increased to two hundred and fifty sellers and bootblacks. This number -not only included boys who sold papers every day, but those who sold -extras, and on Saturdays, and special occasions, and boys who sold -magazines or other periodicals. The association began to grow and -become recognized by the boys generally, and new sellers appeared upon -the streets daily, all anxious to join. The working officers remained -the same—but two boys doing the detail work. - -Two years passed under the new officers and rules. The Boyville -Newsboys’ Association began to be felt in the community. Compliments -were frequent concerning the good work. The association had increased -its membership to fifteen hundred and twenty boys. A little army, and -all working harmoniously together for each others good, and in trying -to assist and build up the association. Doubting men and women, and the -world is full of them, were perfectly satisfied of the success of the -boys governing themselves, as was shown almost daily in the work. The -boys solved a problem never thought of being tried by men and women who -had long experience in working among boys. - -The success of Boyville increased in proportion to the work done by the -young officers. - -People began to look upon a newsboy with some consideration, and as a -necessary adjunct to the growth of a city. His politeness, his honesty, -his general deportment attracted special notice, and the boys received -many kind words and increased attention. - -The association began to assume such magnitude that it was found -necessary to divide it into auxiliaries, to get a suitable badge, and a -membership card defining more explicitly certain rules. - -Boyville was therefore divided into five auxiliaries—the sellers, -north, south, east and west branches, with the constitution of the -Central. Each auxiliary had eleven officers, making a total of -sixty-six officers—all boys. In the annual election of officers -great interest was taken by the boys, many displaying political “wire -pulling” qualifications that would equal the work done by great -political bodies. - -These sixty-six officers were scattered in all parts of the city, -making it almost impossible for a boy whom they wanted for violating a -rule of the association, to escape their notice. - -The membership card told the story of what was expected of a member. It -is herewith given for that purpose. - - No.————— - - THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT - - ——————————is an active member for life of - The Boyville Newsboys’ Association. He does not approve - of swearing, lying, stealing, gambling, drinking - intoxicating liquors, or smoking cigarettes, and is entitled - to all the benefits of said association, and the respect - and esteem of the public. - - Signed by the officers. - -With these rules, and simple pledge, if pledge it can be called, in the -hands of each newsboy, the reader can imagine the good that must result. - -It does not say the holder is guilty of any of these evils, neither -does it imply that he must not swear, etc., but it does say, and each -boy is strongly impressed with the fact, that he does not approve of -these things, and will not permit a fellow member to violate a single -rule. - -A boy who says I do not believe in swearing, while he may swear -himself, will take great pleasure in checking some one else, and often -bumps up against a strong proposition when he finds some other boy, -probably of greater strength, watching him, and waiting anxiously for -an opportunity to correct him. If not corrected with a simple warning -it may end in a fight. - -A boy makes an application for membership. He is recommended by a -friend. He is approved by the membership committee. In case there is -something wrong with the applicant, particularly if he steals, or -swears, or smokes cigarettes, he is sent with a note to the president, -or as is more frequently done, one of the officers reports in person -giving the president a history of the applicant and the failing he has. - -The new member knows nothing of this, in fact he gives expression to -his thoughts and says, after he receives his credentials, “It’s dead -easy.” It is, as far as the business he has with the president, but the -moment he leaves the president’s office, the officers living in his -district are notified of the trouble this boy gives, or bad habit he -delights in keeping up. - -Even the boys with whom he associates become familiar, through methods -of their own, with his failings, and go after him with all the -authority of an official. - -With all the interest taken by the boys to correct a member for -violating one of the rules, and the severe methods adopted by them to -correct a known evil, it is seldom a boy will appear against one of his -associates as a witness. - -[Illustration: A BUNCH OF SELLERS. - - _See Page 38_ -] - -A gentleman whose sympathy was with the work, brought a boy to the -president whom he accused of using language, “unbecoming a criminal.” -As witnesses he brought with him four newsboy companions. - -Imagine the gentleman’s surprise to hear the boys say: “Mister, you’re -dreaming through a pipe. He didn’t swear.” The boys did not even show -signs of embarrassment but faced the charge with perfect ease. No -argument could get the boys to testify against their friend. - -The gentleman left disgusted with newsboys. - -“I will let you boys settle this among yourselves,” said the president. - -They went upon the street, into the alley. Half an hour later the -newsboy accused of swearing returned. Timidly he approached the -president and said. - -“I swore but I will never do it again, and I mean it, I am sorry.” - -At the door the president saw four little faces peeping through the -window. They were watching their friend. - -“Where is your badge?” asked the president. - -“The boys took it from me, they’re out there,” he replied. - -They were beckoned to come in. - -“Did you do the right thing?” one of the boys asked the accused. - -“Yes, didn’t I Mr. President?” he answered, looking for sympathy. - -“Yes, boys, he is all right. I understand everything,” said the -president. - -The badge was returned to the boy and they left the office talking and -laughing. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -The first public appearance of the boys, aside from auxiliary meetings, -annual Christmas dinners, attending theatres, entertainments, base-ball -games, picnics, etc., and where the boys made a favorable impression -upon the public, was the Sunday afternoon meetings held in suitable -halls, during the winter season. These were carried on successfully and -profitably for several years, until the available halls were too small -to accommodate the increasing membership. - -The idea of Sunday afternoon meetings suggested itself from what the -boys said. - -“If we had meetings of our own we would not attend Sunday afternoon -theatres.” Three boys, newsboys, were seen coming out of the back door -of a saloon on Sunday afternoon, and to the question asked by the -president, why they spent their time in the saloon, they replied they -had no other place to go to get warm. - -“Why not go home?” - -“We are not wanted at home.” - -At the Sunday afternoon meetings the entertainments were given by -the different Sunday schools of the city, and occasionally by some -society, all kindly volunteering their valuable services. Splendid -music, interesting talkers, little girls and boys in recitations or -songs who always made a hit among the newsies. In time the newsboys -became so interested in the work that many of them concluded that they -could “do a stunt or two,” and the program was divided in two parts. -First, the Sunday-school or society, followed by the newsboys who -introduced their best speakers, singers, etc. - -“These Sunday afternoon gatherings,” to copy from an editorial in one -of the daily newspapers, “have improved the tastes, aroused the better -natures, stimulated the ambitions, revealed new and nobler ideals and -altogether, have opened a new world of more sober and serious plans for -future success of the bright little business men.” - -One of the most trying incidents that ever came to the attention of -the president was at one of the Sunday afternoon meetings held in a -theatre, when was brought to the rear of the stage two newsboys so -drunk that a policeman had to hold them from falling. - -They had a bottle of whiskey between them. In broken sentences they -told where a keeper had sold them the liquor, Sunday morning, and -how the men in the saloon dared them to drink all the whiskey in the -bottle. It wasn’t necessary to drink all, a few swallows made them -dizzy. “We got funny and noisy, an’ the man pitched us out.” They -staggered towards the opera house to attend the newsboys’ meeting, when -a policeman assisted them in the house. Immediately upon their entrance -their friends hustled them out of sight behind the stage. The president -at once called the association officers and turned the two boys over -to them. Quickly the officers removed their badges. It was difficult -to restrain some of them from “giving the boys a thorough thrashing.” -Through the influence of the boy, Jimmy, the sympathy of the newsboys’ -turned quickly to the two boys and a determination for revenge on -the saloon keeper followed. The newsboy officers took the two little -fellows to their homes. In a few days they reported to the president -that the boys received such a severe punishment from their parents that -they would be laid up for a month. The saloonman was visited by two -of the oldest experienced officers. They were received with kindness, -and after talking over the matter for some time it was mutually agreed -that the boys were to notify all members that they must keep out of -the saloon, as the proprieter promised not to sell liquor of any kind -to newsboys and to refuse to sell liquor to any of the fathers of the -newsboys—“when he thought they had enough.” - -For a month the boys watched that saloon, and if a newsboy entered, -his badge was taken from him. The saloonman took greater interest than -the boys, for he absolutely refused to sell liquor to any one whom he -thought had “all he could carry.” - -Today this saloonman is respected by the newsboys and many good deeds -are credited to him. - -“He is simply trying to lift up a man instead of pulling him down,” -said an officer. - -The good that has been accomplished from the Sunday afternoon meetings, -commonly called “The Popular Sunday School,” cannot be estimated. -Thousands of people attend these meetings. They are pleased because the -newsboys do the entertaining. There isn’t a great deal of preaching, -but there is enough. “The object is not to give so much of that sort -of thing,” says an editorial in one of the great dailies, “but what -preaching they get is wholesome. The boys get a chance to laugh and -clap their hands. They are permitted to be boys on Sunday just as -on week days. There is good music, too. It is apt to be a patriotic -air, or a popular song. A sweet little girl sang ‘The Good Old Summer -Time,’ and the newsies joined in the chorus. It wasn’t classical, but -it was good. Instead of shooting over people’s heads the musicians aim -at their hearts. The preaching isn’t a tiresome string of ‘does’ and -‘don’ts,’ ‘musts’ and ‘mustn’ts’. It is mostly plain talks from plain -people who know they are talking to boys whose veins are bulging with -rich, red human blood. But the boys themselves furnish most of the -program. Boys who sell papers, who shine shoes, on the streets, get -up before big audiences, make speeches, sing songs, ‘recite pieces’ -and do other interesting and instructive stunts. And hundreds of -these little newsboys sit in the auditorium, conduct themselves like -gentlemen and thoroughly enjoy the entertainment. An interesting fact -about this association, is that its membership comprises the rich as -well as the poor. If a rich man’s son carries a route he is in the same -boat with the poorest lad that peddles papers on the street. There -are boys who have rich fathers, boys who have poor fathers, boys who -have industrious fathers, boys who have drunken fathers, and boys who -have no fathers at all. There are Protestant boys, Catholic boys, -Hebrew boys, white boys, black boys—and all are full-fledged, honored -members of the same newsboy family, which is run on the principle of -equal rights for all and special privileges for none. Rich boys are -not debarred. There is a desire to save them from wealth’s temptations -and make good citizens of them in spite of their handicap. The poor -boys who sell papers to help keep the family from starvation are -generous and are willing to let the rich in on the ground floor. So -it is a pretty broad and big Sunday-school. And a good one. Every boy -who belongs to it is better for his membership. He is taught to travel -on his own merits and not lean on his papa. He is taught that he must -paddle his own canoe; and that he will be judged by what HE does, not -by his father’s success.” - -[Illustration: FESTIVAL HALL. WHERE THE NATIONAL NEWSBOYS’ ASSOCIATION -WAS ORGANIZED, AUGUST 16, 1904. - - _See Page 53_ -] - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -So great became the interest in the success of the Boyville Newsboys’ -Association that many additions were made to add to its prosperity, -through which the association became favorably known throughout the -United States. - -A newsboys’ band of thirty-eight pieces was organized, the sellers -being in the majority. The expense of the band was borne entirely by -one of the enterprising dailies. The musical talent, discovered by -an efficient leader, in the newsboys, was remarkable. In less than a -year they were able to play some of the most difficult pieces, and the -general deportment of the boys surprised all who saw them. - -The organization of the South-end Cadets was an event which proved to -be one of the most successful additions to the association. Their fine -personal appearance, their remarkable drilling, their good behavior -at all times and on all occasions, with the band, made Boyville -extensively and favorably known as the home of the best newsboys in the -world. - -Nothing in the history of the work among the newsboys was as important -as the interest taken by the various churches, regardless of sect, -through their ministers, in holding special Sunday evening meetings for -the members of the association. All through the city the auxiliaries -were invited, and particular pains taken in the preparation of a -program suitable to all. When the boys were first invited, the -expression was frequently heard: “Gee wiz, we gets front rows.” -The illustration shows the boys marching to one of these evening -entertainments. - -The value of these meetings cannot be estimated. The good attendance, -the close attention, the good behavior of the boys made them many -friends, and people began to look more kindly upon the newsboy. - -With these improvements in the street-boy and the success of the -association naturally, the president received many letters from men and -women all over the land seeking information about the detail work of -the association. - -With the view that this work may eventually be extended throughout the -country, the president conceived the idea that a convention of newsboys -and their friends might be held and a National association organized -through which much good could be accomplished. He therefore opened -correspondence with the managers of the World’s Fair, St. Louis, Mo., -with a view of getting their consent and approval to set apart a day to -be known as Newsboys’ Day. This met with prompt reply and a most hearty -endorsement of the officials, and newspaper representatives generally -throughout the United States, and resulted in selecting Tuesday, August -16, 1904, as Newsboys’ Day. - -That the convention might prove a success, particularly among men who -are familiar with work among newsboys, the aid of the circulating -managers of the newspapers was asked. At the annual convention of the -National Association of Managers of Newspaper Circulation, held at the -World’s Fair June 12, 1904, the president of “Boyville” appeared and -explained the methods adopted in this association. He satisfied them -that, not only did the association accomplish much good, through its -efforts to influence boy’s work, but it also proved to be a great aid -to the newspapers in increasing circulation. He therefore asked for -endorsement and support of the members of this organization in forming -a National Newsboys’ Association. - -In recognition of this a resolution was unanimously passed endorsing -the movement; and a committee was appointed to co-operate with the -trustees of the Boyville association with the view of not only making -Newsboys’ Day a success but in organizing a National Newsboys’ -Association. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -On the afternoon, of Tuesday, August 16, 1904, in the magnificent -Festival Hall, at the World’s Fair, where were present hundreds of -newsboys, representing nearly every State in the Union; and newspaper -representatives from the leading papers of the country, there was -organized The National Newsboys’ Association; officers were elected and -instructions were given them to perfect the organization and adopt the -plan so successfully carried on by the Boyville Newsboys’ Association, -and having for its object the extension of the work in every town and -city in the land that there may be established fraternal relations -among newsboys everywhere in making them an important part in the -business world, honored and treated with respect by all good citizens. - -While the details of the organization were being worked out, the -officers were instructed, by the trustees, to issue membership cards -and badges and to organize auxiliaries in cities and towns wherever -desired. - -A year has passed since the organization of the National Newsboys’ -Association, and the officers have established auxiliaries in many -cities and towns in the United States with inquiries from foreign -cities. - -In the discussion regarding the formation of the constitution etc., it -was agreed that an organized association of newsboys with an enrollment -of twenty-five boys would be received into the National Association -as an auxiliary, and, in towns where there were a less number than -twenty-five newsboys, each boy could become members under the trustees -of the National Association. - -No recognition of the work accomplished by the National and Boyville -Associations was so important and no greater good can be accomplished -than the official approval and endorsement by the officers of the -greatest railroads in America. - -It is an undisputed fact, railroad detectives as authority, that a -majority of the young men arrested for stealing merchandise from -freight cars were once boys who sold or waited for newspapers at the -stations of our railroads. - -The officers of the Boyville Association have on file congratulatory -letters from prominent railroad detectives heartily approving of the -work accomplished in trying to teach the boys who sell or wait for -papers at the stations, honesty. One detective wrote: “You are saving -the railroads thousands of dollars worth of property and a million -dollars worth of trouble.” - -The railroads who have approved of the work have permitted the officers -of the National Association to issue circular letters to their agents -instructing them to allow no newsboy to sell or wait for newspapers at -the stations unless he is a member of the association and wears, while -on duty, the official badge. This simply means that newsboys to sell -or wait for papers at railroad stations must not swear, steal, lie, -smoke cigarettes or gamble. The trustees, feeling that the good work -accomplished among the newsboys would be still further advanced by -bringing the National Association to public notice, decided that the -expense of sending the newsboys’ band and cadets to Washington, to take -part in the inaugural parade of President Theodore Roosevelt on March -4, 1905, would be justified. - -Correspondence with the inaugural committee proved one of the pleasant -experiences, for the recognition by the chief marshall and other -officials of the civic grand division was quickly and heartily -given. The work of completing the detail arrangements, necessarily -irksome, was so cordially conducted that the trustees felt more than -ever justified in sending the newsboys’ band and cadets, and the -vice-presidents of the various auxiliaries, in order that Boyville -could be officially represented. - -“Sixty-five newsboys let loose in the city of Washington during the -inaugural ceremonies would cause the men in charge more trouble and -unhappiness, and disgrace to the city represented than the honor -gained,” was the public declaration of men who were not familiar with -what could be done by newsboys. - -Satisfactory arrangements were made in all details. - -To show the activity and self-responsibility of a newsboy, while the -boys were en route they stopped at Cleveland. Two hours were given them -to go where they pleased. In less than an hour the sellers said: - -“We have done the town, been all through the public buildings and we’re -ready to go. We were treated like reporters.” - -In Washington thirty minutes after their arrival at headquarters, the -president called a dozen boys to him and tried to tell them how to find -their hotel(?) from a given point. - -[Illustration: NEWSBOYS’ BAND AND CADETS—READY TO START FOR -WASHINGTON, D. C., TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INAUGURAL PARADE OF PRESIDENT -ROOSEVELT, MARCH 4, 1905. - - _See Page 55_ -] - -“Aw, what you trying to give us. We ain’t asleep. We’ve been round the -square, and say, president, we found a first-class eating place. It’s -out o’ sight.” - -Two hours after the boys were settled, a majority of them had been -through and around nearly all of the public buildings, and were ready -“to do the White House.” When requested to report at a stated hour and -place, every boy was there on time and to the minute. - -One of the greatest lessons the president learned from the trip, from -these newsboys, was the perfect control they have of themselves. - -They were always happy. Always contented and satisfied with conditions. -Never complaining or borrowing trouble showing that worry is a thing -unknown to newsboys. The loss of a hat, of a piece of baggage, an -order changing contemplated plans, all were received with the same -wonderful patience and good cheer, which seem part of the nature of a -newsboy. The boy without a cent in his pocket was happier than the boy -whose parents supplied him with more money than he needed. Wherever -these boys appeared on the streets of Washington they were little -gentlemen, an honor to the city who sent them, an honor to themselves -and, an honor to the great country they represent. On the train en -route Governor Myron T. Herrick, in his address to the boys said: “I -consider it a very great honor to the state of Ohio to send from its -commonwealth such a bright lot of boys, and boys who represent our -little street merchants, boys who are destined to be the good men of -the future.” - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - -Newsboys are students. From the necessity of knowing the special -happenings of the day, as soon as they receive their papers they -quickly read the head lines. First, they can be seen to slowly spell -each word, but in a very short time they read without assistance. It is -one of the advantages to boys selling papers, it is an educator. To be -successful, they must become familiar with the news of the day and be -able to cry it to induce men to purchase. - -After the inaugural parade, when most people were tired, the newsboys, -at their headquarters, “chipped in” and raised enough money to send -one of the boys “down town to purchase a copy of every paper sold in -the city.” The boy returned with New York, Philadelphia and Washington -dailies and a dozen sellers were seated on the cots, each earnestly -reading, and commenting on leading articles. One little seller said: - -“Say, look here, fellers, Teddy has started to work, he made an -appointment. I guess he means business.” - -Is there another organization whose members, when attending a -convention, are so interested in the news of the day as to send one -of their number—“down the avenue to purchase a copy of each of the -dailies the town takes?” - -From the highest officers in the land; from the committee in charge -of the various divisions; from the foreign as well as the Washington -newspapers, praise and compliments were given these newsboys for the -almost perfect marching, in the parade. - -They said: - -“The newsboys’ band and cadets made the hit of the day, in the parade, -and made thousands of friends throughout the United States * * * -President Roosevelt was immensely pleased with the newsboys and could -not say enough of the remarkable appearance they made. The Newsboys’ -Band and Cadets, sixty-five in all, which led the third brigade of -the civic grand division, are the first newsboys in America to be -recognized in an inaugural parade. The band thirty-eight pieces, is -uniformed in red with black trimmings; the cadets, twenty, with red and -white trimmings. The cadets march under the leadership of Drum-Major -Francis McGarry, the youngest drum-major in the world, and a little -fellow who has to take a hitch-step every other step in order to keep -up with the procession. The general appearance and manly conduct of the -young gentlemen elicited many favorable comments. They were an object -lesson of a very remarkable character, which is calculated to arouse in -them a higher degree of patriotism and love for their country.” - - - - -_PART THIRD_ - -[Illustration: “I AM AN OFFICER OF THE SELLERS’ AUXILIARY; GET BUSY.”] - -[Illustration: “LADY, I AM SORRY I RUN AWAY WID DE MONEY.” - - _See Page 68_ -] - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -The reader will observe that when Boyville was well organized no -boys were admitted to membership except those who sold newspapers or -shined shoes. But later, after many years of work, incident after -incident came to the president of the wrong-doings of the carriers who -occasionally sold extras. Those boys came from the best families and -much was expected from them by the sellers. But some of them proved to -be very bad boys. The following is one of a number of incidents that -induced the president to include the carriers in the association. - -A very kind lady, living in the heart of the city, and who was a -subscriber to one of the dailies, reported to the president; “a boy -who carried my paper and whom I owed eighteen cents, has skipped with -a dollar. He did not have the change and asked permission to cross the -street to get it. I saw him run down the street as fast as his little -legs would carry him. I knew he was running away and would not return. -It is not so much on account of the money, that I call your attention -to this, as it is to correct the boy, and save him from future wrong -doing.” - -She was asked to describe the boy. As it was dark this was difficult. - -“But I did notice,” she said, “that he had on a very bright pink -necktie.” - -This was the first instance she knew of the boy being dishonest. He had -always delivered the paper promptly, never missing a day. - -“But, a big new dollar was too much for him.” - -Immediately upon the receipt of this information the president called -his best officer and repeated the story. - -“A pink necktie,” he said. “Let me see, there is a pretty lively little -fellow that comes down town occasionally and poses on the corners. I -know him. He always wears that necktie.” - -Inquiry among the sellers soon gave the officer all the information -necessary as to where the boy lived. He was not a member of the -association. He was a carrier. He was supposed to be good. A dozen boys -knew the pink necktie carrier. - -Following is the official report of the officer who went after the boy. - -“I found he lived over a mile from the place where he delivered the -paper. It was a swell part of the city. When I went there I asked for -the boy. He was in bed. I told his mother I wanted to see him on some -very particular personal business. He was tucked up in a nice warm -bed, and I hated to disturb him. When I asked him if he had received a -dollar from a lady for papers, he covered his head with the clothes. -I knew I was right. I told him to get out of bed, and go with me to -see the lady, return her money, and beg her pardon. I had him dead -to rights for he didn’t want his mother to know what he had done. I -went down stairs and told his mother I had some very important things -we boys wanted him to do. She hesitated a little and finally let him -go. He dressed, and when on the way I told him he must get down on -his knees and beg the lady’s pardon; he cried and said, ‘I will go -home before I’ll do that.’ All right, I said, if you want your mother -to know what a little rascal you are, how you steal money, we’ll go -back, but if you want to be a little man, and make things right, with -my help, well and good. When we reached the house, we had to go up a -stairway, and the boy threw himself on the steps and said, ‘Oh, I can’t -do this,’ but I said you could steal all right, so come on. Up the -stairs we went, and I knocked at the door. I thought that boy would -faint. ‘Oh, I can’t do it,’ he cried, when the door opened and the -lady stood before him. She understood the situation. She lifted him to -his feet. I pulled him back, and said, ‘No, my lady, he must get down -on his knees, return you the dollar, and beg your pardon.’ It was a -tough job for that kid, but he did it; and after it was all over he -said, ‘My! but I feel better, I’m glad this is over.’ On the way he -told me he had spent forty cents and had but sixty cents left to pay -the lady, so I gave him the money to make the dollar, and he is to pay -me five cents a week until all is paid up. On the way home he was the -happiest lad I ever saw. The lady said it was the slickest piece of -detective work she ever heard of, and wished to thank you and the boys -for starting the association.” - -A few days after this little incident, the boy was brought to the -president, by the officer, requesting that he become a member of -Boyville. His name was signed to an application and when the officer -asked him how he felt after returning the dollar, he looked a little -ashamed, but quickly said: “You bet, I’ll never do any thing like that -again. It isn’t safe in this city, the kids find a fellow out when they -are bad. I’m glad we fixed it up all right.” - -He gradually paid back the money the officer advanced. Two years have -passed since that eventful night, and today the boy is one of the most -efficient officers in the Boyville association. - -The following editorial is taken from one of the city dailies relative -to the pink necktie story. It reads: - -“The story explains how well the officer did his work. There is a -lesson for boys and men, too, in this little story. It shows that -policemen and jails are not necessary when boys and men know how to -do right. No policeman, judge or jury was needed to straighten out -this difficulty. Newsboy government did the work. It got the woman her -money, and taught the boy with the pink necktie a lesson he will never -forget. He didn’t have to be arrested or go to jail. The public will -never know who he is. He will not be further disgraced. Now, why do -these boys, officers of this association, do this? simply because they -are proud of the reputation of their association. They have learned -that the association’s reputation is made up of the reputations of -its members. They have learned that one dishonest act by one newsboy -reflects on all newsboys and on the organization. So they insist that -all members must be honest and protect the association’s good name. It -isn’t fear of the policemen or jails that makes these boys honest. It -is the fear of their own conscience and the opinion of their comrades. -They want to be able to walk along the street with their heads up, and -to look every honest man squarely in the eye. They know they are as -good as the richest man in town if they are honest. They are learning -that it pays to do right, and not because of what may happen to them -as a result of dishonesty. If men would follow the same plan the world -wouldn’t need its thousands of jails, reformatories and penitentiaries. -If men would only feel that each one of them is a member of the human -society, association or organization, and that wrong committed by one -is a reflection on all, it would save heartaches and trouble in this -world.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - -Do you believe a boy that is good at home, one who is cared for and -loved as we often see an only child, could possibly do anything bad on -the streets, away from home influence? - -A neatly dressed boy, a carrier, whose parents “wanted him to learn the -trade of the street, to give him self-reliance and business tact, and -all that the street teaches without much effort,” when through with his -little route of carrying papers insisted upon going, “to the heart of -the city and selling papers on special occasions, extras.” - -Before Boyville was fully organized the president’s attention was -called to this little fellow—as being “a perfect nuisance. He was -impudent, frequently used profane language and was one of the worst -boys on the street.” At that time the association had but one (boy) -officer. He was told to watch this boy. See that he was corrected. -“And, above everything not to lose him because he was bad.” Within a -month the officer reported “the boy’s parents were among the best in -the city, good Christian people, attending church every Sunday, and -the boy a regular prize-winner for perfect attendance at Sunday-school. -When this boy was away from home, out of sight of his parents—he was a -little terror.” - -“Well, what did you do with him?” was asked the officer. - -“I takes his papers, an’ shows him as how to sell ’em. How to say thank -you when he sells to a gemmen or a ladies. And how’s not to be the -whole thing when on the street working. He cut out swearing de furst -thing. He was easy doing, all he wanted wus guidin.” - -“What did he say to your work?” - -“When I puts twenty cents in his hand, an’ says this is yourn, he gets -wise, he gets next to a good thing and is now working on de square. He -is de boss seller on de street an’ no boy kin sell on de corners and -swear, or steal. He fights ’em. He does.” - -That same little boy, who was given a warning by a fellow companion -with a little authority, today receives a salary of eight hundred -dollars a year in an important commercial position. - -In every city of our land there are hundreds of boys like this “good -boy at home,” who on the street surprises their most intimate friends -by their wickedness. - -[Illustration: “TROW DE CIGARETTE AWAY.” - - _See Page 74_ -] - -The newsboy cannot gain admission to many of the boys clubs, debating -clubs, athletic clubs, and is often debarred from many of our greatest -christian associations, because he is a being within himself, he stands -alone in his class, a creation of his own acts and deeds, and goes upon -the street at that age when environment molds his future, and generally -molds it bad. - -A question is often asked, what would become of a boy if he were left -to himself, with no training, no guidance, no education. A boy of the -street, who is dead to home influences, or worse, who is driven out -to make a living for himself by heartless parents or guardians, or -unfortunate conditions of life, and there are hundreds of them in every -city, becomes a power in himself. For evil, first. “For the heart of -the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” If left alone the -evil will get the upper hand. The street teaches irregular habits and -restlessness. - -The following incident will show how diligent were the boys, not -officers, in watching their companions. - -Two little boys, ages nine and twelve, saw a fellow member standing -in an alley, behind a pile of store boxes and enjoying a cigarette to -his great delight. He was afraid to appear on the street as the boys -were watching for such cases. He was a boy about fifteen years of age, -rather stout and independent, but a staunch member of the association. -He might have used his strength to great advantage in arguing with the -two boys who attacked him as soon as discovered. - -“Say, Mike, youse knows it’s agin the rule to smoke dem cig’rettes.” - -“Dat’s all right. If I wants to smoke, I smoke, see? No one sees me in -the alley. I don’t smoke when I sells me papers.” - -“Aw! comes off, youse knows de rules. Cut it out. Trow it away. Youse -knows our president don’t wants youse ter smoke ’em. Cut it out. Trow -it away.” - -This persuasive talk or “bluff” as the smoker declared, had but little -effect until the two boys began to take off their coats. When donned -for the prize ring, the boys walked to the violator, presenting a bold -front and again demanded that the cigarette be thrown away, and promise -made that he would never smoke again. - -“What youse goin’ to do?” he said, backing up closer to the building. -“We will trow you down, take your badge frum youse an’ take it to the -president.” - -The big boy stood quiet for some moments, in the mean time about thirty -newsies had gathered around him, each yelling—“trow it away.” - -“I haint lookin’ fur no trouble,” he finally said, and threw the -cigarette in the alley. - -“We’s only doin’ you a good turn,” said the nine-year-old newsy. - -“It’s all right. I was only tryin’ to see if you would stop me. I’ll -cut it all out. I will never smoke again.” - -That boy did not have to be watched. He was good and kind to his little -friends, and proved to be one of the best boys on the street. Two years -later, when he graduated from the junior grade, in one of the ward -schools, he came to the president, saying that his mother was poor and -sickly and he had to go to work. He was sent to a wholesale house where -was wanted a good honest boy. - -The first question asked Mike was: - -“Do you smoke cigarettes?” The president will never forget the manly, -prompt reply. He was given a good position, and that boy today is -traveling for a firm in Cleveland, Ohio, at a big salary. The increased -interest in the detail work taken by the boys themselves encouraged -the president to believe that he was still on the right road to build -these little street-boys up for good, not only for themselves but for -doing good for others. Another case of interest in an unusual way of -“doin’ a good turn.” A bright-eyed, red-faced boy, ten years old, -came running into the president’s office, one evening, almost out of -breath, and after clearing the way through a long room, he stood before -the officer, eyes sparkling with interest. He had something important -to say. His elbows were bare, his pants torn, his cap merely a piece -of cloth, with a rim strong enough to hold it in place. His name was -Bluster, receiving it from the boys on account of his blustering manner -of doing things. - -“Say, pres.,” yelled Bluster. “I want authority to lick a kid.” - -That was a strange request. While the president was thinking what to -say he added. - -“I must have permission fur de gang’s after me. Dey’re on me track.” -Not desiring the gang to enter the office and create a scene, consent -was given for Bluster to use force, if necessary to defend himself. A -smile of satisfaction came over Bluster’s face. A smile that indicated -that he had taken advantage of the president, and was now about to -glory in it. After a moments thought he said. - -“Say, pres., I already licked him.” - -“Who and what for?” was asked with considerable surprise. - -“Fur swearin.” - -Before he could explain the details of the case, in rushed eight or ten -boys, all talking at once. Bluster never smiled when the boys declared -he wasn’t an officer and had no business to “take the law into his own -hands.” - -“That’s all right,” put in Bluster, “ain’t we supposed to work fur -each others good? Well, an’ wasn’t I ’tendin’ to my own business on de -corner. I wus standin’ there crying all about de big fire, when a man -frum de other side of the street calls fur me to come over. I starts -an’ so does Swipsey, I beats Swipsey, an’ sells de man a paper, an’ -what does Swipsey do? Does he go about his business? No, he told the -man to go to hell and used other swear words an’ I saw our association -wus receiving a black eye. It’s no use to preach to Swipsey, de only -way to bring him to his thinking is to lick him. He knows as well as -youses that its agin de rules to swear. So I punched him. I turned him -an’ rolled him over until he cried enuf, an’ promised he would not -swear again. Then de gang came after me an’ I runned to you.” - -The boys still declared he had no right to punish Swipsey without -permission from the president. Quick as flash Bluster said: - -“Say, pres., didn’t I have permission?” - -The president could do nothing but back Bluster up. He had given him -full authority. At this juncture, Swipsey made his appearance. His hair -disheveled, face and hands dirty, and clothes in a terrible condition. -Swipsey listened to Bluster’s story with a great deal of patience. He -looked guilty. - -“All we want to know,” said the leader of the gang, “is whether we can -punish a boy for violating the rules, even if we are not officers.” -That was a leading question, and experience had taught the president -that it was a very wise thing to have any boy punish a member, and in -his own way. The only provision made was that no badge must be taken -away from a boy by a non-officer. Where a boy cannot be corrected by a -fellow member, he must submit the case to an officer. This was agreed -to and the boys were satisfied with the method used by Bluster. The two -boys were made a little present, and they all left in their usual happy -mood. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - -The more experience the president had with the street-boys, boys who -spent most of their time in selling papers or shining shoes, the -greater his desire to keep in close personal touch with each boy. He -had learned that it was not wise to censure a bad boy, to punish a -boy who had violated any of the rules. That belonged entirely to the -officers. - -Some of the best suggestions for gaining the most good came from the -boys, and boys whom the general public would ignore, pay no attention -to. The boys were working out their own salvation. Solving the boy -problem themselves. - -The strongest argument for self-government, among boys, was solved -by the boys, the sellers. This was when they began to bring to the -president money and valuable articles they found on the streets, and -the sincere, earnest request, in every case, “to please find the -owner—it doesn’t belong to me.” - -[Illustration: “PRESIDENT, I HAVE ALREADY LICKED DE KID.” - - _See Page 77_ -] - -It was through the honesty of one of the hustling sellers that this new -work was started, which became part of the great work and was carried -on so successfully, and to such an extent that hundreds of valuable -articles, from fifty cents in pennies to a diamond necklace, were found -and returned to the owners. The following incident was the starting -point. - -A stranger gave a little seller, what he supposed was a new bright -penny, for an evening paper, and passed on. The boy renewed his work, -and a few moments later another gentleman purchased a paper, giving -the boy a dime. In counting out nine cents, as change, the seller -handed the man the new penny he had just received from a stranger. The -customer said: - -“My dear son, this is not a penny; it is a five dollar goldpiece.” - -“I didn’t know it, sir”, replied the boy. “If you will please to hold -my papers I will run after the man and try to find him—this isn’t -mine.” - -Around the corner the lad went at full speed. Up and down the street he -looked but failed to see his man. He returned very much disappointed. - -“He’s gone,” he said, “here’s your change—nine cents.” - -During this little talk a dozen or more newsboys gathered around the -man and when they learned what had happened several of the boys said: - -“Harry, what you goin’ to do with the mon.?” - -“Our president will tell us what to do, come on,” replied the little -merchant. - -Off the crowd started down the street, around the corner and a noisier -lot of boys never entered the president’s office. - -Each of the twenty boys present wanted to explain what he knew about -the transaction. - -All the details of how the seller received the money, and how hard he -had tried to find the real owner were gone over several times. - -The president complimented not only the boy who received the gold, but -the boys who were so deeply interested in trying to find the owner. An -appreciative present was given to the boy, and it was understood that -every effort possible would be made to find the owner. When it was -first advertised a generous clothier, a lover of newsboys, presented -the boy with a suit of clothes. After advertising thirty days and no -owner claiming the five dollars, it was given to the boy. Nothing ever -happened in the neighborhood where the newsboy lived that created such -an excitement. The newsie posed as an honest boy, and was complimented -by men and women, as well as being a hero among the boys and girls. Its -effect was far-reaching, and did good not only to the boys, but it had -a most desirable effect upon the people. - -More particularly from this incident than any other did the newsboys -“get next” and begin bringing to the president everything they found. -Among the articles brought to him with instructions to find the owners, -were diamonds, watches, money, in amounts ranging from fifty cents to -eighty dollars; rings, robes, hats, gloves, valuable papers, badges of -all kinds, handkerchiefs, money-saving banks, hundreds of addressed -stamped letters, pictures, pocket-books of all kinds, keys, etc. - -Among the live things the boys brought to the office was a dog. One -afternoon, late in the autumn, four newsies walked into the president’s -office, talking and laughing, as they always do, and one of the boys, -being “soaking wet,” led a little woolly dog who seemed to enjoy the -fun as well as the boys. - -“My! how did you get so wet?” asked the president. “And what have we -here?” - -“A man trowed de dog into the river. He tried to drown him. I jumped -into de water and saved him.” - -“Yes, president,” said the hero, “I thought it would please you to save -the dog’s life.” - -Of course it pleased the president, and the boys agreed it was a very -brave act. This little incident had its effect upon the boy, and they -always looked upon him as a great fellow, and it wasn’t long until they -elected him to an important office. - -It is a noticeable fact that newsboys have a peculiarly natural way of -drawing, what they call, tramp dogs to them. Many a newsboy has been -seen caring for a poor dog, who had either lost its owner or was hurt. - -Sympathy is aroused very quickly. Often a poor, worthless dog has -been taken into a seller’s favorite lunch-room and given a square -meal. From a boy who jumped into fifteen feet of water to save a -little dog, something might be expected. He was watched. At one of -the regular meetings of an auxiliary he showed the metal he was made -of by introducing the following preamble and resolution, and spoke so -strongly in its favor that it was passed unanimously. - - “WHEREAS, It has come to our notice that boys throughout the city, and - boys, too, from our swell families, are killing the song birds in the - little patches of groves within the city limits, by the use of the - Flobert rifle; therefore be it - - _Resolved_, That the members of the Boyville Newsboys’ Association - bitterly disapprove of this wanton slaughter of our song birds, and - we, therefore, pledge ourselves to do everything in our power to stop - boys, whether members of this association or not, from killing, in any - manner, these birds.” - -In his closing remarks he said: “If we expects people to show us -kindness we must also do something what’s right. And what can we do -better’n protect the dumb animals. Let us show, what we are trying to -get, kindness, justice and mercy.” - -A short time after the adoption of the above resolution one of the -trustees attention was called to a member, a boy eleven years of age, -who was very much worked up over the acts of some of his associates, -not members of the association. The boys had made a trap and were -trying to catch the robins that made their summer homes in the yards -along the street. - -The little boy always told his mother his troubles and in this case -went to her for advice. She told him she would pray that God would tell -the birds not to go near the trap. He seemed satisfied, but went away -deeply buried in thought. - -A few days later he was sitting on the fence, at his home, when the -trustee passed. Knowing of the incident he asked the boy about the trap. - -“Well, the trap was set all right,” he said, “and my mother prayed -hard, asking God to strengthen the instinct of the birds so they would -keep out of danger—not go near the trap.” - -“Did God answer your mother’s prayer?” asked the gentleman. - -“Sure thing He did,” the newsy quickly answered. - -“Why were you so certain?” - -“Because when it got dark I went to the barnyard and busted the trap -all to pieces. There wasn’t enough wood left to make a tooth pick.” - -The trustee slowly walked away saying to himself: - -“Action was needed with prayer.” - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - - -The individual interest in the monthly auxiliary meetings developed -into schools of instructions. The boys began to learn how to debate, -how to make a motion, to discuss any subject. - -The vice-presidents of each auxiliary took personal interest in the -details of the work, and kept the various committees busy. - -The reports at each meeting showed how well the boys had the affairs -of the association under control. In the meetings, the entertainment -features were very interesting, from the fact that the boys themselves -prepared the program. If it was necessary to secure talent, the -executive committee required each boy, beginning with the officers, -and then taking the names as the boys were registered in alphabetical -order to show what he could do. First a boy, a bashful newsie, was -required to “step forward and make a bow,” and after several pretty -rough introductions of this nature, it was always found that the victim -began at once to prepare something for the next meeting. First, he -would commit a very short piece, perhaps two lines, always selecting -something of a comical nature. Then later, of his own composition. -After a few efforts he became master of the platform, and was generally -over anxious to do something. - -It was surprising the different talents unearthed by this method. -Musical turns, good, sweet singers, short and long recitations, -original dialogues, and many “new stunts,” as termed by the boys, when -surprised at what someone produced. - -The trustees always took advantage of this work, and did everything -to encourage it. The talent thus discovered, and trained, in the -auxiliaries, was used in the Sunday afternoon meetings to great -advantage and honor to the boys. - -At one of the Sunday meetings a very serious carrier asked the -president: “How can a boy avoid being bad if he don’t know what bad is?” - -“How do you know bad money?” asked the president. - -“I don’t know bad money, I know good money.” - -A newsboy is never at a loss for a reply to any question, and knows -something about any subject discussed in our daily papers. This boy -further surprised the president by saying: “Those who are thoroughly -skilled in navigation are as well acquainted with the coasts of the -ocean, with the sands, the shallow places, and the rocks as the secure -depths in the safest channels, and good boys must as well know the bad -that they may avoid it as the good that they may embrace it.” - -[Illustration: GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE HEADLINES.] - -[Illustration: “DIS HERE IS DE DOG.” - - _See Page 83_ -] - -This boy occupied a front row for many months in all entertainments, -and when a speaker interested him he paid very close attention. One -time a very good minister was talking over the heads of the boys, -preaching a sermon they could not understand. This little fellow, with -his ever serious look, cried out: - -“Say, mister, can’t you cut some of that out?” - -It had its effect, much to the embarrassment of the good divine. - -It is one of the most difficult things in the oratorical world for any -one to entertain newsboys. A speaker must not talk over them. He must -become as a child and talk as a child, and he will be surprised to see -what a good effect it has upon the boys. One time a very nervous boy, a -seller from the avenue, became quite noisy and restless in the seat he -generally occupied. The president observing this asked him if he would -like a seat in the front row. - -“Sure thing, I’ll ’tend every Sunday if you give me this seat,” -pointing to a chair next to a post, where the president imagined he -wanted to rest his head. - -“It doesn’t make any difference what boy occupies this seat,” said the -president to “Front Row Art,” as he is called, “I want you to get the -seat. I don’t care what we are doing on the platform.” - -One Sunday when the house was crowded to the doors, Art’s seat was -occupied by a boy about fourteen years of age, and much stronger than -Art. While the speaker, a minister, was praying, the president saw Art -at the door. He saw him push his way through the crowd and when at the -platform, he took the boy, who occupied his chair, by the back of his -neck and gave him such a shove along the seats that the young man was -glad to reach the other end of the row. Art sat down, folded his arms, -put his feet upon the platform, and eyed the speaker as if he had been -there all the time. - -Art was always ready with a smart answer to any question put to the -boys. Even if his attention was directed to another part of the house, -his little fingers were snapping, indicating his readiness to answer. -His replies, while not always pertinent, gave the speaker a fair -warning not to be too familiar in asking questions. - -Art had a companion who was known as “Splinter,” on account of his -being rather slim, but no boy of his age, twelve years, ever had so -many new movements as Splinter. He was never quiet, not so noisy, but -continually annoying the boy who sat next to him. To take a companion’s -hat and throw it across the room, while some good minister was praying, -was of frequent occurrence. He would answer questions without raising -his hand, and would give the boy sitting next to him a knock of some -kind before he stood up. With all this restlessness he was one of the -best-hearted boys among the sellers. There was something in him that -the president concluded he could not afford to lose sight of—just what -that was did not develop enough to encourage. - -At one of the Sunday meetings there was a speaker who knew how to -hold the boys when asking questions. He had them perfectly quiet and -recognized no answer unless the boy raised his hand. - -He asked a question which required as an answer a verse in the Bible. -To the president’s embarrassment, “Splinter’s” hand was high above -the others and he kept a continual snapping of his fingers. He was -determined to be recognized. The president was in hopes the speaker -would pay no attention to him, fearing the reply would spoil the effect -of the speaker’s talk. However “Splinter” managed to be heard. - -“That tall boy may answer,” said the minister. - -The sweat rolled down the president’s forehead as he tried to get back -into his chair. - -“Splinter” arose, not a smile on his face. He looked serious, and -without a quiver in his voice repeated, word for word, one of the -longest verses in the Bible, and which gave an appropriate answer. - -The speaker looked as surprised as the president, and the compliment he -gave the boy was appreciated by all. - -“Splinter’s” education, after that, was looked after. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - -An interesting case came to the president showing how one family can -disgrace an entire neighborhood; can give a bad name to a whole street. -On one of the small narrow streets within the two-mile circle, lived a -family, man woman and five boys. One of the boys, a young man, served a -term in the penitentiary for robbery. The names of two of them appeared -on the police station blotter about three times a year for drunkenness. -It was on account of these boys that the neighborhood gained such a bad -reputation. The other two boys, John and Tom, ages nine and twelve, -were newsboys. Boys who were driven from home, by the parents, “to get -something to eat elsewhere.” They frequently slept in stairways, old -buildings, cellar-ways or any place where they could find shelter from -the storms, or where they thought they would not be disturbed. These -two newsboys were doing more to ruin boys on the street than the entire -membership of the association, and when they came into the president’s -office seeking admission, the president concluded that if these boys -could be saved, and their bad acts turned into good, Boyville would -be a success. It wasn’t necessary to ask them if they were eligible to -membership, if they sold papers, if they were newsboys. Every word, -every act told all that was required. With all the rags, and dirt, and -slang talk, these boys were up-to-date in everything. All the leading -topics of the day were discussed by them. Every base-ball player they -knew by name, and it was discovered that all newsies followed them when -they wanted to get into a ball-ground free, or into a circus. They had -their own way, and without money. They feared nothing. They worked for -themselves only. The little sympathy they had for any one was drowned -in their eagerness to move on. They gave no thought for the morrow. -There was no hesitancy by the officers in giving these boys membership -cards, and when they received them, to the question, “Well, now boys, -what does this mean?” they answered: - -“We mean to lick any one as doesn’t do right.” - -The vice-president, a smart young man with the courage of a lion, went -to the boys’ home to make an investigation of how they lived, and why -they were so bad when on the streets. Here is what he discovered: - -They lived in a small cottage and with a man and woman who were not -their parents. Their own father had died leaving several valuable -pieces of property to his wife, who was again married within a year, -and to a man who soon lost all the property, having spent the money for -liquor. The mother died, and her husband again married in less than a -month, and to a woman who drank as much as he did. This was the home of -the two newsboys. - -“They both went to bed, nearly every night, with their clothes on,” -said the officer, “and what the boys had to eat wasn’t fit for a dog.” - -The case was left entirely in the hands of the young officers with -instructions to report within a month. In less than the appointed time -a report was made. The two newsboys were brought into the president’s -office, each having on a nice suit of clothes, their faces and hands -clean, and their general appearance and deportment remarkably improved. - -“What did you do?” was asked the officer. - -“We went to the house and demanded that the boys receive care and -attention for what they were doing—they were bringing into the house -from fifty to sixty cents a day earned by selling papers. And instead -of the drunken man and woman spending this for whiskey, we made them -buy good things to eat. A retail clothier gave us the suits of clothes, -and the boys are simply good, and are working their way on the streets.” - -While the boys were working on this case the president reported to the -humane officer the condition of things at this home, and in a very -short time the family was quite respectable and the boys attending -school. To the president, remarkable as seemed the turning of two bad -boys into good, honest little sellers, the work of the two officers of -the association with the parents was even more so. - -Self-governing boys. Boys whom we think can do nothing, and seldom -trust, for fear of failing, and yet they brought in line two of the -worst cases Boyville had experienced. - -As the weeks passed the two boys became favorites among their little -friends. - -One afternoon about six or eight months after the two boys became -members, one of them, the younger, came running into the president’s -office, holding a roll of bills in his hand. Everybody had to get -out of the way. He was followed by the “gang,” some twenty boys, all -looking at the little fellow with wonderment. - -[Illustration: ROLL OF HONOR. - -SOME OF THE BOYS WHO TURNED IN VALUABLE ARTICLES FOUND ON THE STREET.] - -[Illustration: THE BOYVILLE CADETS—WHEN FIRST ORGANIZED. - - _See Page 48_ -] - -“See, here, pres., what I found,” he said, laying fifteen dollars on -the desk. “I found this at the post-office.” - -“And what do you want me to do with this?” asked the president. “I -wants you to find the owner. That’s what.” - -“Well, why didn’t you blow it in? My! what a fortune you have.” - -“Blow it in? Would that be honest? No, sir, as soon as I found de dough -I broughts it to you to tell us what we must do wid it, see?” - -“That’s all right,” said the president, “and you are teaching us all -a good lesson. How often we say; ‘it is just like finding it.’ and -even grown people wish they could find money, and would they turn it -over to someone, and ask him to please find the owner? Not that they -would think they were doing anything wrong by keeping what they found; -they simply never thought of trying to find the owner. You have done a -great thing, and here is a bright, new dollar, for your honesty. I will -advertise this in the daily papers for thirty days, and if I can’t find -the owner, it shall all go to you.” - -Proudly they walked out of the office, all trying to get closer to the -happy finder, the honest boy. - -The money was advertised, and in a few days the rightful owner was -found. He wanted to see the newsboy. For his honesty he presented him -with five dollars, adding: “In six months I want to see you in this -hotel. In one year if you are reported all right by the officers of the -association I want you to write me at this address.” And he handed him -his card, which gave Indianapolis, Indiana, as his home. Six months -passed. The boy met him in the hotel. The officers reported that he was -one of the finest and best boys on the street. A year passed, and one -day he received a letter requesting him to “take the next train for -Indianapolis, provided the president of Boyville says you do not swear, -steal, lie or smoke cigarettes.” - -The president could truthfully vouch for all these, and the boy was -sent to his new home. Seven years have passed, and that boy today is -foreman of one of the largest manufacturing institutions in the state -of Indiana. - -What effect did the good work of these two boys have upon the family? -It caused them to stand on the street posing as relatives to two honest -boys. - -Does it pay to take an interest in a bad boy? - -A boy of eleven years of age made application to become a member. -He was approved by the proper officers. A sealed note accompanied -the application. It read: “He is accused of giving wrong change to -customers, and runs away with money.” - -As soon as he received his membership card, and badge, and left the -president’s office two officers were on his track. They watched him -sell papers. Three days passed when he “stumbled against something.” A -gentleman in the post-office gave him twenty-five cents for a morning -paper. He had no change, but excused himself to “step across the way -to get it.” Instead of going into the store the little boy started in -a run around the building and was lost from sight. The gentleman made -this remark to a friend: “I might of expected it.” This was overheard -by two newsboys. One said: “Oh, no mister, your money is not lost. -We’ll have it for you in ten minutes. Don’t you be uneasy. You stand -right where you are for a few minutes.” - -Out ran the boys, one going to the right, the other to the left, and a -third joined them who took to the alley. In less than ten minutes the -boy was brought to bay, and appeared before the gentleman. - -An apology was given, the money returned. - -“Don’t you say anything to him,” said one of the newsboys, “we won’t -do a thing to him, oh, no.” The man soon forgot the incident, and will -never know the severe punishment that boy had to bear. They took him in -the alley, bumped his head against the wall of the building, rolled him -in the mud, took his badge from him and with a parting word of advice -left him. The badge was turned over to the president with instructions -to return it to the boy at the expiration of fifteen days. What for? -The president did not know and only learned the particulars a month -later from one of the officers. The boy called for his badge, and it -was given to him without a word. - -The books show that this same boy, after leaving the junior grade in -school procured a good position and the proprietor particularly called -attention to him for a peculiar trait. He said: “The boy applied for -work, office work. We gave him a job. He asked particularly how many -hours he must work. When he began and when he stopped. This given, we -were surprised to see that he was at the office every morning two hours -before his time, and pegging away at a typewriter. His wages have been -increased three times. He’ll be one of the firm before we’re through -with him. - -“The only recommendation he had was that he was a member of The -Boyville Newsboys’ Association—and this we took. In fact, it proved a -better recommendation than that offered by his mother, who called to -get part of his wages to purchase whiskey.” - - - - -_PART FOURTH_ - -[Illustration: MEMBERS OF THE EAST SIDE AUXILIARY.] - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - - -It was just before Christmas; the streets and stores were crowded with -people purchasing presents. - -An old lady was standing on the corner waiting for a street car. In her -hand she held a small package, a Christmas present for someone. A boy, -about fourteen years of age, darted out from a door-way, grabbed the -package, hastened down the street and dodged into an alley. A newsboy -who saw the act started after the thief, and as he ran several other -newsboys joined in the chase. While they were gone another newsboy went -to the lady expressing regret at her loss, but assuring her the boy who -stole the package would be caught. - -With tears in her eyes the old lady told the boy that the box contained -a number of presents for a little girl who was confined to the house on -account of being a cripple for life. That the purchase was the result -of many weeks’ hard work, sewing for some of her neighbors, that she -might earn the money to get a present for the little girl. - -“Now, my lady,” said the newsboy, “don’t you worry for a minute, one of -our officers started in a dead run after him and I know he will catch -him. We don’t allow anything like that to happen. That boy don’t belong -to the association.” - -The lady was escorted to a drug store where people wait for cars, and -advised to remain there until the newsboys returned. She did not have -to wait long, for, in a short time, the officer returned with a dozen -newsies all trying to push the “grafter” ahead of them. When in front -of the lady, he was made to hand her the package, and get down upon -his knees and ask her forgiveness. The old lady was placed upon a -street-car, and the officers took charge of the boy. They brought him -to the president’s office. - -“Mr. President,” said a member of the executive committee, “we have -here a new boy. He was pretending to sell papers on the streets, but he -proved to be a ‘grafter,’ for we caught him stealing a package from an -old lady who worked all summer to save money to buy a Christmas present -for a little girl who is a cripple. We run him down.” The boy hung his -head. He was under no obligations to any of the boys, and could have -been independant over his capture but when he was told the package -belonged to a little cripple, it had a strange effect upon him. He lost -sight of everything but the wrong done to the little girl. - -“I didn’t know it belonged to a cripple or I wouldn’t have taken it. -You see, we at home don’t think nothing of taking things as we can get, -we believe in helping ourselves to anything we wants when no body is -looking. I am sorry I took the present.” - -The boy lived in a bad neighborhood. His father was dead, his mother -had no influence over him, he roamed the streets at will, and spent the -majority of his nights sleeping in freight-cars. He was just the kind -of a boy who grows up along the docks of our lake cities, and takes -advantage of every opportunity to steal anything he can use or care for -without being detected, from freight depots or cars. This is the class -of young men the association has been aiming to reach for a long time. -The selling of papers being only a subterfuge for stealing. He was -fifteen years old and admitted having done many bad things. - -“It is boys like you,” said the president, “who disgrace any -association, and while no one seems to look after you, or want you, we -will take you into the association and the officers will have you under -their charge; what do you say to that?” - -“Well, I guess you have me down pretty fine, and if I wants to ever get -a job I must start my life over again.” - -“The boys will forget this little package act, and blot out all your -bad deeds, if you will begin a new life, and I will guarantee that in -six months, by the time warm weather comes, we will get you a nice -position.” - -“If I would have known that package belonged to a little girl do you -suppose I would have swiped it?” he added. - -“It isn’t that alone we object to. Every time you steal something -someone suffers, and the only way to avoid injuring any one is not to -steal at all,” said the president. - -“Aw! tell him to cut it out, cut it out, he kin do it just the same as -we do,” put in a little bootblack. - -“Yes, but you don’t have to go out on the street and takes what ever -you kin carry home, like I do,” he replied. - -“Well, if your mother makes you do that we won’t do a thing to her,” -said a seller, who claimed to own four corners. - -The conversation ended by the president giving the new boy a membership -card with instructions that he must report in thirty days. - -Soon after he left the office, three members of the executive committee -hastened to his home. The mother was warned that “this sending your boy -out to steal must stop, and stop quick.” They listened to no arguments, -simply gave advice and orders, what must be done, and left. - -A month passes and the day named for the new applicant to receive his -badge, found him at the president’s office, as is usual with boys, an -hour before office hours. - -“Gee, but I have lots of good friends. Some of the boys took me to see -a show, some let me sell papers on their corners, but I had to cut out -swearing.” - -The numbered badge was given him. - -A member of the executive committee who had him in charge reported: - -“He was hard to bring down to our way of doin’ things. It was natural -for him to steal as to eat, and he wanted to give the wrong change two -or three times. We licked him three times. He was game. Give him his -badge, he’s all right.” - -Six months later this boy was given a position in a wholesale house. He -began on the top floor to work his way up in the business. - -His eagerness to learn, his willingness to do things not exactly as -part of his duties caused his employers to notice him and he was -advanced, in less than two years, to shipping clerk in one of the -departments. - -Here was a boy whose home life was degrading. His neighbors paying no -attention to him or his family, except to say: “That boy ought to be -turned over to the police.” The newsboys, the boys we often look upon -as being bad and useless, changed the life of this young man. - -He is now slowly becoming one of the reliable business men of the -future. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - - -The president was about to board a street-car for home one evening, -when a dozen newsboys came running towards him, calling him to “come -here.” - -“Bundle found fifty-six dollars,” was heard from a bunch of sellers. -The president, of course had to return to his office. - -Bundle was a little round, red-faced boy, who always wore a large scarf -around his neck, and in most any kind of weather. The sellers were not -surprised at any of their number finding money but, said a bootblack: - -“What’s going to happen when slow-pokey Bundle finds something?” But he -did, and at the enterance of one of the largest buildings in the city. - -“There it was,” said Bundle, “all wide open before my eyes, I stumbled -over it and the money scattered. Didn’t it Sam?” - -There was nothing in the roll to indicate its owner. Some one -accustomed to carrying money in his vest pocket had lost it. As soon as -Bundle picked it up, he called to the boys across the street and on -the corners. A dozen boys answered him, and they all marched towards -the president’s office. Each boy had something to say. - -“Say, pres., we come near losing you, didn’t we?” said Bundle, “but -if you did go home I would have stayed up all night holding the dough -until you come to your office.” - -Bundle was rewarded, his companions were as delighted as he was. A -happier lot of boys never walked the streets than these sellers. - -The next morning, Bundle, with five other boys came into the office, -their faces were long; Bundle looked sad. - -“Bundle got a licking,” said one of the boys looking sympathetically at -Bundle. The president looked surprised. - -“Got a licking, and what for?” - -“His mother licked him because he brought the money to you. She said it -belonged to her and she could spend it as she liked.” - -It was a fact that Bundle was severely punished. - -“All the boys on the street saw me get a whipping,” said Bundle, “and I -don’t like it.” - -The boys were assured that all would come out right in the end. “You -just wait until we hear from the advertisement we put in the papers,” -said the president. - -[Illustration: “FIRE-TOP.” - - _See Page 117_ -] - -The boys were soon playing upon the street. - -A prominent clothier saw the notice of the boy finding the money and -his desire to seek the owner. He wrote the president: “If you will send -that honest boy to me I will present him with the best suit of clothes -in my store.” - -The mother accompanied Bundle to the store and not only did he receive -a new suit of clothes but an overcoat as well. - -Within forty-eight hours after the find was advertised the rightful -owner appeared, received the money, and presented the boy with a five -dollar bill and a good watch. - -“Keep this watch to remind you that if you will follow up your honest -beginning, you will not only be a rich man, but a good one.” - -The object of relating this incident is the sequel. - -The big head-line compliments in the newspapers; the many little -presents and congratulations Bundle received had a surprising effect -upon his mother. She was proud of being the boy’s mother. Her sons and -daughters posed on the corners and pointed with pride to their brother. - -Not only did this act have a good effect on the boy and the family, -but upon the entire street, as the remark is often heard, “this is the -street that has the honest newsboy.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - - -There are many interesting cases coming to the attention of persons -interested in newsboys, and they all have a tendency to awaken sympathy. - -Two little boys, ages nine and ten, were brought to the president -one morning by an officer of the association. They were accused of -fighting, “almost to a finish.” - -Between sobs and tears they both tried to tell why they were fighting. -While telling their story, a boy about fourteen years of age entered -the office. He was also crying, but more seriously. The president -turned to him and sympathetically asked, “what is the matter?” With his -hands rubbing his eyes he answered: “One of the newsies run out of the -alley and throwed my papers into the gutter and they’re all spoiled.” - -“Where did the boy go?” - -“He runned away and left me alone.” - -“How many papers had you?” - -“I had four.” - -The two boys that were crying, forgot their troubles and became -interested in the other boy. Calling the two boys, the president asked -them if they would run out and try to find the bad boy who threw the -papers in the street. Of course they were delighted to go. Taking the -crying fourteen-year-old newsboy by the hand, the little fellows left -the office. - -After waiting an hour, and no signs of the boys returning, the -president went upon the street and to his surprise saw the two little -boys, who were to hunt down the villain, playing together. - -“Well, what was done with the boy who ruined Joe’s stock of papers; did -you find them?” - -“You see, we went to the alley, we looked ebery place fur the kid as -what threw de papers into de gutter, but he had skipped. So me an’ -Skinny talked it over quickly an’ we just gave Joe eight cents an’ told -him to go home, to fade away, to forget it. As de case wus settled we -thought it no use ter bother you wid dis trouble, an’ we resumed our -bizness.” - -Certainly a new way of settling troubles. - -There is a small boy who has the reputation of being a little boss in -the territory in which he sells, owing to his desire to settle all -disputes in his own way. He goes upon the idea that it is absolutely -necessary to resort to pretty severe punishment to gain a point. - -One evening a boy about fifteen years of age came into the office, -crying as a boy only can; the tears found considerable trouble in -working their way down his cheeks, making his face look as if furrows -were established for a time at least. On the left side of his forehead -were several clear spots, round in shape, which he pointed to with -considerable feeling. The president’s sympathy was aroused, and to the -question, how he was hurt, he replied: - -“Firetop—licked—me. He—hit—me—with—his—fist.” - -Firetop was not over nine years of age, and the president knew of his -fighting qualities, but somehow no one ever presented any charges -worthy of investigation. His name, the boys said, “came to him on -account of his red hair.” His reputation for honesty was never -questioned. He was simply a fighter. He was one of the most successful -sellers on the street. Because he was a “pusher, he went every place, -and asked every person he met to buy a paper.” While the boy was -telling his story, three other members dropped into the office. They -stood for sometime looking at the poor boy. - -“Do you boys know Firetop?” asked the president. - -“Certainly, we all know him.” - -“Well, you go out and try to find him and tell him I want him to come -here immediately.” - -Out the boys went and when on the sidewalk started in different -directions to find Firetop. Ten minutes passed when Firetop came -running into the office. The boys had found him but he was too fleet of -foot for them. - -“Pres., they tell me you wants me, what fur?” - -“Look at that boy’s face,” said the president, pointing to the injured -lad who began to cry in earnest. - -“I see it. I did it. But say, kid” turning to the boy, “what did I do -it fur. Look up at me; say, what did I do it fur?” - -“For nothin’,” came a faint reply. - -“Come off, I hain’t going ’round doin’ things fur nothin’. Answer me, -you kin talk, what did I do it fur?” - -No reply. - -“Didn’t I punch you fur swearing at a lady?” - -It was some moments before the boy answered, and he drawled out, “yes.” - -Firetop then told the story. The boy was selling papers on the street, -he asked a lady to buy a paper, and because she refused he swore at -her, using language seldom seen in print. - -“I heard it, an’ I told him it was against the rules, an’ if he -didn’t cut it out I would punk him. What did he do but swore at me. -He violated the rules before my face. I punked, gently at first, an’ -then I punked him again. He ran into the alley, I followed him, an’ de -boys come from the street, I told them he was my game, an’ I punked him -again. I told all the boys I would punk de gang ef they came to help -him. Say, pres., wasn’t I right in punking him?” The boy acknowledged -he swore and Firetop kept at him until he promised he would never do -it again. This was accomplished with very little trouble. The boy’s -face was washed and as there was no traces of a wound the matter was -amicably settled. The boys left the office, good friends. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - - -This incident recalls another case of swearing, and the peculiar method -adopted to correct a boy, as well as to influence a family to train -their son in the right path. One reason why so many boys swear is -because they constantly hear men swear on the streets. At Sunday-school -the boy learns that he is violating one of the commandments. But men -pay no attention to it, then why should boys? Boys are imitative. They -want to do what men do. It is seldom that we hear of a mother approving -of her boy swearing and encouraging him in this, certainly vulgar -habit. This method used by the president in curing a boy of swearing, -may not meet the approval of many of our Sunday-school teachers, and it -is given with some reluctance. It is given, however, to show what can -be done in extreme cases. - -“Are you the president of the Newsboys’ association?” asked a boy with -a very pretty face. - -“Yes, and what can I do for you?” - -“I want to join the association.” - -[Illustration: “HE SWEARED AT A LADY AND I PUNKED HIM.” - - _See Page 118_ -] - -The usual questions were asked and answered. He proved to be a carrier -and had twenty-eight customers. A membership card was given the boy -with instructions to call in thirty days and get the badge. - -The boy left the office perfectly happy. In about a week he returned, -walked to the desk and laid his membership card down, saying: “My -mother says I can swear all I want to, and you have nothing to do with -it. You must not tell me to stop swearing.” - -The president turned around, looked at the boy for a moment, discovered -he was unusually bright, and back behind his black eyes he showed the -right kind of spirit indicating that if he made up his mind to do a -thing he would do it. - -“So your mother wants you to swear. Well, well, and she don’t want you -to belong to any association unless we all swear. Well, you shall not -be made unhappy. If your mother wants you to swear you shall have that -pleasure. Does she swear?” - -“Yes, sir, we all swear to beat the band,” he replied, and in a tone -indicating that it was one of the pleasures of his home life. - -“And don’t any of you think it wrong to swear?” - -“Oh, no, father says he can swear and it gives force to his arguments. -Mother says if I want to swear I can do it.” - -“This association compels no one to stop swearing—the rule adopted by -the boys simply says we don’t believe in it. And the officers wouldn’t -for the world have you do anything to displease your parents. - -“How many swear words do you know?” - -He thought for a moment counting on his fingers, then said: - -“I know seven.” - -“Seven big swear words, well, well, and can you name them to me?” - -“Yes, sir, all of them and I may know another.” - -“All right. Try it. One, two, three, four, five, six; my! that’s an -awful bad one, and—and—seven. There they are.” - -In repeating the words, his manner showed he was familiar with their -use. Not a blush rose to his cheeks. - -“Do you want to be a member of this association?” - -“Yes, sir, all my friends are members and they want me to join.” - -“I will pin your card before me, on the desk. See?” - -“Yes, sir, I see it.” - -“Well, I will let it remain there until you call for it, either to -tell me to tear it up or you take it. Now, here is what I want you to -do. And this not unless you want to. You go home, and every time your -mother wants you to do something use one of those seven swear words, -and say it loud enough so she can hear it. Keep this up until she tells -you to stop that swearing.” - -“I will do it, but suppose she licks me, then what?” - -“Oh, that would hardly be in keeping with her teachings, she wants you -to swear, doesn’t she?” - -“Sure thing, she never licks me for swearing.” - -“Do you want to stop it and become a member of the association? Well, -you try this plan, and if you can, throw the entire lot at her, the -seven words, all at once.” - -“Well, I’ll try it. It looks easy.” - -The boy left the office with a hearty “goodby.” - -The following Saturday he returned. He stood smiling at the desk. - -“You can give me the membership card,” he said laughing. - -Recognizing him the president shook him by the hand. - -“Well, I have been wondering what luck you had in swearing.” - -“Oh, I had luck. Only got licked seven times.” - -“Got licked, and by whom?” - -“Well, you would think the whole house fell on top of me. Father said, -send that boy down to you at once, but mother licked me until I saw -stars. I’ll never swear again in our home. She stopped it. She said she -never heard such terrible swearing and when I said I learned it of her, -I got the seventh licking. Gee, but I was sore for a week. Mother told -me the first thing this morning to come after that card.” - -“What did you do when you first went home?” - -“Oh, I threw those seven swear words right at her, and, from the very -beginning. She looked at me several times. I backed up, and when she -asked me a question, I let fly the worst word, then I had to run.” - -“What did your father say?” - -“He only said, ‘didn’t I tell you that some day that boy would -disgrace us, now it’s up to you to straighten it out,’ and when they -knew I told you why the card was sent back, that changed everything. -I’ve been down here four times, father made me go.” - -His name was placed upon the books, a badge was given him, “with a -lucky number,” and he left the office. - -A month later the president met him at one of the auxiliary meetings, -and to the question, “How about the seven swear words,” he said: - -“We busted up swearing at our house. Everybody had to stop it.” - -No better worker on the street can be found than this boy. His whole -soul is in the work for doing good among his associates. - - - - -_PART FIFTH_ - -[Illustration: CARRIERS.] - -[Illustration: CARRIERS.] - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - - -There is no subject that has received so much attention and has worried -so many good people as the liquor question. Saloons and drinking never -cease to be problems for our well-meaning temperance people. Why man -created saloons, no one undertakes to answer. The strongest man is -never too strong in a saloon, and the weak is to be pitied. The saloon -is an evil that has been with us a long time and seems to be here -to stay in one form or another. While we cannot eradicate the evil, -especially by extreme methods, can we not modify its influence? We -have tried the probation method, and failed. We have tried the open -saloon, the clubs, the no-treating, the open reform saloon, the wet -and dry division—but the saloons are still with us, and this because -of the fact that the state, the city, property owners, recognize the -saloon legally, through the assessment of heavy licenses and taxes, and -good well-meaning people ask and receive money from the ever-willing -giver, the saloonman, and use it for charitable as well as church -purposes. The world today is heartless in its mad rush for money -getting, and the “graft” is in the minds of thousands of well-meaning, -but over-anxious to get-rich-quick men; among them the saloonman. Let -us suggest to our saloonmen how they can stop a great deal of misery -in the world. We have in mind a saloon that was “made good” by five -newsboys. “A real live saloon, where politicians congregated to lay -plans for work, and whose owner had an eye to making money, and saw -nothing else, even to the ruining of boys and men.” - -“Say, pres.,” said a newsboy from the saloon district, and an officer -of an auxiliary, “Jimmy Smith is drunk and laying in the alley at the -saloon where politicians hold their meetin’s. The bar-tender throwed -him out.” - -The books showed Jimmy Smith’s father was a “ward politician,” a good -fellow who was often taken home drunk by his son, a newsboy. Jimmy was -eleven years old, very bright and intelligent for his age. He learned -to drink liquor through his father and mother sending him to the saloon -for beer, and “dropping in the alley on the way home and tasting the -beer, until he began to like it.” - -To the question, “did you ever see Jimmy drink in the saloon?” the boys -answered that it was a common thing; “but today when the bar-tender -took Jimmy’s nickel, and he was full, he throwed him out. He said he -didn’t want the kid to disgrace his place.” - -Three of the best officers were called, they went to the alley, and -took Jimmy home. Three of the five boys who were assigned this case, -belonged to a gang and were familiar with all the inside workings of -a saloon, they were never slow in showing their appreciation of a -saloonman who defended them, and who turned them down for entering -the saloon. The method adopted by the boys was their work. They knew -the proprietor of the saloon, and knew him to be a very kind-hearted -man. No person ever asked him in vain for a donation to any cause. His -own boys were model young men, stood high in school, and associated -with the best of church members. Strange to say the two sons of the -saloonman were regular at Sunday-school. It is a fact that when any -society, church or other organization desired aid, this saloonman was -sought after by a dozen persons. They knew he was easy. This man in -his home, on the street, in the lodge room (and he belonged to many -societies), in any public gathering, was recognized as an honest man; -but behind the bar he saw nothing but money. - -He never thought he was doing a wrong by taking the last cent from -a drunken man; it was business, and that was why he was there. When -reminded of it he simply replied that, “I might as well have it as any -one else, for someone will get it.” Often he said: “He is bound to -drink and the best way is to let him drink up all his money and that is -an end of it.” - -When the newsboys called upon him to plead for their friend, Jimmy, -they were received with, “the utmost attention and kindness.” The -following is what the chairman reported: - -“We said to the boss, we come to see you about Jimmy Smith and his -father. You see Jimmy has been in bad company, the bad company was -at his home, his father an’ mother. He learned the habit of drinking -by tasting beer he was sent after by his father, and he said when he -learned to drink that your clerk gave him a glass of beer every time he -came after it. So the other day your bar-tender threw him out of the -saloon. He had gradually taught the boy to drink, and when he began to -get so that it annoyed him, he didn’t want him. We come to see if you -won’t please stop giving Jimmy any more drink and tell your man to -throw him out of the saloon before he drinks. We’ll stand for that, but -we won’t stand for his pitching him in the alley when he’s got all of -Jimmy’s money and is drunk. As to his father, we don’t want you to sell -him anything when you see he has enough. Don’t take the last cent he -has when you know he is full already. Send him home. His family needs -every cent. And don’t sell Jimmy any beer if he comes with the bucket.” - -The boys were treated with great kindness by the owner of the saloon -who promised to do more than they asked of him. His bar-tenders were -instructed, under penalty of dismissal, not to permit a newsboy in the -saloon. - -“I realize the wrong being done to the boys,” he said to the president, -“and it is through thoughtlessness that we permit the boys to come here -at all. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. One of my relatives has an interest -in a commercial college. I’ll buy this boy, Jimmy, a scholarship if -he’ll go to school.” - -Jimmy was only too glad to accept. - -Two years pass, and Jimmy is about to graduate from the college. The -manager said: “I have four men after this boy. He has the right kind -of push in him to make a splendid business man.” - -Four years later Jimmy received a monthly salary of $100, and during -that time has assisted in helping many a street boy. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - - -At one of the auxiliary meetings the vice-president of the association, -who was always practical in his talks to the boys, gave a little advice -to the sellers. - -It is worth remembering. - -“Boys,” he said, “rain or shine be at your post, at your corner. Never -be out of papers, and never be out of change. Many a good boy who needs -money loses a sale for want of having change. Keep your eye peeled. If -a man wants a paper, you should see it, though he is a square away. I -know of one little boy, smaller than those who were selling with him, -who always saw a customer a block away, and when the evening’s work -was over he generally had ten to twenty cents to the clear more than -others. Be polite and always cheerful. Keep your face and hands clean, -and you will get many an extra nickel. If you are polite and civil you -will get a regular line of customers who will always wait for you. -Thank everyone who buys a paper. Tip your hat to the ladies and they -will speak well of you when they get home. Any little favor you can do -for a man or woman on the street (and not look as though you expect -something), will always bring you business. The wind blew off the hat -of a gentleman one day, and a little seller saw it. Quick as a flash -he ran after it, took his own cap to wipe the dirt off the gentleman’s -hat, and handed it to him. The gentleman said: ‘How many papers you -got?’ ‘Twenty-four, sir,’ said the boy. ‘Give them all to me.’” - -On the membership card it reads: “He does not approve of swearing, etc.” - -A probation member, a boy who received his membership card, and had -thirty days to wait for his badge, brought an old member to the -president, one evening, with this plea. - -“President, this boy swears like hell. I heard him on the corner.” - -“Aw, what you given us, you swear yourself.” replied the accused. - -“Yes that’s all right. Tell me something; how would I know what -swearing was if I didn’t know something about it,” proudly answered the -new member. - -“Well, you have no right to bring me here and accuse me of doing what -you yourself do. Read your card, kid, read your card.” - -[Illustration: FIRST SALE OF THE DAY.] - -Without showing any signs of worry, the little fellow said. - -“President what can you expect of a bationist. When I get my badge -things will be different. I cuts swearing out then.” - -“Yes, but you better wait instead of buttin in before you are a live -member,” said the carrier. - -They talked some time about the matter between themselves and finally -they locked arms, slowly walked out of the office saying: - -“Guess we better cut out swearing all around.” - -The following story illustrates a good method of treating boys who -disobey their parents. It may not meet the approval of many fathers and -mothers, but the sequel has in it the success of the work among the -street-boys. We regret that we cannot give due credit to the author for -the suggestions embodied in the story. - -A young boy was left alone in the yard to play. Everybody had gone -and left the house in his care. He was given the key and told not to -enter the house until the family returned. After a while he became -tired of the birds, the flowers, the the trees, the sunshine. The -spirit of disobedience entered into him and slowly he took his way -to the house. He unlocked the door. The first thing met his eye was -his father’s razor. He had always been forbidden to touch it. But the -spirit of license ran riot in his veins, and in using it he cut his -face until the blood trickled down. Next he made his way to a matchbox. -He had always been told to let it alone. He first built fences with -matches on the floor, then fires under the lace curtains. A hole in -the carpet, ruined curtains and his fingers blistered was the result. -Suffering with pain and ashamed of his disobedience he steals out under -the trees, and like Adam in the garden, he thought he could hide his -sins by hiding himself. So he stole away and crawled under some bushes. -When his father came home, discovered the ruined articles, he thought, -what can be done to restore and mend that which his boy had broken, had -ruined? His razor was broken, but he could buy a new one. His matches -were consumed, but he could buy more. The curtains and carpet were -defaced by fire, but they could be replaced and repaired. Wealth could -repair the damage done to the house and make all as before. Skill and -nature could repair the wrong done to the hand and the face, and make -them as they were before. - -But where were the riches and where was the teacher that could make the -boy’s heart as it was before his disobedience? None could be found. -Let me tell you what happened. The father came not to upbraid, but to -entreat; not to chastise, but to weep; The child’s hand was burned, the -father’s heart was broken. The boy cried for shame, the father cried -for sorrow. The father put his arms about the boy and with his head -upon his breast together they sobbed out their sorrow. One part of it -was the boy’s confession, and the other part of it was the father’s -pain. Together they made a new resolution and hand to hand, and heart -to heart, and love to love, they began together to repair the ruin that -had been wrought. - -During the early stages of a boy’s membership he is constantly reminded -that some day he will leave the street, he will seek employment -elsewhere, and his start in a business life depends upon his street -work. To illustrate this teaching, a boy found a small child’s savings -bank. It was filled with money, small coin; and it was heavy. It was -picked up on the street over a mile from the president’s office. As -soon as found, the boy started on a run, as they always do, for the -office. It was delivered with the usual instruction “to please find the -owner.” To try the newsie the president called him aside and said, in a -confidential whisper: “Why didn’t you sneak around the corner, into an -alley, any place where no one could see you, and take a stone break the -old bank all to pieces, take the money, and, my, what a good time you -could have had.” - -The boy quickly replied: “No, sir, Mr. President, suppose I wanted a -job, and stood in line to be questioned by the man, and he would ask, -have you always been honest? What would I say? Why! my face would show -I did something wrong—I took a little bank from some poor boy, and he -would say, I don’t want a boy I would have to be afraid of; no that -don’t belong to me.” - -This plainly shows what can be successfully impressed upon the minds of -these hustling, seemingly thoughtless, street-boys. And when the owner -of that bank proved to be a little girl—and how happy she was when it -was found and returned to her, the boy said: “I would rather have the -girl’s smiles than all the money the bank contained.” - - - - -_PART SIXTH_ - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - - -From the very beginning of the Boyville association there has scarcely -been a day without something of importance transpiring among the boys. -It has been gradually building up, incidents and noble acts showing the -willingness of these boys not only to do right themselves but to assist -others. - -The work so humbly begun in 1892, with one hundred or more members, -mostly the poorest boys of the streets, little outcasts, as they are -often called, developed so rapidly under the self-governing plan, -that in the early part of the year 1905 the books of the Boyville -Newsboys’ Association showed a membership of over three thousand boys -under fourteen years of age. This enrollment includes two hundred and -fifty boys who started with the association as sellers and shiners of -shoes, but who today have graduated from the street. The majority of -this number are engaged in some business, lawyers, doctors, commercial -travelers, clerks or working in some trade, and all ambitious not -only to earn a living for themselves but also to lend a helping hand -to those who are in need, ever having in mind the teachings of the -association. The following will show how well some of the principles -have been remembered and how long they remained intact. - -Early in January of 1905, a young man brought to the president an old -pocket-book containing twenty-two dollars and sixty cents ($22.60), -together with some letters, the contents of which revealed the fact -that the owner was a poor woman and had been visiting her relatives to -secure assistance in raising money to pay taxes, long since due, on her -home. Names were given, but no residence. - -The president said to the young man: “You know we advertise what the -boys find in the daily papers and do everything we can to seek the -owner and—” - -“Yes, sir,” replied the young man, “I know all this and have been -through it many years ago. That is just what I want you to do, please -try to find the rightful owner. I want no compensation, and I don’t -want my name mentioned in any way.” - -[Illustration: LINING UP READY TO GO TO CHURCH.] - -As it was necessary to know who the finder was, so that after the -expiration of thirty days the money could be returned to him, he -finally gave his name and address. When he had left the office, -something about his eyes reminded the president that he had seen him, -somewhere many years ago. Bringing out the Newsboys’ book he found -among the first names recorded eleven years ago, this young man’s. -Following the name was: “Seller, and shiner, age eleven, poor parents, -smart boy,” and on leaving the street, as a seller, became a graduate -member. So, he was a newsboy eleven years ago, and still retained the -desire to do something for others. - -About a week after the money was advertised, a very aged lady called. -She minutely described the contents of the pocket-book; she said: “I -was returning from a visit to my son, where I went to get $22.60 to pay -taxes on my home. This amount included some back taxes. The property -was already advertised for sale. What to do when I lost that money I -did not know. My mental suffering was most intense. I walked from the -depot towards the court house and did not miss my pocket-book until I -crossed the bridge. Yes, this is mine.” - -During the recital of her story her eyes were filled with tears, -and she showed the mental strain under which she was laboring. When -the pocket-book and the money were handed to her, the change in her -demeanor was beautiful to behold. When the young man was told to whom -the money belonged and the great good it did, he said: - -“No money reward could pay me for this. I am only too glad we found the -owner, especially as it belonged to so poor a woman.” - -Does it pay to be a life-member of The Boyville Newsboys’ Association? - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - - -The finding of valuable articles and turning them over to the -president, with a request to find the owner, is not a rule of the -association. - -All these little acts have a tendency to cultivate a desire to assist -others and many times violations of the rules are corrected by members -who are not officers. - -At almost any time of the day can be seen a man with a two-wheeled -cart, slowly circulating around newspaper offices, especially about -the time the dailies are out. The newsies purchase a penny’s worth -of ice cream, or cheap candies, and often these old men become quite -confidential friends of certain boys—particularly the shiners, who are -on the street almost constantly. One time a new member, a bootblack, -a boy about fourteen years of age, before he understood the secret -workings of the association, had a dispute with a vendor of ice cream -and peanuts, about the loss of several sacks of peanuts. The boy was -accused of stealing the peanuts. “Yes, you didn’t see me steal ’em,” -said the shiner, “an if you don’t catch a feller, how youse goin’ to -prove it?” - -The boy was about to leave the wagon, when several sellers came to him. - -“Say, Muddy Water,” cried one of the boys, “we seed you steal the -peanuts. You must settle wid de ole man.” - -The boy came back, but pleaded that he did not have any money. - -“All right, we’ll chip in an’ pay de debt.” - -The money was raised, and the boy was required to pay for the stolen -peanuts and make an apology. - -“I’m sorry, but I didn’t know it was again’ the rules of the -association,” he said. - -“Of course it’s again the rules, an’ it’s our business to give all new -members warning when they do things like that. Don’t do it any more.” - -This was a warning well heeded as after events proved. - -One of the greatest benefits gained by the newsboys in belonging to the -association is the securing of suitable positions; for boys, as they -grow older, naturally leave the street work. - -Wholesale as well as retail men, frequently ask for good, honest boys. -During the twelve years existence of Boyville it has been the delight -of the president to secure some two hundred places for newsboys. With -all this great number it is a pleasure to state that not one in fifty -proved unworthy of the positions, or unfitted for the kind of work. The -majority of boys for whom positions were secured were from very poor -parents, mostly widowed mothers, needing their assistance. - -Unless a person is familiar with street boys, no conception can be -formed of their energy and determination in following up anything they -want. - -A young man, who had outgrown newsboy’s work called upon the president -and wanted a position as brakeman on one of the railroads. - -He was kindly informed by the president that he knew the superintendent -of the road he wished to work for had already over five hundred -applications from young men wanting to be brakemen. Instead of asking -the president to see the superintendent, as is generally done, he said: - -“Please give me the name of the man who does the employing of brakemen. -I want to see him. I think I can show him he wants me.” - -“I am afraid it won’t be of any use, but I like your pluck. Here is a -note to him.” - -This note simply said the bearer was an honest young man. - -A few days later the young man called. - -“Well, I got a job. I’m brakeman on one of the fast trains.” - -This he secured through his own tact, for this certainly was necessary. -His street experience taught him to hustle for himself, and it became -part of his nature as he grew older. He did not sit down and wait for -something to come his way, for something to turn up. He turned up -something for himself. - -His frank and honorable method of working the superintendent, his -earnest but manly appeal, his push, his politeness, his tact, secured -for him what five hundred young men were “waiting to receive by -letter.” When the matter was referred to the superintendent he said: -“His every action showed he was a willing worker and not afraid to work -overtime if necessary. He works as though he owned the entire road.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - - -Commercial men, some of our best merchants, sometimes, in their -eagerness to make money, forget the first principles of honesty, and -often make assertions that upon second thought they would not make. -Sometimes in their advertising they will say things which they would -never think of saying under other circumstances, though lying in -business matters is equally as dishonorable as in private life. The -relations between the public and the merchant, as well as between -master and servant, must rest on mutual respect and confidence. Here is -an illustration, by a close observer, a boy fourteen years of age. - -Walking along one of the principal streets, a newsboy noticed the -following sign, in large type, in a show window and attached to some -article for sale. It read: “Regular price, one hundred dollars. Our -price, twenty-nine dollars.” - -“Say, president,” said the boy, “is that man telling the truth when he -says a twenty-nine dollar article is worth one hundred dollars?” - -It was a question that required a wise answer, but put it in any -business way possible, nothing could satisfy the boy that it was -strictly honest. - -“When I go into business,” said the seller, “you bet I’ll not fool the -public; when I say a thing is worth so much it will be worth that much.” - -What time would develop, what changes come over this young man, no one -could tell, but the right principle had a good hold of the boy, and it -meant success and a clear conscience during his manhood. - -That the success of the association does not depend upon the efforts of -the officers entirely, will be seen by the following: - -Three newsboys called upon the president; two of them were leading a -ragged little fellow with a shining-box thrown over his shoulder. - -“Say, president,” said one of them, “here’s a boy shining shoes on the -market an’ the way he swears is puttin’ men out o’ business.” - -The accused bootblack was a sight. To the question where he lived he -replied: “I have no home. My father’s dead an’ my mother, she’s no -good. There’s no room fur me in the house.” - -[Illustration: THE TOUGH FROM MARKET SPACE. - - _See Page 152_ -] - -By further questioning it was learned that the clothes he had on were -given to him some two months ago and had not been taken off since he -put them on. This may seem strange, but it is only one of the dozen of -cases where parents do not require the removal of their boy’s clothes -when they go to bed. - -The peculiar odor coming from boys who are treated in this shameful -manner will prove this. This boy walked from a neighboring city, or -stole a ride on some freight-train. He had been shining shoes around -the market-space for a month or more, and declared that to be in the -push, to be recognized by men, and to secure business, it was necessary -to swear and be tough. - -“I wouldn’t be a bootblack,” he said, “if I couldn’t swear, the men -wouldn’t shine if I didn’t.” - -The newsboys who frequented the market were very much put out by this -boy’s swearing and general tough appearance, so when opportunity -favored they began their missionary work, with the result of persuading -the shiner to accompany them to the president’s office. - -The boy had a very attractive face. He was worth saving. - -“So, you come to see me about joining the association,” said the -president. - -The boy replied: “The boys say I can make more money if I cut out -swearin’ an’ belong to the association.” - -“They tell me you swear and sometimes don’t know how to give correct -change to your customers. If that’s so you are just the kind of a boy -we want. You little hustling fellows make our best young men. You don’t -wait until someone comes to you for a shine. I have seen you follow a -man who had red shoes a whole square. You will make a good business -man, and these little boys, friends of yours, are just the kind of boys -who will help you, will bring you business, will tell you where to get -something good to eat, and I think we can throw away your old ragged -clothes and get a new suit, how would you like that?” - -His face had a surprised look. He didn’t expect some one to offer -anything of interest to him, he expected to get lectured, to be “talked -goodygood to,” as he afterwards said. - -“Well, you see, mister,” said the boy with some familiarity, “we can’t -do business on the street unless we do as men do. They swear at us an’ -we must swear at them or we lose the shine.” - -“How often do men swear at you?” - -“How often? I can’t count ’em. Every other word.” - -“Well, it doesn’t sound nice, does it?” - -“No, an’ I could cut it out.” - -“Sure thing he can cut it out, an’ we’ll be right behind to see that he -forgets it,” put in one of the newsies. - -“Well, I’ll start you in the association,” said the president, “but I -don’t want you to be too good to start with. Sometimes you may forget -what the card means, and you will swear before you know it, but don’t -let that worry you, the next time you will do better and forget it. -But when you get the badge, in thirty days, then you mustn’t swear at -all, for if you do the officers will be right after you and your name -will be on a list that means something when you get older and want a -position in some big store.” - -The membership card was given to him, a new suit of clothes was -furnished by a kind hearted clothier, and the boys—including the -chairman of the executive committee—took the boy home. When his mother -discovered some one took an interest in him, she began to think he -amounted to something, and from that time on, he received attention. -At the expiration of thirty days the numbered badge was given to him -and he started on his new life. - -In the fall of the same year this bootblack was unanimously elected as -an officer of Boyville, and is one of the best boys on the street. Two -months later he brought to the president a gold watch, worth forty-two -dollars and fifty cents. The owner was found, and insisted upon seeing -the young man. He was sent, with the watch, to him. The wealthy lawyer -handed him ten cents, and gave him some good advice. The boy returned -the money saying: - -“No, Mister, you keep this, you need it more than I do.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - - -Among the great number of boys who called at the office, none cast such -a ray of sunshine about him as a little seller known as Sunny Willie, -on account of the smile he always seemed to have. But with all his good -nature and kindness of heart, he, at times, became very serious. - -One evening after the boys had sold their papers and were enroute to -their homes, Sunny Willie, as was often his habit, called upon the -president to say good night. Just as he was leaving the office, two -boys walked in and the loud talking between them indicated trouble. -Willie concluded to remain. Leaning against the desk he became a very -attentive listener. The smile had left him. He looked thoughtful. - -“I know you’re wrong,” said one of the boys, “you’re talking to hear -yourself talk. You are looking fur trouble. That’s what you are. I ken -prove it. I ken show you I wasn’t on the corner fur a week.” “That’s -right,” replied the other boy, “why wasn’t you there fur a week, -because you stole the papers from the poor old woman and was ashamed -to sell ’round the corner. Now, come off, you took de papers.” - -At the corner of the post-office is a small stand kept by a woman, who -has been engaged in selling papers for a number of years. One morning, -some papers were missing from a bundle lying upon the sidewalk. The boy -accused usually sold papers on the corner and his absence for several -mornings gave rise to the suspicion that he either took the papers or -knew something about them. - -“As I said before,” continued the accused boy, “I did not steal the -papers, an’ you got no proof to show I did.” - -There was silence for some moments when Sunny Willie, said, in a -whisper, to the president: - -“I saw de kid take the papers. Shall I butt in?” - -“Yes, you arbitrate the case—settle it,” replied the president. - -The usual smile was still missing when Willie said, quietly: - -“Sand the track, you’re slipping.” - -“What do you mean?” asked the boy, his face becoming very red. - -“You know the rule of the association is to warn a boy when he’s -slipping; when he’s doin’ something wrong. When I say, sand the track, -I mean you can’t go forward, you go backward, and some one must help -you or you slide back, see? I’m the fellow who’s ready to stop you from -sliding. I saw you take the papers.” - -The accused was surprised. He could not talk. Sunny Willie again came -to his rescue. - -“I’ll give you these pennies,” he said, and the smile returned to his -pretty face. In his little hand he held ten new pennies. - -“Now, didn’t you take the papers?” - -“Yes, but I intended to return the money for them, or make it all right -with the old woman.” - -“Come,” he continued addressing Willie, “I’ll go with you and we’ll -make it all right.” - -Out the three boys went and they were soon talking with the old woman. -Shortly, Sunny Willie returned to the office. - -“If I hadn’t a put sand on his track he would have slipped way back,” -he said to the president, “Everything’s all right. He will never steal -papers again.” - -Another little seller, a favorite on the street among business men, one -of whom the president often purchases a paper to please the newsboy, -came running into the office one evening and throwing his bundle upon -the lap of the president said: - -“Here, pres., hold these papers until I go into the hotel to get a -drink of water.” - -The act was done so quickly the president found the big bundle on -his lap before he really understood the wishes of the newsie, but he -quickly returned, took the papers, and said, as he hastened out: - -“Thank you, Mr. President.” - -The confidence this boy had in the president was appreciated, not only -by him but by those who witnessed the act. - -It has always been a source of great pleasure, to the president and -his associates, to see how deeply interested the officers of the -association become, as the following will show. - -Three officers were walking on one of the principal streets casually -looking in the show-windows when they heard music; looking ahead they -saw a newsboy, a seller, walking along, playing a mouth-organ. Coming -to him, it was noticed the instrument was an unusually fine one, and a -new one. - -“That mouth-organ is too expensive for that boy, there’s something -wrong,” said one of the officers. - -[Illustration: DIVIDING THE PAPERS.] - -“Where did you get that organ,” was asked the newsie. - -“I buyed it at Smith’s store, down yonder,” was the reply. - -“Well, I guess, not. You never had so much money. Come on with us and -show us where you bought it.” - -They walked to the corner when the boy said: - -“I didn’t buy it there, I bought it down on Monroe street,” giving the -correct name of a store on that street. - -“All, right, come along, we’ll go down there.” - -Around the corner they started and when within a block of the street -the boy again changed the place of purchase. - -“I buyed it of Mr. Jones, way out on this street.” - -That was five blocks away. - -“Now this is the last time,” said one of the officers, “if you change -the place again, look out.” - -But when they had walked four squares the boy again made an effort to -change. - -“No, you don’t my chappy,” said one of the officers, “We know you stole -it. We knew it from the first. Now you own to the truth or we will -take you to the president, and then what?” - -The boy squirmed considerable, but every movement gave evidence that he -stole it. - -“Now, where did you get it?” was bluntly asked, as the boy was backed -up against a building. - -This was too much for him. He owned he “hooked it.” Naming a prominent -department store as the place he took it. - -“You must go with us, hand it to the proprietor and beg his pardon,” -said the officers. - -This at first seemed a most difficult task, but when they promised to -accompany him to the store he agreed. - -When at the door of the great store he asked the officers to step aside. - -“If I do this you will not tell the president, will you?” - -“Of course not, he shall never know anything about it.” - -He walked in, took an elevator and soon stood before the manager of the -store. - -He told how he saw it on the counter and “hooked it when the girls were -not looking, but I will never do anything like this again.” - -The manager thanked the boy for his determination to do better and -told him he would forgive him for the theft, and promised to give him -a position in the store if the officers of the association would bring -him there when he was through school. - -The president learned of this incident a month later but never knew the -name of the newsboy. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - - -As has been said, the boys are continually suggesting by their acts and -words, something new, something whereby the officers can build upon -their ideas. - -The membership cards were given first, to show the boys some of the -written rules; and, second, that the boys might have something official -to show in case they lost their badges; but a new idea suggested -itself to one of the graduating sellers, who was about to engage in -business other than selling papers. A prominent churchman advertised, -“a boy wanted in his manufacturing concern.” This young man saw the -advertisement and became an applicant for the position. He was received -very kindly and naturally so because he had an honest face, and was a -willing worker. The gentleman asked if the boy could give any reference. - -The newsboy took from his pocket a membership card of the Boyville -Newsboys’ Association. - -“Do you know any thing about the association of newsboys?” asked the -seller. - -“Yes, sir, I know all about them.” - -“This is my reference,” the boy replied handing him the card on which -the man read—“He does not approve of swearing, stealing, lying etc.” - -To the boy’s surprise and disgust, the gentleman took the card crumpled -it in his hand, and threw it upon the floor, remarking: “that’s no -reference—that’s no good in business.” - -The boy picked it up, and, to use his own language, said: - -“I waited until my temper cooled down and I asked him, ‘can you say -you never swore, never stole any thing, never gambled, never cheated -any one? I can, sir, and that’s what that card means. I wouldn’t work -for you.’ Oh, I hit him hard. As I was leaving he called me back, but -I said, ‘if you would give me five thousand dollars a year I wouldn’t -work for you. You have not only insulted me but the association.’” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - - -Before Boyville was thought of, a personal investigation into the -home-life of over a hundred boys was made, and this covered a period -of three years. Of the one hundred who were graduating from the street -work as newsboys not more than thirty were engaged in a business that -would lead them to fortune or fame. Seventy were satisfied with making -a living by earnings of vice and petty crimes. It was learned that a -boy who was permitted to go on in his own way would have no useful -training for later work. The seventy boys followed the rule of men in -wrong-doing. “No man is guilty until caught,” is the general rule of -men who make it a business of stealing. - -The progress of any humanitarian legislation is gradual. - -No one ever stopped to make inquiry about a newsboy. He lived in a -business, and social circle, all by himself. He was left to shift for -himself and in a most unequal battle. - -When investigation revealed the deplorable fact that seventy per cent. -of our newsboys were being educated and trained with their faces -towards jails and penitentiaries, the question arose, how can we -reduce this number, how can we turn their faces towards a better life, -a happier condition, a delightful ending? How make them honorable -citizens, good men, loved by all who know them, an honor to themselves, -to their parents, their friends, the State and city in which they live? - -The problem solved itself in personal experiences, convincing us -that we must try to catch the candidates for prison before they have -been debased and to keep them decent. “It is the Christian, decent, -brotherly way for one thing, and it is the cheapest way in dollars and -cents for another.” - -It is a rule, rather than an exception, that people have always -considered a newsboy bad, and he is therefore treated accordingly. - -Everybody knows or can soon learn to know, that the street is the great -school of crime. Betting and gambling are typical of the combination of -work and play of man and boy that street work produces. - -One of the greatest evils of the street was that of begging; of boys -working on the sympathies of the public by taking advantage of men and -women on street-cars or in public places. - -Some boys made a business of begging, the majority not from their own -choice, but by compulsion of their parents. - -One boy in particular was doing more to injure the success of the -association’s work on the street than hundreds of others who were bad -in other lines. - -The father of this boy would wait until the theatres were out, at -night, and instruct the boy to “work the car,” by begging, and if that -failed by forcing papers upon young men who were compelled to purchase -what they did not want. - -It took some time, almost a year, to stop this kind of business, and -then the president had to call upon the efficient Humane officer to -stop it. As every case of begging was traced to the fault of parents -the Humane Society had to deal directly with them. - -The Boyville association gradually stamped this evil entirely out. - -[Illustration: TWO NEW MEMBERS.] - -To stop begging, stealing, swearing and gambling, four leading street -evils among the newsboys and in guiding the footsteps of these little -wanderers, for this they are when seen upon the streets of our great -cities, that Boyville came into existence, and it is to co-operate, -when it is possible or desirable, with the parents and the home in -reclaiming boys who have gone astray or are likely to follow paths that -lead to ruin. - -There is no greater, stronger sign of love to young or old than when a -friend gives a warning in the right spirit. - -The children of Israel had no better friend than Moses, and when they -obeyed his warning they never went astray. We may be wrong in our -liberal methods of giving to charity; we may be wrong in dropping -pennies into the hats of the street beggars—the blind—the lame—the -crippled who stand or sit on our public streets pleading in a tone of -experience; and we may be satisfying an ever-warning conscience; but -there is one thing certain, we can never make a mistake by warning a -newsboy from doing anything wrong—from stealing, lying, swearing, or -gambling, and it is always wise and safe to give a boy the right start -in life. - -In every city, with a population of one hundred thousand or more, -thirty per cent. of the newsboys, the sellers, have no homes or their -homes are worse than none at all. If men and women would stop to -think, to investigate, listen to the stories as told by these street -boys; of the wants, miseries and degradation in the sad conditions that -surround many of them; these dirty, ragged boys would receive a more -Christian-like attention and care. If your nature to mingle with the -meek and lowly is forced, if your mission for doing good in this world -is cast in other fields, where better results may be reached, you can -take a personal interest in seeing that those who are familiar with -work among street boys, and who delight in trying to aid them, are -given proper encouragement and assistance so that their work may be -carried on successfully. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - - -A few months’ experience with boys who spend most of their lives upon -the street, and pride themselves on being tough, will teach one a great -lesson. You will learn you cannot reach a boy unless you get near -him, are of his kind; and the most lasting and truest friendship, and -through which you can gain the best results, is where you place a boy -under personal obligations to you, through kindness. You may buy him -for money, but he does not look upon you with the same interest and -confidence as when you gain his love through personal attention. The -boy must be understood. No two boys are alike. Though many are endowed -with similar characteristics, each has his own individuality. The trees -are not all of one kind. Even the leaves on the same tree differ in -size and contour. One tree in the writer’s yard, one of the choicest -of plums; a long branch sprouted out every spring and grew so rapidly -that before the leaves in the fall began to show signs of decay, it -became strong and reached several feet beyond any other branch. It made -the tree look awkward, unnatural, but when trimmed down, even with -the others, it produced more and better fruit than any other portion -of the tree. The boys are like the birds who are unlike in plumage and -song; the flowers in color and fragrance, and yet nature would not be -perfect were it not for these different lines of beauty, strength, and -fragrance. - -In the cultivation of plants the gardner considers the nature and needs -of different stages of growth, furnishing the nourishment and care -that will be most helpful just at that time. So in boyhood we observe -various stages of development, whose natures and needs must be studied -that we may properly provide for them. - -It has been said: “That the home, the church, the school with their -natural and uplifting influences have been responsible in the past, and -must continue to be in the future, for the manhood and womanhood of -this nation.” It is a well-known fact that the home sometimes fails, or -there is no home, or one which the church and the school do not reach. -There are times when even these have no power over a boy’s acts. A boy -who violates the laws of the land is answerable not to the home, the -church or the school, but to the State. - -Crime among boys, in America, is greatly on the increase. The reports, -official and unofficial, that are made public, of the per cent. of the -criminals serving time in our jails, workhouses, reform schools, and -even our penitentiaries, are astounding, and almost beyond belief. - -How to check this is a problem of the greatest importance, and it -cannot be solved without the hearty co-operation of every person. - -Among the first things to be done must be the recognition of the power -of home and our neighbors. We cannot live without our neighbor. Each -home depends upon some other home; and when the boy leaves his home -to go upon the street, he is at once overcome by the stronger power -and influence of a boy of some other home, and, perhaps where the -rearing and training was not good. The boy is a result more or less, -of all influences and environment of the lives of his companions. -Every good mother recalls the pang that came over her heart when for -the first time she led her boy to school, knowing that her influence -must be shared with that of the teacher. It is not long until the -boy quotes his teacher, and sometimes in defiance, when he says: “My -teacher says so an’ so.” And how many times we hear this from the boy -when away from home, more frequently than the sayings of his mother. -The boy’s school life soon begins to develop self-reliance, full of -possibilities, of curiosity and questionings, the period of formation -of thoughts, feelings and desires. And when a boy reaches that stage in -his life when he is permitted to go down town alone—he at once begins -a new life. And there is not a mother in our country but who makes this -pleading request to her son as he is about to start: “Don’t go into bad -company.” - -It is on this line that the Newsboys’ Association, with all its varied -interests and objects, through its many channels of work, backed -with that true spirit of Christianity characteristic of everything -that means good, with the aid of its president and its many working -officers, in the name of God and humanity, aims to make the bad boy of -the streets of our cities and towns good, so that the mother will not -find it necessary to say: “Now, my dear son, don’t go into bad company.” - -Let us all hope, and pray, and work for the time to come when there -will be no “bad company” on the streets. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. - - -At one of the auxiliary meetings the question was asked a carrier, -why the association “kicked against drinking whiskey when my father -drinks four times a day.” In a talk at the meeting the vice-president -said: “Your father may have been a respected citizen. He was all right -when he started out, but today he is a physical wreck, I know him. -He drinks too much. He paid no attention to warning. Perhaps he had -no one to tell him. He trembles now, and I have seen him fall to the -ground, helpless. Some day he will fall and get up no more. Every boy -has in his mind a real desire to do good, but if you start in life -as a whiskey drinker, if you stand around and see your friends drink -without giving them a warning, some day you will regret it, something -will come up in your life to remind you of your carelessness, your lost -opportunity to help a fellow being, and his ruin means more to you than -you think it does. - -“There was a man once rowing in a small boat above Niagara Falls, -where the water was quiet. He got funny and ventured down stream too -far until he got into the current and not having strength enough to -pull out of it, he was going faster and every second he saw certain -destruction ahead of him. It was too late for him to think and act. The -thinking should have been done up the river on peaceful waters. So you -boys better do your thinking now if you don’t want to follow that kind -of people over the brink. No, boys, don’t drink intoxicating liquors, -don’t start it, cut it out, forget it. - -“We do not believe that temperance is really promoted by compulsion, -but this we do know, that the boy who will let whiskey and all spirits -alone is very fortunate, and has a bright, happy future. He is the boy -who will succeed; he is the young man that is wanted; he will be the -man to be trusted.” - -[Illustration: “TENEMENTS ON THE AVENUE.” - -IN THESE OLD BUILDINGS, AT ONE TIME, LIVED SEVENTEEN FAMILIES. - - _See Page 178_ -] - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI. - - -The problem of the boy is a great one, and the more we have to do with -his life upon the street the greater the task of solution becomes. It -is said that two great factors make the sum of human life—heredity -and environment. We are told that if you will gather up soil from the -arctic regions and carry it on a steamer southward, you will soon see -it covered with vegetation. If the soil of the tropics is taken to the -frozen regions of Franz Joseph Land, it will become barren. The soil -of both regions is full of heredity, but the difference of environment -greatly modifies the result. There are in all of us hereditary -tendencies to both vice and virtue, and under favorable surroundings, -these tendencies will be either dormant or developed. - -A thief may come from a morally healthy family, a happy prosperous -home, but he is an unhealthy exception not the rule. It is the -offense of our day that the tendency of life is toward destruction -of character. The crowding of population to the cities, is gradually -destroying the home feeling. This rapidly increasing rush from the -country and small towns to the centres of individual energy, brings a -dependent class of boys, and the official reports show a significant -increase in the number of juvenile criminals, from small towns, and -also that they are much younger than formerly. This does not mean -that the energetic young man of the country should stay away from the -cities, or should not seek employment or business in a city; it simply -means that christian people should take a greater personal interest in -trying to make the boy good before he leaves his home, and that the -city people should make city life purer. - -So long as our best reputed citizens, the first men of many of our -churches, own the dilapidated tenement houses, receiving from such -occupants a rental sufficient to pay taxes, and without caring who -occupies the premises or for what purposes, the criminal tendency must -increase. - -For a time charitably-inclined people may check and partially correct -an evil, but the tendency will remain, sure to assert itself in one -form or another. If the present cheap-John tenements should be wiped -out, and it were made possible for the proper classes to secure homes -in the country, modest as necessarily they would be, it would go a -long way towards correcting one of the greatest evils of the day. - -“The prison returns of one of our great States show that fifty per -cent. of all young criminals come from bad homes, from tenement houses -owned by rich men, and only nine per cent. from good homes.” - -Since the Humane societies are so well organized, and doing such -magnificent work, much may be expected for the better in the condition -of the houses of the poor. There are many streets in our great cities -where people shudder when compelled to walk, on account of their bad -reputation. - -The tenants may be bad, but are they worse than the owners of the -property? Have you ever stopped to think who owns a building under -whose roof lives a dozen bad characters? - -One Sunday morning, a gentleman in the city was walking down an avenue -of considerable importance when he was surprised to see two young -newsboys coming out of the rear door of a saloon, each trying to keep -the other from falling to the ground. - -The building was old and rickety. On the second floor were not a half -dozen whole panes of glass in eight window frames. - -Astonished at this, a question was asked, of a passer-by who owned the -saloon property? - -“Mr.—— owns all the property on that side of the street. He is now -teaching a Sunday-school class while boys are in his building drinking. -This thing’s repeated every Sunday. It’s headquarters for young men.” - -When our leading men of business, our wealthy citizens, men of -influence, men who stand high in the commercial world, are renting -their property to persons who, for the money they make, are ruining -hundreds of young lives, what can we expect? - -We need an era of enforcement of law, less of pretense, more of -purpose. Whether the laws be good or bad, is not a question. If they -are good, they should be enforced for the welfare of the community and -the vindication of the State. If they are bad, they should be enforced -so that their injustice may prove sufficiently oppressive to lead to -their appeal. - -The saloons will always be with us, and so long as the State, and the -city receive the price for their existence, and grant them recognition -and endorsement, they should be protected in accordance with the laws -governing their business, but beyond all this, there is a law, a moral -law, a law of decency, of respect, for the welfare and happiness of -mankind, that should appeal to every man engaged in the selling of -liquors. - -Five men, of our acquaintance, engaged in the saloon business, have for -many years mutually agreed to do certain things. They do not open their -places of business on Sunday. They do not admit a minor into their -saloons for any cause. They will not sell liquor to a man who shows the -least sign of being intoxicated. - -If every man engaged in the saloon business would follow to the letter -these few simple rules, thousands of good wives, and innocent children -would be happy, and the influence for good could not be estimated. Our -Sunday-closing laws should be enforced. - -The lives of a majority of men, hard-working men, are dreary enough for -six days of the week without having all of the desolation compressed -into the seventh and drilled into them through the avarice of selfish -men who aim to take advantage of a man under the influence of liquor, -and take from him his last cent and then throw him into the street. - -We are learning to regard the majority of youthful offenders, -especially in our large cities, as the victims of environment, -sufferers from lack of opportunity for good. In nine cases out of -ten, boys who are found in saloons come from well-to-do families, and -are permitted to be there through neglect and carelessness of their -parents. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII. - - -A question is often asked, why young men do not more frequently attend -church services. May not one of these reasons be traced to neglect and -carelessness on the part of the parents? Nothing in the religious world -can be more important than the proper training of young men. It is said -that the only place where real religion can be taught is in the home. -By this it is not meant religious forms, but real religion. To go to -church every Sunday and sing religious hymns and listen to eloquent -sermons is not all there is to religion. The formation of character, -the stimulus of the moral sentiments must be done largely outside of -the doors of the church. To assist in building up the boy who roams our -streets at will, and to take an interest in and to encourage the boy -to live up to and follow the instructions he receives at his home, is, -indeed, to practice real religion. - -It is a well-known fact, often repeated by the guards at our -penitentiaries, that no man ever entered these institutions but what at -sometime or other declared that, if he had followed the admonition and -religious instructions of his father and mother, his life would have -been different. If father and mother do not practice in their daily -lives this real religion, and if the boy is not brought up to believe -that some people are to be avoided, and held in contempt, all the -churches in the world cannot correct such mistakes, because they have -but few hours one day in a week to accomplish what six days can undo. - -It will be seen, then, how important it is that the boy on the street, -whether he comes from a good religious home or a bad home, should be -watched and carefully guided and taught. - -Our work in the garden is not to pull out onions, radishes, tomato -plants, but carefully to destroy the weeds, and not only those weeds -that are crowding the tender plants, but all weeds. Get the wild -sprouts out, pull up the weeds by the roots and throw them away. This a -good gardener will do, and he will carefully pull the soft, rich earth -around the plants to brace them up. - -[Illustration: “I WILL BUY FROM THE LITTLE FELLOW.”] - -[Illustration: WAITING FOR THE LAST EDITION.] - -If the same interest is taken in our newsboys, to pull out the weeds -so that the boy can grow, it will be doing what the preacher often -says: “A good man’s goodness lies not hid in himself alone; but when he -endeavors to strengthen his weaker brother.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII. - - -Men often lose great opportunities to assist their fellow-men through -neglect, through carelessness and indifference. It is so easy to say, -“you have my sympathy, you are doing a noble work,” when many times the -speaker may be better adapted for the same kind of work and be far more -successful. And so an opportunity is allowed to slip by all for the -lack of taking advantage of it. - -The influence a man or a woman teacher has over a boy is wonderful. In -the eyes of a boy, a teacher stands for a model of perfection and is -supposed to be in reality, in daily life and actions, what he seems to -be when he shows his best side to the pupils. - -From the school, from the teacher, from a trusted friend, the boy -carries the influence back to the family, into his daily life upon the -streets, and many of the teachings follow him through life. The boy at -school is taught to be kind, to be generous, and to remember his little -friends whenever opportunity favors. Heartfelt sympathy in a newsboy, -comes like a flash of lightning, and he is ever ready to fall in line -when the boys want to remember a friend. The president was taken by -surprise one day when the street sellers, the poorest of our newsboys, -through one of their hustlers, presented him with a gold badge. The -money to purchase it was raised by subscriptions from the boys, in -amounts ranging from two cents to twenty-five. A few days after the -presentation the president was walking on one of the main streets when -he was accosted by a little seller, from the opposite side of the -street. - -“Say, president, come over here.” - -A boy never called the president to go where he wanted him to go but he -complied at once, and cheerfully. The little ragged fellow stepped in -front of him and said: - -“Pres., have youse got de gold badge we gives you?” - -“Yes, here it is,” and the badge was taken from the coat and handed to -the boy. Looking at it closely, and calling several companions to him, -he said: - -“Pres., youse see that diamond in the center?” pointing a dirty finger -to it. - -“Yes, sir, we all see it, and it’s a beauty.” - -“Well, you see,” he said straightening up above his natural height, -“I subscribed four cents to this here badge, and all the boys put up -the dough. When I went home and thought it over, I says to myself, we -ought to have a bigger badge than this fur our president. So when I -comes down town I see de boys and we concluded to have a diamond put -in the center. It met wid de kids ’proval, and it was done. You see de -diamond?” - -“Yes,” replied a dozen voices. - -“Well, I blowed eleven cents in it,” he proudly replied. Adding, “Ain’t -it a bird?” - -Happy youth. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV. - - -How many prayers have been offered for the salvation of the slums; how -many sighs and expressions of regret and sympathy have been given, by -well-meaning people, for the “poor and unhealthy boys of the slums.” - -Those who are familiar, and it is to be regretted that they are so few, -with the real conditions of these, supposed, unhealthy and certainly -unpleasant districts, will substantiate the declaration that the boys -who live there, in these ill-favored spots, and who have followed -the vocation of selling papers or shining shoes, until they arrived -at that age when it was necessary to seek other and more lucrative -employment, are ninety per cent. healthier and stronger and better able -to fight disease than boys raised in the most sanitary districts and in -wealthy families. The slums of Whitechapel and Westminster, in London, -inhabitated by a squalid and criminal population, as well as the slums -in New York and other American cities, maintain a healthier condition -among the inhabitants. - -In a period of six years, with an enrollment of two hundred and -fifty newsboys, who belonged to the sellers auxiliary; a majority of -them living in what is called “the worst part of the city, the most -unhealthy; the most degraded; the most undesirable,” and boys who from -necessity were compelled to sell papers or shine shoes, thus requiring -an almost daily appearance upon the streets in all kinds of weather, -there were but three cases of sickness, and but one death, and this -death was caused by an explosion at a Fourth of July celebration. - -Little Barney Frank, one of the brightest and most promising members -of the association died January 28, 1903, having been injured by a toy -cannon. - -The president attended the funeral of this little boy and being asked -to say something touching the life of his friend, he said: - -“Barney was an exceptionally bright and happy boy, loved by his -companions, and almost worshiped by his heart-broken parents. His happy -disposition, his smiles and great interest in his fellow newsboys will -live forever in the hearts of those who knew him. It is often asked why -are the young and innocent taken from us? Some of us believe that the -road to heaven opens wide to welcome little boys. - -“One of the most pleasing remembrances of Barney’s life was shown in -the following incident. It was a cold November evening, with a heavy -fall of rain and sleet. I was standing in the street looking for a car -to take me home, when little Barney came running to me and said: ‘You -go in the store, in a dry place, I’ll watch for the car and I’ll call -you,’ and in spite of protestations, he stood in the rain until the car -passed. So it was always with Barney, ever looking after the happiness -of his friends.” - -They took the remains to another town, and buried him in a village -graveyard. There he rests in peace. In summer the grass grows green and -the daisies and violets keep watch; and in a tree, whose branches shade -the unmarked grave, there comes a robin red-breast, and every morning -at the rising of the sun, and every evening just as the sun is sinking -behind the hills, he sings his song of love. - -Who knows but that it is an angel who comes to the grave of that little -newsboy? - -[Illustration: “BILLY BUTCHER, WE MUST HAVE AN UNDERSTANDIN’, WHICH -CORNER OB DE STREET WILL YOU TAKE?”] - - - - -_PART SEVENTH_ - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV. - - -After more than fifteen years’ experience among the newsboys we can -say with considerable force, that the only way to give substantial -assistance to the poor boy is to give him a start in life, helping him -to work his own way through a hundred little temptations that would -easily lead him wrong. Today Boyville Association boasts that it has -driven from the streets of a great city all kinds of begging, gambling, -swearing, smoking cigarettes, and instead of insulting, impudent -newsboys, we have the finest lot of gentlemanly young business men in -the world. - -How to carry on successfully work of this kind, with results as -previously stated, is the desire and wish of thousands of people in -our country today. A person must bring himself in touch with the boy, -he must learn his ways, his habits, by so doing he learns the best way -to approach him and gain his confidence. This done, the rest is easy, -because the boy works with you and you simply guide. - -Education cannot be given, it must be achieved, and the value of an -education lies not only in the possession, but also in the struggle to -secure it. - -Everybody knows that the infallible receipt for happiness, is to do -good, and under the right conditions it is as natural for character -to become beautiful as for a flower. In scores of instances it has -been seen that the principles early established in the minds of the -street-boys, especially where they are watched by their companions, and -warned when they do something wrong, leave a lasting impression that -time cannot efface. - -Life is full of opportunities for the young man to do good, and if in -his early career he begins to do right it soon becomes part of his -life. The street-boys who first join the association are so gradually -led into the good fellowship of their own making that the toughest -natures thaw out, they are subjugated, submit cheerfully to the -controlling powers of truth and honesty. Their manners soften, their -words become more gentle and their actions show a willingness to be -little gentlemen. The good that is in them is brought out by their own -unselfish acts, and the hidden sleeping humanity bursts into a fuller -life. - -Today it takes a high order of men to succeed. - -With the world as a competitor, where profits are figured by fractions, -it requires young men of brains, combined with hard common sense, men -of good moral characters, and a willingness to work. - -For a young man to reach a rich inheritance he must work; he must -remember that the root qualities of character are sobriety, industry, -unselfish economy, and he must be honest in all that the word implies. -Swearing, stealing, grafting inclinations, expecting something for -nothing, smoking cigarettes or drinking intoxicating liquors will -prevent securing good positions. - -Already some of our great railroad systems will not employ a young man -who drinks intoxicating liquors, or smokes cigarettes; and some go so -far as to forbid swearing while on duty. - -To gain this rich inheritance, to build up the boy who has no chance -in life, who, in many cities, is regarded as a sort of a pest, -something to be kicked and cuffed out of the way, is the great aim -of the Boyville Newsboys’ Association. It is a kindergarten in the -great school of business and citizenship, and many years experience -proves conclusively not only that the boy of the street is capable of -conquering himself, and of mastering his own will-power, but also that -he can assist his companions, to be honest, patriotic, and self-reliant. - -Many a boy goes astray simply because home lacks sunshine. If home -is the place where faces are sour and words harsh, and the boy is -continually hampered with don’ts and censures, he will spend as many -hours as possible elsewhere. A personal investigation of twenty homes -of boys who were upon the streets a greater portion of their time, -especially at meal hours or after nine o’clock at night, revealed the -fact that nine boys were away from their homes on account of there -being no restriction on the part of the parents. These nine families -did not know, did not care, at what hour their sons returned at night, -or whether they were at home at meal hours or not. - -Home should keep in sympathy with a boy. His little troubles, his -sorrows are made much easier and lighter through attention and -sympathy, and if the boy can’t get this at home he will go elsewhere; -and he will often find it in society he would otherwise shun. No boy -ever grows too old for love. And should the boy seek companionship -in our crowded streets and discover some one in whom he can place -confidence, his whole life is wrapped up in that love. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVI. - - -In the Boyville Association it has always been the rule that, no -matter how great a wrong committed by a boy, and the fine or sentence -be what it may, if the boy looks forward to doing better, to putting -his whole soul into trying to do right, if he hates and despises the -act committed, that boy has a right to be honorably reinstated, and is -heartily welcomed back to his friends. - -“Often” says a thoughtful writer, “men and women mourn over past -wrong-doings with which their present identity has no connection.” - -A good preacher once asked a despondent soul, whose life was shadowed -by a wrong committed in early years: “Would you do the same thing -again?” - -“Do it again?” answered the man, “No, a thousand times, no.” - -“Then,” said the preacher, “You have outgrown the conditions that -caused the wrong-doing, and you are no longer responsible for it.” - -The best way to correct wrong-doing is to prevent it, to warn a boy -against the evil vices that tend to his ruin in later years. And one -way to prevent crime is to reward virtue. - -[Illustration: “HE WAS FISHING IN THE LAKE.” - - _See Page 205_ -] - -Hon. Ben. B. Lindsey, of Denver, Colorado, Judge of the County and -Juvenile Court of Denver, after many years of hard work, intermingled -with the kind of experience that brings good results, declares that in -the work of the Juvenile Court he has found a way to make our boys of -today, who are inclined to be bad, follow paths of virtue and honesty -that will lead them to good and honorable citizenship, and his success -has been along the same self-governing plan of the Boyville Association. - -We do not think there has been a more interesting official report nor -one of so great a value to the thinking people as the publication of -“The Problem of the Children and How the State of Colorado Cares for -them,” by Hon. Ben. B. Lindsey. - -“Power under any law,” writes Judge Lindsey, “may be abused. Mistakes -under any law may be made. No system is perfect. If any conceives -the idea that the Juvenile Court was created for the purpose of -correcting or reforming every disorderly child, they are, of course, -mistaken. Jails and criminal courts never did that. On the contrary, -criminality among the youth of this country has been amazingly on the -increase. Over half of the inmates of jails, reformatories and prisons -combined are under twenty-four years of age. They are there largely -because of uncorrected delinquency in childhood. While the Juvenile -Court and probation system will not, and cannot, entirely overcome -delinquency and waywardness, it will do a great deal better than the -jail and criminal court ever did. The Juvenile Court generally deals -with cases in which there has been a failure in the home, the school, -and often the church. These three institutions are the places through -their various influences to form the character of the child. The -Juvenile Court is rather an aid to the home and the school in the moral -training of the child. If these two latter fail, the court, through its -officers, can supply the deficiency. In the Denver Juvenile Court none -are convicted of crime or subjected to the contamination of the jail. - -“The Juvenile Court does not tolerate the idea of the child being a -criminal. It does not consider the question of punishment the important -thing. If the child cannot be corrected at home, for its own good and -for the good of society at large, it is simply sent to a State public -school, where discipline is superior to that of the home, and where -it is intended to correct waywardness and to serve as an example to -prevent waywardness in others. The purpose is, in delinquent cases, to -inspire and receive obedience, to improve and strengthen character. -We never release a boy upon probation until he is impressed with the -idea that he must obey. It is explained what the consequences will -be if he does not obey and keep his word. It is kindly, but firmly -impressed why all this is so, and why, after all, he is the one we -are most interested in and that it is for him we are working and not -against him. We want him to work with us and not against us. He must, -to do this, obey in the home, in the school, and of course, he must -obey the laws of the land and respect the rights of others. We must -know that he obeys. We know this by reports from the school, signed by -the teacher, every two weeks; by reports from the neighborhood, when -necessary to investigate, and frequently, by reports from the home, -and, in exceptional cases, visits to the home. And more important than -all this is the trust and confidence we impose upon the boy himself -through the administrative work of the Court. We arouse his sense -of responsibility. We understand him as best we can, and we make him -understand us as best we can.” - -Nothing could be said or written of the history of Boyville and the -intention of its workers that could explain the great object in view -better than the above report. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVII. - - -There is a city ordinance in Chicago which prohibits fishing in the -lakes of the city parks, and persons caught doing so are treated as -trespassers. No one would blame a boy for wanting to fish. - -A boy, ten years old, left home with line and hook for one of these -artificial lakes. After securing a pole from the drift-wood near-by, he -sought an inviting spot to fish; and amid the green bushes, the songs -of the birds and the breeze that brought sunshine to his young heart, -he cast his line into the peaceful uninhabitated waters. - -A protector of the peace, a defender of the law, saw this little boy -fishing in public waters. While earnestly waiting for a bite the boy -was arrested. He was taken, by the policeman, to the station. He did -not have any friends to give bond for him, so they locked him up and -left him there all night in a cell alongside of men who were in there -swearing and cursing, using the vilest of language. He was placed with -hardened people whose association could not be anything but injurious -to a ten-year-old boy. Next day he was brought into Police Court, -accused of fishing in the lake, sentenced for violating this great and -important law of the city of Chicago, and sent to the work-house, to -serve a time in the city prison. - -This was twenty years ago, and, just such incidents as this, caused -good honest-thinking people to try to introduce something that would -protect and care for similar cases. Now, the boy who violates a law is -not arrested and placed in jail or even a Police Station, but under the -splendid Juvenile Court system the boy is brought into the presence of -a judge who has an opportunity of showing what he would like to do in -other courts, by extending an encouraging hand to the wayfaring boy. - -The boy is greeted kindly and the strange feeling, which even men -and women have under similar circumstances, is removed. Instead of -the judge looking sternly at the criminal, as has been too often the -custom, thinking, perhaps justly, the dignity of the law requires it, -he kindly explains to the boy where he has made a mistake, where he -has violated some law; and after gaining the friendship and confidence -of the little offender, he is placed in charge of a kind-hearted -Probation Officer, who personally looks after the interests and -welfare of the accused. The Juvenile Court has power to require the -boy to go to school, and the boy is impressed with the fact that it -is for his benefit. Truant boys are looked after by this method, and -the Probation Officer goes so far as to visit the homes of the boys to -learn their surroundings. This has been the means of influencing many -families to take better care of their homes and to keep things in a -neat and tidy condition. This has never been accomplished before by any -methods of a legal nature. - -With the valuable work of the Juvenile Court and the Humane societies, -together with the self-governing plan of the Newsboys associations, -all working harmoniously, what must naturally be expected of the boy? -The home is the natural environment in which to develop a boy in the -direction of true, self-sustaining manhood; and it should furnish the -conditions most likely to bring about the happiest results, not only to -the individual and the family, but also to the State. When this fails, -as it often does, the Juvenile Court steps in and the results are -wonderful. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVIII. - - -Boyville has made itself known to all classes of citizens, and has -attracted intelligent attention throughout the country. The newsboys -have learned to work together harmoniously, and this is one of the -valuable secrets of human society that all must learn in order to be -successful and happy. In the auxiliary monthly meetings the newsboys -conduct the business with more decorum and intelligence than the -average political conventions. So much for the self-governing plan. - -The following interesting talk on “The Evils of Cigarette Smoking” was -part of an address delivered at one of the Sunday afternoon meetings, -and is well worth the time spent in reading: - -“Smoking cigarettes causes both insanity and the degeneracy that -ends in crime. The cigarette slave is always enfeebled in body, in -mind, or in moral sense, and generally in all three. Whatever be the -cause—whether it is opium and other drugs mixed with tobacco, or oil -created in the paper by burning, or the immediate absorption of the -nicotine from the lungs by the blood, to be lodged in every nerve and -brain-cell in the system—the fact remains beyond dispute that the -cigarette is a deadly poison. - -[Illustration: PASTIME—THE BEGINNING.] - -“It not only deprives the blood of the proper quantity of oxygen and -thus prevents its purification, but it also loads it with filth, so -that the heart becomes clogged and the delicate convolutions of the -brain, upon which the mind’s attitude toward intellectual concepts -and moral principles depends, are paralyzed. Cigarette smoking also -creates a perpetual irritation, like unquenchable thirst, in the -nervous system. It sets up a continual discomfort, a kind of a gnawing -in the nerves, which makes the victim eternally uneasy except while -he is inhaling the poison into his lungs. The result of all this -is, that he lives in a constant state of nervous excitement, which -reacts upon his poisoned brain and makes him incapable of serious and -consecutive thought. His body is weary all the time, except when it -is being stimulated by the alcohol which cigarette slaves inevitably -seek and find, and at last cannot do without. It is a fact that crime -and cigarettes nearly always go together. Prison records show that -criminals, almost without exception, are cigarette slaves. Such is the -history of the cigarette slave, and while, if he is a natural man of -good family history, education, intelligence and ample means, he may -avoid crime, yet he is in eternal danger. Boys, newsboys, for your own -interest and welfare, for the love you have for your parents, if you -are cigarette smokers, stop it at once. If not—do not begin.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIX. - - -The question is often asked: “Do you want us to go out upon the streets -and bring those ragged, dirty boys with us into our churches, and have -them sit in the same pew with us?” - -No, indeed, no. Both you and the boys would be unhappy. - -The idea is for you to take an interest in preparing them for your -church. To shove them out of your way, into the gutter, and say, “they -are only newsboys,” will never bring these boys to you or into your -churches. They are the strayed sheep. - -When upon the street you meet these “dirty brats,” instead of avoiding -them, of paying no attention to them, say pleasantly, “Good morning,” -and say it in a tone that means you are sincere and really wish them a -very good morning. That would be easy and a thousand times better than -to throw them money, as you, perhaps, have often done, to get rid of -them, or thinking you have done them a great act of charity. All this -costs you nothing. - -Instead of having in your heart the desire to destroy; encourage the -desire to rescue, to uplift. Instead of hating, cultivate love. “Go -forth into the world and seek for light and light is yours.” - -If you would learn the secret of real happiness, mingle with the -children. They are messengers which come to bless. - -But you must understand them. They will teach you things you never knew -or dreamed of. - -A speaker at one of the auxiliary meetings asked a boy to give him an -illustration of, “who is my neighbor?” - -He answered: “This morning I shoveled off the snow from the sidewalks -in front of our house. After I got through I went across the street and -cleaned the snow from the sidewalks of a widow lady. A friend passing -asked me ‘why I did it,’ I replied ‘why, she’s our neighbor’.” - -We often hear it said that time is wasted in trying to save these -newsboys, not perhaps because of the boy himself, but because of that -which makes him what he is. It is argued that his environment, the -influences which surround him from the day of his birth, will make him -a criminal in spite of all we can do. - -The Bible holds man responsible. - -If you kind reader, believe in God, believe in the Bible, you will -find the divine law (Ezekiel XXXIII.) determines your personal -responsibility. “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto -the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth. If -thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked _man_ -shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand. -Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he -do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast -delivered thy soul.” - -Following down the ages the same responsibility is required of -Christians (James IV-17): “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it -not, to him it is a sin.” - -The man who fails to rise above the level of his own selfish interests -is the man to whom these apply. - -The church, at large, today, is like what Napoleon once said: “The army -that remains in its entrenchments is beaten.” The church remains mostly -in its own entrenchments of conventional practices and indifference -to the unsaved young men. There is but one remedy for this present -indifferent condition, and that is to be found in an awakening of -consciousness of personal responsibility for the salvation of the boy. - -We need a new doctrine, not a new law, that will bring people back to -the Simple Life that demands some self-sacrifice. - -If we follow these teachings what shall be our reward? - -Do you remember what Pharaoh’s daughter said when, winning that strange -prize from the bulrushes, on the Nile; she called to the woman whose -child might have perished? - -Pharaoh’s daughter said to the mother: “Take this child away, and nurse -it for me, and I will give thee thy wages,” and that message is given -as the crown of all motherhood on whom the divine mercy falls today. -There comes this same message: “Take this child and nurse it for me, -and I will pay the thy wages.” - -The good that you have done you shall know, “not here, but hereafter.” - -We should never forget that the best and truest lives are those who -strew all the years with the sweet aroma of loving and self-sacrificing -deeds. Did you ever go, in summer, to the great marshes of our -fresh-water lakes, and in the little bayous, where the muck and -grasses are so thick it is difficult to even row a boat? If not, it -will pay you to go. You find the white water lilies, dotted here and -there all over this forsaken waste. They take root and grow silently -amid the slime and mud in the quiet waters, until, in mid-summer, -they open their creamy beauty to the persuasion of the sunshine, the -glory and idealization of all flowers. So amid the lowest and poorest -of humanity, among its shadows and mists, we can sow, day by day, our -small seeds of gentle and generous deeds, not knowing when they take -root, or expecting to ever behold their unfolding into the blossoms on -the great river of time. - -To have a perfect government we must have a perfect people, and that -cannot be accomplished unless we educate, unless we train, our boys in -the right direction. If we do our share in this generation it will be -easier for those who follow. - -The more you mingle among newsboys the easier it is to learn how to -influence and guide them in the right path. - -They will open out to you a world you have never found, a world full -of sunshine. If you are inclined to serve these boys, and are willing -to try to teach them how to live right, you will build for yourself a -crown of happiness in this world that all the wealth of a nation cannot -purchase. - -[Illustration: PASTIME—THE FINISH.] - - - - -CHAPTER XXXX. - - -It is hoped that the preceding pages have given the reader some idea -of the workings of Boyville, of the self-governing plan carried on -successfully for many years. It has demonstrated the fact, to the -president and his faithful associates, the trustees, and the officers -of the auxiliaries, that boys can govern themselves, that they can -build up and carry on the work that has usually been done by older -persons. Corporal punishment is not necessary and no arbitrary -authority is needed. There is nothing compulsory about the entire work -of the association. The simplest methods are always adopted, keeping -in view the wishes of the boy. Not by advanced theories that reach -beyond the comprehension of the boy, but by gradually introducing good -principles that have a tendency to uplift the boy, and following as -nearly as possible the lines he is interested in. - -Through the ever-willing assistance of the Humane officers, and later, -the splendid work of the Juvenile Court, the association has been able -to get behind the cause of much of the wrong-doing of the newsboys, by -reaching their parents. Any good physician, to cure a disease, will -make every effort possible to discover and cure the cause. There is an -old saying: “A stitch in time saves nine.” This is certainly true and -applicable to work among newsboys. We agree with the many good things -said and written by the late Samuel M. Jones, and this in particular: -“The only way to help people is to give them an opportunity to help -themselves.” - -Our cities are full of boys growing up to manhood without advice, -without help. They are turned aside to do the best they can, to battle -with life with everything against them. The question to thinking men -today is, shall we permit these boys to continue on the certain road -to ruin, or shall we turn a few steps out of our way to lend a helping -hand? Shall we wait until they become confirmed criminals and are -serving sentences in prisons before we try to help them? - -It is much easier to save a soul in a healthy and satisfied, -comfortable-feeling body, than in a body wasted by want and with a mind -diseased by injustice, cruelty and wrong. - -The good accomplished by the members of The Boyville Newsboys’ -Association, we hope, will go on forever, and that this generation may -prove the best and our people continue to be the most prosperous, and -our boys grow up to be God-fearing, honest men, is the prayer of every -man and woman of our land. But prayers will never be answered if we sit -with our hands folded waiting for someone to do the work. - -In these hurrying days, when life is becoming complicated in so many -ways; when the love of money is greater than the love of mankind, you -wonder where can real happiness be found. - -Let us kindly suggest a new work, a new field of labor; a field that -may test human goodness and human ability, but where you will reap more -than riches, more than fame. - -Begin today, go out upon the streets, work among the newsboys, reach -down to those below, and offer a hand to lift them up. Throw around -them the proper protection and influence. In your own city, your own -town, at your own doors, are acres of diamonds only waiting for you to -help in the work of polishing. - -[Illustration] - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - -—Obvious print and punctuation errors were corrected. - -—A Table of Contents for Chapters was not in the original work; one -has been produced and added by Transcriber. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Boyville, by John E. 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Gunckel - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Boyville - A History of Fifteen Years' Work Among Newsboys - -Author: John E. Gunckel - -Release Date: October 22, 2015 [EBook #50284] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOYVILLE *** - - - - -Produced by Giovanni Fini, David Edwards and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="limit"> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="350" height="531" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/fr.jpg" width="400" height="217" id="fr" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">THE PRESIDENT TALKING TO THE NEWSBOYS.</p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[ii]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/title.jpg" width="400" height="620" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc"></p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span></p> - -<p> </p> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h1 class="p4">BOYVILLE</h1> - -<p class="pc2 mid">A HISTORY OF FIFTEEN YEARS’ WORK<br /> -AMONG NEWSBOYS</p> - -<p class="pc4 lmid">BY</p> -<p class="pc large">JOHN E. GUNCKEL</p> - -<hr class="dec1" /> - -<p class="pc mid">ILLUSTRATED</p> - -<hr class="dec1" /> - -<p class="pc4">PUBLISHED BY</p> - -<p class="pc"><span class="smcap">The Toledo Newsboys’ Association<br /> -Toledo, Ohio</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> - -<p class="pc4 reduct">Copyrighted 1905<br /> -<span class="smcap">By</span> JOHN E. GUNCKEL<br /> -All rights reserved</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span></p> - -<p> </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> - -<p class="pc4 mid">To the Newsboys of America, and their Friends<br /> -this book is respectfully dedicated</p> - - -<p class="pc4 little"> -PRESS OF<br /> -THE FRANKLIN COMPANY<br /> -TOLEDO, OHIO</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4"><i>CONTENTS</i></h2> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-008.jpg" width="100" height="20" - alt="" - title="" /> -</div> - -<table id="toc" summary="cont"> - - <tr> - <td class="tdp" colspan="5"><i>PART FIRST</i></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">Chapter</td> - <td class="tdrl">I</td> - <td class="tw" rowspan="5"> </td> - <td class="tdc">Page</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">II</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">III</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">IV</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">V</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdp" colspan="5"><i>PART SECOND</i></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">Chapter</td> - <td class="tdrl">VI</td> - <td class="tw" rowspan="6"> </td> - <td class="tdc">Page</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_31">31</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">VII</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">VIII</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">IX</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">X</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XI</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdp" colspan="5"><i>PART THIRD</i></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">Chapter</td> - <td class="tdrl">XII</td> - <td class="tw" rowspan="5"> </td> - <td class="tdc">Page</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XIII</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XIV</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XV</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XVI</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdp" colspan="5"><i>PART FOURTH</i></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">Chapter</td> - <td class="tdrl">XVII</td> - <td class="tw" rowspan="4"> </td> - <td class="tdc">Page</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XVIII</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XIX</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XX</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdp" colspan="5"><i>PART FIFTH</i></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">Chapter</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXI</td> - <td class="tw" rowspan="2"> </td> - <td class="tdc">Page</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXII</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdp" colspan="5"><i>PART SIXTH</i></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">Chapter</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXIII</td> - <td class="tw" rowspan="12"> </td> - <td class="tdc">Page</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXIV</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXV</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXVI</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_157">158</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXVII</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXVIII</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXIX</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXX</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXXI</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXXII</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXXIII</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_186">186</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXXIV</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdp" colspan="5"><i>PART SEVENTH</i></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">Chapter</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXXV</td> - <td class="tw" rowspan="6"> </td> - <td class="tdc">Page</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXXVI</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXXVII</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXXVIII</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXXIX</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl">XXXX</td> - <td class="tdc">”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td> - </tr> - -</table> - -<h2 class="p4"><i>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</i></h2> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-008.jpg" width="100" height="20" - alt="" - title="" /> -</div> - -<table id="toi" summary="illustrations"> - - <tr> - <td> </td> - <td class="tdrl">Page</td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">The president talking to the newsboys,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#fr"><span class="small">Frontispiece</span></a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“I am scattering hickory-nuts under this old tree for the -children to find termorrow,”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i8">8</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">The original charter members,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i16">16</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Ready to start for the first Christmas dinner,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i24">24</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Where the Boyville Newsboy’s Association was organized, -December 25, 1892,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i32">32</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">A bunch of sellers,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i40">40</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Festival Hall. Where the National Newsboy’s Association -was organized, August 16, 1904,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i48">48</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Newsboys’ Band and Cadets—ready to start for -Washington, D. C., to participate in the inaugural -parade of President Roosevelt, March 4, -1905,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i56">56</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“I am an officer of the sellers’ auxiliary; get busy,”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i64a">64</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“Lady, I am sorry I run away wid de money,”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i64b">64</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“Trow de cigarette away,”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i72">72</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“President, I have already licked de kid,”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i80">80</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Getting familiar with the headlines,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i88a">88</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“Dis here is de dog,”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i88b">88</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span> -Roll of honor—some of the boys who turned in valuable -articles found on the street,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i96a">96</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">The Boyville Cadets—when first organized,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i96b">96</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Members of the East Side auxiliary,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i104">104</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“Firetop,”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i112">112</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“He sweared at a lady and I punked him,”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i120">120</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Carriers,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i128a">128</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Carriers,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i128b">128</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">First sale of the day,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i136">136</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Lining up ready to go to church,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i144">144</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">The tough from market space,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i152">152</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Dividing the papers,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i160">160</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Two new members,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i168">168</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“Tenements on the avenue.” In these old buildings, -at one time, lived seventeen families,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i176">176</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“I will buy from the little fellow,”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i184a">184</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Waiting for the last edition,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i184b">184</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“Billy Butcher, we must have an understandin’, -which corner ob de street will you take?”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i192">192</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">“He was fishing in the lake,”</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i200">200</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Pastime—the beginning,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i208">208</a></td> - </tr> - - <tr> - <td class="tdt">Pastime—the finish,</td> - <td class="tdrl"><a href="#i216">216</a></td> - </tr> - -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span></p> - -<p> </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="drop-cap">“IF you are going to do anything permanent -for the average man you have got to begin -before he is a man. The chance of success -lies in working with the boy and not with -the man. That applies peculiarly to those boys -who tend to drift off into courses which mean -that unless they are checked they will be formidable -additions to the criminal population -when they grow older.</p> - -<p>“No Nation is safe unless in the average -family there are healthy, happy children.</p> - -<p>“If these children are not brought up well -they are not merely a curse to themselves and -their parents, <i>but they mean the ruin of the -State in the future</i>.”</p> - -<p class="pr4"><span class="smcap">President Theodore Roosevelt.</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span></p> - -<p> </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> - -<p class="pc4 xlarge"><i>PART FIRST</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER I.</h2> - -<p>On the corner of one of the principal thoroughfares, -in a very large city, there was located, -fifteen years ago, a small grocery store. In front -of the building the enterprising owner displayed -fruits, vegetables and other goods; articles that -were particularly tempting to boys.</p> - -<p>In a near-by cottage there lived a very bright -boy, twelve years of age, and familiarly known -to every one in the neighborhood, as Jimmy, the -newsboy. And that meant a bad boy.</p> - -<p>On the disappearance of an occasional apple, -an orange, or if one of the fruit-stands was upset, -it was declared that Jimmy did it. All fights -around the corner originated from Jimmy.</p> - -<p>So bad was this boy’s reputation that every -one in the ward, including several Sunday-school -teachers, was kept busy looking for a favorable -opportunity to give Jimmy, what they thought he -deserved, “a good licking.”</p> - -<p>The groceryman was not slow in letting his -customers know how bad Jimmy was.</p> - -<p>He was kicked, lectured, preached to, and a -dozen times a day was pushed off the corner.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> - -<p>He was abused because he annoyed men and -women by his misbehavior.</p> - -<p>No one ever stopped to ask this boy where he -lived; what about his parents, his home life, or to -see if there was really any good in him worth trying -to develop. The bad was visible, and the -people seemed to delight in their vain efforts to -correct him by censures and kicks.</p> - -<p>There was no question about Jimmy being -bad, about as bad as any street-boy would become -who had his own way, and, whose parents permitted -him to go and come when he pleased, and to -associate with bad company, particularly boys -older than he was.</p> - -<p>Jimmy was a leader of a gang of little toughs -who always met at the corner, in the evenings, -and delighted in making it unpleasant for those -who lived within hearing distance. He was -strong, quick, and could throw to the ground any -boy of his size, and never hesitated trying a -much larger boy. He was the terror of the corners.</p> - -<p>Yet with all his bad reputation, no one ever -caught him doing anything for which he could -be punished under the state laws.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> - -<p>Circumstantial evidence was all the groceryman -could produce at any time he was accused. -The boy who “squealed” to the groceryman about -Jimmy had to remain away from the corner until -he thought that Jimmy had forgotten it.</p> - -<p>Jimmy was a typical newsboy.</p> - -<p>He was not happy in fine clothes. He did not -use the many slang phrases which so frequently -become a part of a street-boy’s life and enjoyment, -but he had everything else.</p> - -<p>He had a small route, perhaps thirty customers, -for morning and evening papers, and when -he had delivered his papers, he would hasten -down town, get a new supply of the latest editions, -and join the boys in selling on the streets.</p> - -<p>He was an early riser, like all carriers, and -long before the neighbors thought of getting up -he was out on the street, and in all kinds of -weather.</p> - -<p>The station agent from whom he procured -his morning papers said: “There is not a more -faithful boy in the city, from a business view. -But he has to be served first. He has a way of -his own in pushing ahead of the crowd and is always -among the first on his route. He pays cash -for what he gets, but still, he is a bad boy.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> - -<p>A gentleman who lived in the neighborhood, -and frequently called at the grocery store, became -interested in Jimmy. There was something -naturally attractive about the boy. There was -a twinkle of his black eyes that was really fascinating.</p> - -<p>“I would like to see what is back of that activity,” -said the gentleman, one day to the groceryman.</p> - -<p>One afternoon, late in the fall, the gentleman -was standing on the corner waiting for a car -when the groceryman called him.</p> - -<p>“You said you would like to see what Jimmy, -the newsboy, was made of. He is up to some -mischief now. He just bought a sack of hickory-nuts, -and I’ll bet a cooky he is making some one -unhappy.”</p> - -<p>Two blocks away was a large lot, with a high -fence around it. Scattered about the lot were a -dozen or more hickory trees. The gentleman saw -Jimmy climb the fence, walk to the farther side -of the lot, and when under a heavy foliaged tree -he stood for some moments looking in every direction. -Finally he began to scatter hickory-nuts -under the tree. Very carefully seeing that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> -were dropped all around this particular tree. -Sometimes he would take a handful of leaves and -cover over a lot of nuts. To the gentleman this -was an unusual transaction, so he walked around -to the big gate and followed a path across the -heavy grass, and went to Jimmy.</p> - -<p>“I have a curiosity to know what you are -doing,” said the gentleman, “and if you have no -objections I would like to have you tell me.”</p> - -<p>Jimmy took him by the hand, that he might -hasten towards the sidewalk, and when away -from the tree, he said.</p> - -<p>“You see, mister, termorrow is Saturday. -There’s no school. Across the street lives a whole -lot of little boys and girls, and some of the boys -don’t like me very well, but that doesn’t cut any -figure with me. They comes over here every day -after school and particularly on Saturday and -hunt for hickory-nuts; but these old trees don’t -bear any more; they’s dead. But that one over -there, with the leaves, sometimes has hickory-nuts, -but this year nary a nut is on the old tree. -So I bought these here nuts an’ scattered ’em all -around the ground, an’ termorrow I’ll sneak -around the fence and watch the girls an’ boys -gather them. Won’t they be happy?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I should think they would,” replied the man.</p> - -<p>“They are real hickory-nuts, too,” added -Jimmy, “I blowed in fifteen cents at our grocery -store. If you want to you may come termorrow -an’ I will guarantee you will see the happiest -bunch ever gathered under a hickory-nut tree. -Will you come?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I should be delighted to come; and I -will be there before you will,” replied the gentleman -kindly.</p> - -<p>“You see,” said Jimmy, “I cannot come until -I deliver all my papers, an’ that’ll be about -eight o’clock. If you get there before I do, don’t -you ever tell who put the nuts under the tree, will -you?”</p> - -<p>“I promise you, Jimmy, I will not only keep -it to myself, but I will not even go on the lot, until -you come.”</p> - -<p>A few words about Jimmy and his home, and -they parted as friends.</p> - -<p>“Under the hickory-nut tree termorrow -there’ll be a dozen happy girls an’ boys, an’ some -of the boys don’t like me,” rang in the ears of the -gentleman all during the evening and frequently -in the night.</p> - -<p>What a sermon, sowing and reaping.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-022.jpg" width="400" height="610" id="i8" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“I AM SCATTERING HICKORY-NUTS UNDER THIS OLD TREE -FOR THE CHILDREN TO FIND TERMORROW.”</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_7">7</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER II.</h2> - -<p>Saturday morning was an ideal autumn day; -a day children delighted to go into the woods -after hickory-nuts.</p> - -<p>A few moments before eight o’clock the gentleman -was slowly walking around the great lot -when he saw Jimmy running at full speed down -the street towards him.</p> - -<p>Under the great trees were a dozen little boys -and girls, and the air was filled with their merry -laughter as they excitedly gathered into their baskets -the hickory-nuts that Jimmy had so kindly -dropped for their pleasure and happiness.</p> - -<p>“They tell me, Jimmy, you’re a bad boy,” said -the gentleman as they sat on a stump of a tree, in -sight of the children.</p> - -<p>Jimmy made no reply.</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t care what any one says,” added -the gentleman, “I don’t believe it. Your little -act with the hickory-nuts has taught me a lesson -I never learned in books. No boy would do that -unless he has some good qualities in him. I feel -honored to have this privilege of seeing those children -so happy this morning, and to think who did -all this. Jimmy,” and he took his little hand in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> -his, “I want you to make me a promise—I want -you always to be my friend. What do you say?”</p> - -<p>This was something Jimmy never heard of -before. He was accustomed to being kicked, and -censured, and for a man to ask him to be a friend -was, what he afterwards called, “a new deal.”</p> - -<p>“Sure thing, I will,” he said frankly.</p> - -<p>“Now I want you to come down to my office, -Monday after school, and we will talk over something -that I want you to do for me.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll be there,” replied Jimmy, and after a -moments thought he asked.</p> - -<p>“And can I bring some of my friends with -me?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly, that is exactly what I want you -to do. Bring your gang, all your friends, particularly -the little toughs, and when you come into -my office don’t let any one stop you from seeing -me.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t be afeared o’that, we knows as -how to get there.”</p> - -<p>A few other things were talked about and -they separated for the day.</p> - -<p>As the gentleman rode down town he thought -of the events of the morning, of the life of a newsboy. -These little wiry, nervous street boys, alert<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> -of eye, and lithe of limb, who flock the principal -thoroughfares of our great cities at almost all -hours of the day.</p> - -<p>Newsboys and bootblacks, boys whom the -world seems to have forgotten. By peculiar conditions -these boys are used to being at odds with -the world. It need not be told that our newsboys, -as a general rule, as people know them, are regarded -as a swearing, stealing, lying, dishonest -lot of young criminals, and these qualifications -are recognized adjuncts to their business. With -these conditions is it not a wonder that any of -them ever succeed in working their way into the -ranks of respectibility? People who curse and -kick them, as they did Jimmy, never stop to think -that these neglected newsboys, of today, sharp, -shrewd and keen, may be the thieves, the burglars, -the highwaymen; or the successful patriotic -citizens of tomorrow.</p> - -<p>No one will dispute the fact that, the street-boy -is surrounded on every hand by degraded and -vicious men, with drunkenness regarded as a -desirable condition, and the indulgence in drink -only limited by the ability to procure it.</p> - -<p>Among many, robbery is regarded as a fine -art, and the tribute of praise bestowed upon rascality.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -If christian people do not find time, amid -the rush and roar of the city, in their mighty -struggle for wealth, to lend a hand to lead him -out on the highway of honest success, what is to -become of the street-boy?</p> - -<p>Is it not true that many a boy is bad because -the best part of him was never developed?</p> - -<p>It is not that a newsboy is so much worse than -other boys, but simply that the other half of him -didn’t get a chance.</p> - -<p>If you, dear reader, will take time to get into -the real life of a boy, as the gentleman did with -Jimmy, you will be surprised, as he was, at what -you will discover. How quick he is to see an opportunity -to do something bad, and when discovered, -his conscience brings the blush of shame to his -cheeks. Take boys like Jimmy, the leader of a -gang of toughs, his acts on the public highway, -his language, his ragged clothes all indicating neglect -and evil designs, yet get his friendship, his -confidence, and he will prove, as did Jimmy, the -best and most faithful friend you ever had, not -only in his youth, in his teens, but long after you -have forgotten him.</p> - -<p>No matter how bad the boy is, how miserable -his environment, that great spark of good, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> -something, no one can explain its power, its influence, -is still there. To get into touch with that -life, to draw out the goodness of heart and make -it a tangible blessing to the boys of our land, is -the work every man and woman ought to try to -do. It was this object the gentleman had in asking -Jimmy and his friends to meet at his office. -He felt that opportunities of this nature come but -once in a life time.</p> - -<p>George Eliot wrote: “The golden moments -in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing -but sand. The angels come to visit us and -we only know them when they are gone. How -shall we live so as at the end to have done the -most for others and make the most of ourselves.” -We become good ourselves only in the measure -that we do good to some other soul. In Jimmy, -the newsboy, no one stopped to see what was -sleeping under the cover of extreme mischievousness. -They were always looking for bad and -they found it. Neglect is the mother of more calamities -than any other sin, and who are neglected -more than the newsboys?</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER III.</h2> - -<p>On the following Monday morning, at the -appointed, hour, Jimmy, with eight other boys, -was at the office of his newly-made friend.</p> - -<p>It was an interesting picture, an exciting -scene.</p> - -<p>Noisy, loud talking, several answering questions -at the same time, some turning over books, -papers, investigating everything in sight. Sharp, -shrewd, busy at every moment, quick to answer -any question and the replies always satisfactory, -and to the point.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you know anything,” said Jimmy to -a friend, who was trying to investigate how a -typewriter was made, “let that meechine alone.”</p> - -<p>It was soon in evidence that Jimmy’s word -meant something, for each boy obeyed him without -saying a word, except a little grunt of dissatisfaction, -to show he hated to obey. Not one -of the eight boys had clean hands. Not one a -coat with a button. Three safety-pins held holding -positions in some of their coats. Not one used -a handkerchief, and the slang would puzzle many -a lawyer.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> - -<p>As one of the boys lost his cap he said: “Some -kid five-fingered it.—took it with his hand.” It -was an interesting crowd.</p> - -<p>“Well, you are on time, Jimmy, and I see you -have brought some of your friends with you,” -said the gentleman.</p> - -<p>“These is part of de gang,” said Jimmy.</p> - -<p>“Do you boys all want to be my friends, just -the same as Jimmy is?”</p> - -<p>They replied, “Sure thing; cert. Yes’m.”</p> - -<p>These friendly words brought the gang closer -to the gentleman’s desk. And more papers were -disturbed. The ink was investigated and one of -the boys wanted to know why it wasn’t red ink. -Another poked his finger in the ink stand and -made black streaks down the smallest boy’s face. -The gentleman was shown quite a number of -articles they had in their pockets. Nails, buttons, -marbles, pieces of slate-pencils, etc., all of which -had to be admired.</p> - -<p>“Say, you, mister,” said a nine-year-old dirty-faced, -bright-eyed boy, “I had trouble gittin’ here. -De con. wus onto me an’ I had to take two lines -’fore I rode into de office wid out blowin’ in a -cent.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Well, quit your wasting words,” said Jimmy.</p> - -<p>The boys gathered around the gentleman, and -he said:</p> - -<p>“My! what good you boys can do in this world -with all of your push, and energy, your hustling, -your good health, you boys can turn up something, -and I’m going to help you do it. How -would you like to help me make all the men and -women who buy papers of you learn to love you. -Learn to speak kindly to you?”</p> - -<p>“Aw, de peoples don’t care fur us.” said a boy -Jimmy called “Indian.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t know about that. There is one -thing certain there can be no harm in trying. -The trouble is, people don’t know you, and you -won’t let them get acquainted with you. Let’s -make a start. First, I want to know if every one -of you wants to be a friend of mine? You do, -that’s a good start. And whenever you see me -on the street, it doesn’t make any difference what -I am doing, or who I am talking to, will you come -to me and say, good morning or good evening?” -They all agreed.</p> - -<p>“And another thing, when you boys are down -town and should you hurt yourself, or get into -some trouble, lose your papers, your money, or -some one frightens you, I want you to call on me, -and I will try to help you. Notice, I say when -you are in trouble, because when you are doing -well and everything comes your way, you need no -assistance. You can take care of yourselves. -What do you say, boys, to this?”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-032.jpg" width="400" height="483" id="i16" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">THE ORIGINAL CHARTER MEMBERS.</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_14">14</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> - -<p>They all promised and were glad of the opportunity.</p> - -<p>This was the first intimate talk with the gang.</p> - -<p>Two days later, while the gentleman was very -busy in his office, into the room came one of the -little visitors followed by some of the gang, he -was limping and crying as if his heart would -break. He paid no attention to any one in the -office but made directly for the gentleman, who -seeing him, excused himself from his business -friends and said to the boy,</p> - -<p>“Well, now, what has happened to you?”</p> - -<p>“A man shoved me off de sidewalk into de -gutter and me foot struck a piece of glass,” he replied, -between sobs. His foot was bloody, and -the more blood he saw the louder became his -cries. He was taken into a near-by hotel, his -foot carefully washed, a handkerchief tied over -the wound, his tears wiped away, and when back -into the office he said:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I thank you, sir.”</p> - -<p>He picked up his bundle of papers, all pain -had disappeared, the smiles again came to his -pretty face, and with his friends, left the office, -singing a popular air.</p> - -<p>The result of this little act of duty added fifty -new friends.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER IV.</h2> - -<p>A week later, a little colored boy entered the -office crying. He was known on the street as -Midnight.</p> - -<p>“Tree boys trowed me down in de alley, an’ -swiped me papers.”</p> - -<p>Four boys came with him. They wondered -what would be done. While talking with him, -Jimmy dropped in. Not quietly but made everybody -get out of the way.</p> - -<p>“I know the three kids,” said Jimmy, “and -I’ll go after them.”</p> - -<p>So Jimmy left on his own accord. In fifteen -minutes he returned bringing two boys.</p> - -<p>“There, you kids,” he said, “give Midnight -back his money fur de papers you stole.”</p> - -<p>It was done. Midnight’s eyes resumed their -natural brightness, and he left happy, thankful -to Jimmy for his interest.</p> - -<p>To the gentleman this was a revelation. The -power one boy can have over a gang of boys -ought to be used for good. Such vital energy, -such quick action, such nerve and endurance, all -this must be used for doing good, for helping each<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -other. My! what a boy who has influence among -his fellow companions, can do. If each boy could -be placed on his honor, each boy aiming to do the -best he can to uplift his associate, trying to correct -the little evils from which spring so many -crimes, how much happiness, how many useful -lives would result. If men would try to instill -into the young hearts of our boys, our newsboys, -because they are tempted more than any other -class, a spirit of trust and love, instead of a spirit -of fear and hate and revenge, what a happy unselfish -world we would have. Suppose these -newsboys, the boys who are so often accused of -being bad, would be treated as Christ treated -wrong-doers, not as criminals, but as misdirected -and misguided boys, putting everything in their -way to encourage them to do right. Suppose -they were warned of danger, were propped up -when about to fall, and personal efforts were -made to find the good in each boy and to cultivate -it as a husbandman would his garden—pulling -out and destroying the weeds, removing the -germs of disorder, and keeping a watchful eye -over all even until the ripening of the fruit. -What would be the result? The gentleman gave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> -the subject considerable thought and concluded -to try the experiment.</p> - -<p>From the material at command it was surprising -how many little good things sprung up -where least expected and from soil considered as -absolutely worthless. Like some products of the -garden, good came from unexpected places.</p> - -<p>Taking advantage of conditions and circumstances, -the number of friends increased so -rapidly that when cold weather set in, over a -hundred little hustling friends of the street were -added to the list.</p> - -<p>Winter came with snow and ice and cold -winds, making it hard for the carriers to deliver -their papers before the breakfast hour. The little -sellers were heard only a short time after the -newspaper editions were out, and they were compelled -to seek warm places. It was noticeable -that the saloons of the city were the only places -open to these boys seeking shelter and warmth.</p> - -<p>There were several gentlemen in the city -heartily in sympathy with the new movement -among the newsboys, and among them was a generous -clothier who presented, through the gentleman, -fifty overcoats to be given to the poorest -newsboys.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> - -<p>To select fifty of the most deserving, for the -entire hundred were in want, was a very difficult -task, especially as those interested had but little -experience with boys of the street.</p> - -<p>But Jimmy came to the rescue and he and the -gentleman began to deliver the coats. When -forty-five coats were given there remained twenty -boys who were equally as needy as the others and -there were but five coats left. How to select five -boys from this number was the question.</p> - -<p>Jimmy accomplished it.</p> - -<p>The next day the gentleman was asked to go -into the alley in the rear of the post-office where -he met about sixty boys. Twenty of the poorest, -those whose names were booked for coats, were -asked to “stand in line against the building.” -Jimmy asked them to name five of their number -who were very poor.</p> - -<p>“You see, Kids,” said Jimmy, “we have only -five coats and if you select the five boys needing -them it is all right.”</p> - -<p>The boys quickly named the lucky sellers.</p> - -<p>Midnight, Peanuts, Bluster, Swipsey and -Bundle were unanimously chosen and the orders -were given to them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> - -<p>This was a great surprise to the gentleman, -for what he had imagined would be a difficult -problem was satisfactorily settled in a very few -moments by the boys.</p> - -<p>“Boys, come close to me,” said the gentleman. -It was difficult for him to stand as they crowded -so closely around him.</p> - -<p>“I am surprised at your way of doing business. -This is one of the greatest things I ever -saw. It shows you boys can take care of yourselves -and I believe you could manage worse -things than dividing up a lot of coats. For this -nice little act of yours I am going to give you a -first-class Christmas dinner—”</p> - -<p>Not another word could be heard. That -quiet, listening bunch of boys was quickly -changed to a turbulent, noisy crowd.</p> - -<p>Several policeman came into the alley to see -the cause of the noise. It wasn’t common everyday -cheering, but yelling. The invitation was accepted—it -seemed by a thousand voices.</p> - -<p>“All right, boys, get your little friends and -meet me at the post-office steps Christmas morning -at eleven o’clock.”</p> - -<p>“Say, Mister,” said Swipsey, a bootblack, -“only sellers and bootblacks in this deal?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes, only sellers and bootblacks this time, -and I don’t want a good boy in the crowd. I -want only boys who are bad. I want all the gang -and their friends. I want poor boys, but they -must all be newsboys. That is, they must sell -papers or shine shoes, and not a boy must come -in dress suit.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-042.jpg" width="400" height="269" id="i24" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">READY TO START FOR THE FIRST CHRISTMAS DINNER.</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_25">25</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER V.</h2> - -<p>Christmas morning came without a cloud in -sight. The sun was warm. It was an ideal -Christmas day. The boys were to meet at eleven -o’clock, but fifty newsies were playing around the -corners of the post-office as early as seven o’clock -and at ten o’clock they came in groups of five and -ten from every direction. When the gentleman -appeared he was considerably embarrassed at the -noisy reception. The boys formed in line by twos -and as the hundred and fifty marched down the -street yelling at the tops of their voices the good -people of the city stood on the sidewalks wondering -what had broken loose. The boys when near -their destination, arriving at the top of a hill, -without warning made a break for the bottom, -like a flock of sheep scattering down a hill. They -ran screaming as only boys can. At the door of -the building, where they were to have their -Christmas dinner, they were met by six policemen, -who held them at bay, requiring them to go -up stairs single file.</p> - -<p>The tables presented a sight that even grown -people considered, “one of the most attractive layouts -ever seen in the city.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> - -<p>Flowers, fruit of all kinds, with “a mountain -of turkey” and candy “to burn,” greeted the boys. -In just five minutes after the newsies were seated -there was not an orange, an apple, a banana or -a piece of candy in sight. All disappeared as if -by magic. Ice cream and pie were first to receive -attention. Turkey and chicken were later -in demand. In half an hour the tables were -cleared of everything that looked good to eat. -Not only were the pockets of the boys filled with -oranges and apples but their shirt-waists and -pant-legs were bulged out with the things that -pleased them most. Only six fights were recorded -worthy of notice.</p> - -<p>An entertainment followed the dinner. It was -the kind and character they could understand and -appreciate. Interesting and earnest talks by -newspaper representatives, were sandwiched between -acts. The object of the gathering was well -defined by the members of the press. Their gentleman -friend wanted the sellers and bootblacks -to start a Newsboys’ Association. This was received -with the usual noisy approval. He wanted -an association which the boys themselves would -run; make their own laws, elect from their own -numbers the officers, and everything connected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -with the running of the association to be under -their supervision. On that Christmas day one -hundred and two boys were enrolled in the new -association, and their gentleman friend elected -president, with Jimmy as vice-president.</p> - -<p>The president was requested “to get busy,” -and, “prepare rules an’ such things as we can -work by.”</p> - -<p>After this meeting, Jimmy’s friend was -known as “Mr. President.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> - -<p> </p> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p class="pc4 xlarge"><i>PART SECOND</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER VI.</h2> - -<p>A dozen or more newsboys can be seen at almost -any hour of the day, dodging here and there -around the corners, down alleys, or playing in the -rear of the circulating offices of the great dailies. -In all kinds of weather they will be found at their -posts, prompt in delivering their papers to subscribers, -or upon the streets crying the most important -of the many head lines of the transactions -of a day. Would it be possible to get this noisy, -hustling crowd of boys together and gradually to -bring this great power, this great force, into a -channel for doing good? To form an association -where the boy would be “de whole thing” with -only the hand of man to guide where it was -necessary? To simply push the button? In -short, would it result in doing good among the -class of boys who are neglected in more ways -than men and women imagine? Reflection -resulted in adopting a name that would imply -everything—</p> - -<p>“Boyville.”</p> - -<p>It means work with and among newsboys by -the boys themselves.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> - -<p>The Boyville Newsboys’ Association.</p> - -<p>It was at once organized, and in its preamble -of incorporation was written the Golden Rule. -In the formation of Boyville it must not be understood -that its mission was to draw good boys -from good homes; but rather to give help to bad -boys, come from where they may, when they appear -on the streets—away from home influences. -Whether they come from the most palatial residences -on the shaded avenues, or from the -crowded hovels of alleys, from poorly kept tenements, -or even those who are compelled to sleep -in public stairways, barns, or wherever a boy can -creep under shelter without being noticed.</p> - -<p>With one hundred and fifty-two newsboys, -sellers and bootblacks, enrolled as active members -for life; with an unwritten constitution and laws -that were made to suit conditions, and that were -subject to change at every meeting; with meeting -places in alleys, in vacant store-rooms, theatres -or wherever boys could meet on short notice, -Boyville was started. Trustees were chosen from -newspaper representatives, and leading citizens, -but the detail work, the real work among the -boys, was placed in the hands of the president—to -make a success or failure of the project. It -was first found necessary that the president -should keep in personal daily touch with every -boy, not in bunches but each boy, sellers and bootblacks. -A membership card was issued. This -card simply let the public know the bearer was a -member of Boyville, Newsboys’ Association. For -this, and all benefits of the association, the boy -paid nothing in money. No assessments of any -kind. Nothing that would permit even a donation. -He was simply required to obey the rules—not -to swear, to steal, to play craps, a game so -common among sellers, or smoke cirgarettes.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-052.jpg" width="400" height="275" id="i32" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">WHERE THE BOYVILLE NEWSBOYS’ ASSOCIATION WAS -ORGANIZED, DECEMBER 25, 1892.</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_27">27</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> - -<p>There were but three officers, the president, -vice-president and secretary. The two latter, -newsboys. Jimmy the newsboy, and Johnny the -bootblack, both leaders of gangs. These two boys -were told that the success of the association depended -entirely on their work. They had charge -of the one hundred and fifty-two members. Their -first orders were: “that each boy must watch the -other boys and correct a fellow member for doing -anything that would disgrace the association. -They must not wait to see an officer to punish a -member for stealing, swearing or playin’ o’craps. -They must not depend on what they heard, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> -on what they saw. Take the law into their own -hands, and punish on the spot.”</p> - -<p>The end of the first month found twenty-eight -membership cards taken from boys who had -violated the rule, “you must not steal,” and nine -taken from boys who smoked cigarettes. The -fines were from five to fifteen days. When the -fines numbered fifty membership cards, the president -made arrangements with a theatre to admit -the members, permitting no boy to enter unless he -showed his membership card. The boys who -were fined, and did not have their cards, were -dealt a pretty heavy blow, for boys. A little banquet -was given and again no boy admitted to the -hall without showing his card. This occasional -hit had its effect in reducing the cards in the -hands of the president to an average of about ten -a month.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER VII.</h2> - -<p>The membership increased so rapidly and the -detail work became so extended, that it was found -necessary to increase the number of officers, from -two boys to eleven. The constitution and by-laws -provided a Central Association, which was officered -by boys who had experience upon the -streets, as sellers and carriers. The vice-president -gradually became familiar with the objects -of the association, and the work among the boys. -He was a typical newsboy, a good street-seller -and his power was felt among the boys, especially -those who were inclined to be bad. A secretary -was elected from the ranks of the carriers. -He was a good worker. The treasurer was a -boy who received the unanimous vote of the association. -The money he received was small donations, -from benevolently-inclined friends. This -was used for purchasing flowers for sick boys, -etc. The real work of the association depended upon -the executive committee of five members. Like -most organizations, the committee-work centered -in the chairman. The chairman of this committee -proved to be one of the most active and faithful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -boys of the association. He left nothing undone -in his efforts to unravel a difficulty or in correcting -and building up a boy who had done -wrong. The four boys on his committee were untiring -in their efforts for the success of the association. -This committee was in constant touch -with the president.</p> - -<p>The membership committee of three boys -looked after old as well as new members. Each -applicant had to be submitted to them for approval.</p> - -<p>With these eleven officers, all boys under fourteen, -the association began life. The constitution -and by-laws embraced in its power and force simply -one aim, one object, to do good among the -boys. To do it effectively, and make the results -lasting. To build up, never pull down; to encourage -honesty, to watch and warn a boy.</p> - -<p>The work among the street boys became more -interesting as the months rolled on, and, at the -end of a year the membership of Boyville had increased -to two hundred and fifty sellers and bootblacks. -This number not only included boys who -sold papers every day, but those who sold extras, -and on Saturdays, and special occasions, and boys -who sold magazines or other periodicals. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -association began to grow and become recognized -by the boys generally, and new sellers appeared -upon the streets daily, all anxious to join. The -working officers remained the same—but two -boys doing the detail work.</p> - -<p>Two years passed under the new officers and -rules. The Boyville Newsboys’ Association began -to be felt in the community. Compliments -were frequent concerning the good work. The -association had increased its membership to fifteen -hundred and twenty boys. A little army, -and all working harmoniously together for each -others good, and in trying to assist and build up -the association. Doubting men and women, and -the world is full of them, were perfectly satisfied -of the success of the boys governing themselves, -as was shown almost daily in the work. The boys -solved a problem never thought of being tried by -men and women who had long experience in -working among boys.</p> - -<p>The success of Boyville increased in proportion -to the work done by the young officers.</p> - -<p>People began to look upon a newsboy with -some consideration, and as a necessary adjunct -to the growth of a city. His politeness, his honesty, -his general deportment attracted special notice,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -and the boys received many kind words and -increased attention.</p> - -<p>The association began to assume such magnitude -that it was found necessary to divide it -into auxiliaries, to get a suitable badge, and a -membership card defining more explicitly certain -rules.</p> - -<p>Boyville was therefore divided into five auxiliaries—the -sellers, north, south, east and west -branches, with the constitution of the Central. -Each auxiliary had eleven officers, making a total -of sixty-six officers—all boys. In the annual -election of officers great interest was taken by -the boys, many displaying political “wire pulling” -qualifications that would equal the work done by -great political bodies.</p> - -<p>These sixty-six officers were scattered in all -parts of the city, making it almost impossible for -a boy whom they wanted for violating a rule of -the association, to escape their notice.</p> - -<p>The membership card told the story of what -was expected of a member. It is herewith given -for that purpose.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> - -<div class="pbq"> -<p class="pr4 p1">No.—————</p> -<p class="pc">THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT</p> -<p class="pn"> -——————————is an active member for life of -The Boyville Newsboys’ Association. He does not approve -of swearing, lying, stealing, gambling, drinking -intoxicating liquors, or smoking cigarettes, and is entitled -to all the benefits of said association, and the respect -and esteem of the public.</p> -<p class="pr4">Signed by the officers.</p> -</div> - -<p class="p1">With these rules, and simple pledge, if pledge -it can be called, in the hands of each newsboy, -the reader can imagine the good that must result.</p> - -<p>It does not say the holder is guilty of any of -these evils, neither does it imply that he must not -swear, etc., but it does say, and each boy is -strongly impressed with the fact, that he does not -approve of these things, and will not permit a -fellow member to violate a single rule.</p> - -<p>A boy who says I do not believe in swearing, -while he may swear himself, will take great pleasure -in checking some one else, and often bumps -up against a strong proposition when he finds -some other boy, probably of greater strength, -watching him, and waiting anxiously for an opportunity -to correct him. If not corrected with -a simple warning it may end in a fight.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> - -<p>A boy makes an application for membership. -He is recommended by a friend. He is approved -by the membership committee. In case there is -something wrong with the applicant, particularly -if he steals, or swears, or smokes cigarettes, he -is sent with a note to the president, or as is more -frequently done, one of the officers reports in -person giving the president a history of the applicant -and the failing he has.</p> - -<p>The new member knows nothing of this, in -fact he gives expression to his thoughts and says, -after he receives his credentials, “It’s dead easy.” -It is, as far as the business he has with the president, -but the moment he leaves the president’s -office, the officers living in his district are notified -of the trouble this boy gives, or bad habit he delights -in keeping up.</p> - -<p>Even the boys with whom he associates become -familiar, through methods of their own, -with his failings, and go after him with all the -authority of an official.</p> - -<p>With all the interest taken by the boys to correct -a member for violating one of the rules, and -the severe methods adopted by them to correct a -known evil, it is seldom a boy will appear against -one of his associates as a witness.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-061.jpg" width="400" height="269" id="i40" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">A BUNCH OF SELLERS.</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_38">38</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> - -<p>A gentleman whose sympathy was with the -work, brought a boy to the president whom he -accused of using language, “unbecoming a criminal.” -As witnesses he brought with him four -newsboy companions.</p> - -<p>Imagine the gentleman’s surprise to hear the -boys say: “Mister, you’re dreaming through a -pipe. He didn’t swear.” The boys did not even -show signs of embarrassment but faced the -charge with perfect ease. No argument could -get the boys to testify against their friend.</p> - -<p>The gentleman left disgusted with newsboys.</p> - -<p>“I will let you boys settle this among yourselves,” -said the president.</p> - -<p>They went upon the street, into the alley. -Half an hour later the newsboy accused of swearing -returned. Timidly he approached the president -and said.</p> - -<p>“I swore but I will never do it again, and I -mean it, I am sorry.”</p> - -<p>At the door the president saw four little faces -peeping through the window. They were watching -their friend.</p> - -<p>“Where is your badge?” asked the president.</p> - -<p>“The boys took it from me, they’re out there,” -he replied.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> - -<p>They were beckoned to come in.</p> - -<p>“Did you do the right thing?” one of the boys -asked the accused.</p> - -<p>“Yes, didn’t I Mr. President?” he answered, -looking for sympathy.</p> - -<p>“Yes, boys, he is all right. I understand -everything,” said the president.</p> - -<p>The badge was returned to the boy and they -left the office talking and laughing.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER VIII.</h2> - -<p>The first public appearance of the boys, aside -from auxiliary meetings, annual Christmas dinners, -attending theatres, entertainments, base-ball -games, picnics, etc., and where the boys made a -favorable impression upon the public, was the -Sunday afternoon meetings held in suitable halls, -during the winter season. These were carried on -successfully and profitably for several years, until -the available halls were too small to accommodate -the increasing membership.</p> - -<p>The idea of Sunday afternoon meetings suggested -itself from what the boys said.</p> - -<p>“If we had meetings of our own we would not -attend Sunday afternoon theatres.” Three boys, -newsboys, were seen coming out of the back door -of a saloon on Sunday afternoon, and to the question -asked by the president, why they spent their -time in the saloon, they replied they had no other -place to go to get warm.</p> - -<p>“Why not go home?”</p> - -<p>“We are not wanted at home.”</p> - -<p>At the Sunday afternoon meetings the entertainments -were given by the different Sunday<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -schools of the city, and occasionally by some society, -all kindly volunteering their valuable services. -Splendid music, interesting talkers, little -girls and boys in recitations or songs who always -made a hit among the newsies. In time the newsboys -became so interested in the work that many -of them concluded that they could “do a stunt or -two,” and the program was divided in two parts. -First, the Sunday-school or society, followed by -the newsboys who introduced their best speakers, -singers, etc.</p> - -<p>“These Sunday afternoon gatherings,” to -copy from an editorial in one of the daily newspapers, -“have improved the tastes, aroused the -better natures, stimulated the ambitions, revealed -new and nobler ideals and altogether, have opened -a new world of more sober and serious plans for -future success of the bright little business men.”</p> - -<p>One of the most trying incidents that ever -came to the attention of the president was at one -of the Sunday afternoon meetings held in a theatre, -when was brought to the rear of the stage -two newsboys so drunk that a policeman had to -hold them from falling.</p> - -<p>They had a bottle of whiskey between them. -In broken sentences they told where a keeper had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> -sold them the liquor, Sunday morning, and how -the men in the saloon dared them to drink all the -whiskey in the bottle. It wasn’t necessary to -drink all, a few swallows made them dizzy. “We -got funny and noisy, an’ the man pitched us out.” -They staggered towards the opera house to attend -the newsboys’ meeting, when a policeman -assisted them in the house. Immediately upon -their entrance their friends hustled them out of -sight behind the stage. The president at once -called the association officers and turned the two -boys over to them. Quickly the officers removed -their badges. It was difficult to restrain some of -them from “giving the boys a thorough thrashing.” -Through the influence of the boy, Jimmy, -the sympathy of the newsboys’ turned quickly to -the two boys and a determination for revenge on -the saloon keeper followed. The newsboy officers -took the two little fellows to their homes. In a -few days they reported to the president that the -boys received such a severe punishment from -their parents that they would be laid up for a -month. The saloonman was visited by two of -the oldest experienced officers. They were received -with kindness, and after talking over the -matter for some time it was mutually agreed that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -the boys were to notify all members that they -must keep out of the saloon, as the proprieter -promised not to sell liquor of any kind to newsboys -and to refuse to sell liquor to any of the -fathers of the newsboys—“when he thought they -had enough.”</p> - -<p>For a month the boys watched that saloon, -and if a newsboy entered, his badge was taken -from him. The saloonman took greater interest -than the boys, for he absolutely refused to sell -liquor to any one whom he thought had “all he -could carry.”</p> - -<p>Today this saloonman is respected by the -newsboys and many good deeds are credited to -him.</p> - -<p>“He is simply trying to lift up a man instead -of pulling him down,” said an officer.</p> - -<p>The good that has been accomplished from the -Sunday afternoon meetings, commonly called -“The Popular Sunday School,” cannot be estimated. -Thousands of people attend these meetings. -They are pleased because the newsboys do -the entertaining. There isn’t a great deal of -preaching, but there is enough. “The object is -not to give so much of that sort of thing,” says -an editorial in one of the great dailies, “but what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -preaching they get is wholesome. The boys get -a chance to laugh and clap their hands. They -are permitted to be boys on Sunday just as on -week days. There is good music, too. It is apt -to be a patriotic air, or a popular song. A sweet -little girl sang ‘The Good Old Summer Time,’ -and the newsies joined in the chorus. It wasn’t -classical, but it was good. Instead of shooting -over people’s heads the musicians aim at their -hearts. The preaching isn’t a tiresome string -of ‘does’ and ‘don’ts,’ ‘musts’ and ‘mustn’ts’. It -is mostly plain talks from plain people who know -they are talking to boys whose veins are bulging -with rich, red human blood. But the boys themselves -furnish most of the program. Boys who -sell papers, who shine shoes, on the streets, get -up before big audiences, make speeches, sing -songs, ‘recite pieces’ and do other interesting and -instructive stunts. And hundreds of these little -newsboys sit in the auditorium, conduct themselves -like gentlemen and thoroughly enjoy the -entertainment. An interesting fact about this -association, is that its membership comprises the -rich as well as the poor. If a rich man’s son carries -a route he is in the same boat with the poorest -lad that peddles papers on the street. There are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -boys who have rich fathers, boys who have poor -fathers, boys who have industrious fathers, boys -who have drunken fathers, and boys who have -no fathers at all. There are Protestant boys, Catholic -boys, Hebrew boys, white boys, black boys—and -all are full-fledged, honored members of the -same newsboy family, which is run on the principle -of equal rights for all and special privileges -for none. Rich boys are not debarred. There is -a desire to save them from wealth’s temptations -and make good citizens of them in spite of their -handicap. The poor boys who sell papers to help -keep the family from starvation are generous and -are willing to let the rich in on the ground floor. -So it is a pretty broad and big Sunday-school. -And a good one. Every boy who belongs to it -is better for his membership. He is taught to -travel on his own merits and not lean on his papa. -He is taught that he must paddle his own canoe; -and that he will be judged by what HE does, not -by his father’s success.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-072.jpg" width="400" height="272" id="i48" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">FESTIVAL HALL. WHERE THE NATIONAL NEWSBOYS’ ASSOCIATION WAS -ORGANIZED, AUGUST 16, 1904.</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_53">53</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER IX.</h2> - -<p>So great became the interest in the success of -the Boyville Newsboys’ Association that many -additions were made to add to its prosperity, -through which the association became favorably -known throughout the United States.</p> - -<p>A newsboys’ band of thirty-eight pieces was -organized, the sellers being in the majority. The -expense of the band was borne entirely by one of -the enterprising dailies. The musical talent, discovered -by an efficient leader, in the newsboys, -was remarkable. In less than a year they were -able to play some of the most difficult pieces, and -the general deportment of the boys surprised all -who saw them.</p> - -<p>The organization of the South-end Cadets -was an event which proved to be one of the most -successful additions to the association. Their -fine personal appearance, their remarkable drilling, -their good behavior at all times and on all -occasions, with the band, made Boyville extensively -and favorably known as the home of the -best newsboys in the world.</p> - -<p>Nothing in the history of the work among -the newsboys was as important as the interest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -taken by the various churches, regardless of sect, -through their ministers, in holding special Sunday -evening meetings for the members of the -association. All through the city the auxiliaries -were invited, and particular pains taken in the -preparation of a program suitable to all. When -the boys were first invited, the expression was -frequently heard: “Gee wiz, we gets front rows.” -The illustration shows the boys marching to one -of these evening entertainments.</p> - -<p>The value of these meetings cannot be estimated. -The good attendance, the close attention, -the good behavior of the boys made them many -friends, and people began to look more kindly -upon the newsboy.</p> - -<p>With these improvements in the street-boy -and the success of the association naturally, the -president received many letters from men and -women all over the land seeking information -about the detail work of the association.</p> - -<p>With the view that this work may eventually -be extended throughout the country, the president -conceived the idea that a convention of newsboys -and their friends might be held and a National -association organized through which much -good could be accomplished. He therefore opened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> -correspondence with the managers of the World’s -Fair, St. Louis, Mo., with a view of getting their -consent and approval to set apart a day to be -known as Newsboys’ Day. This met with prompt -reply and a most hearty endorsement of the officials, -and newspaper representatives generally -throughout the United States, and resulted in -selecting Tuesday, August 16, 1904, as Newsboys’ -Day.</p> - -<p>That the convention might prove a success, -particularly among men who are familiar with -work among newsboys, the aid of the circulating -managers of the newspapers was asked. At the -annual convention of the National Association -of Managers of Newspaper Circulation, held at -the World’s Fair June 12, 1904, the president of -“Boyville” appeared and explained the methods -adopted in this association. He satisfied them -that, not only did the association accomplish much -good, through its efforts to influence boy’s work, -but it also proved to be a great aid to the newspapers -in increasing circulation. He therefore -asked for endorsement and support of the members -of this organization in forming a National -Newsboys’ Association.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> - -<p>In recognition of this a resolution was unanimously -passed endorsing the movement; and a -committee was appointed to co-operate with the -trustees of the Boyville association with the view -of not only making Newsboys’ Day a success but -in organizing a National Newsboys’ Association.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER X.</h2> - -<p>On the afternoon, of Tuesday, August 16, -1904, in the magnificent Festival Hall, at the -World’s Fair, where were present hundreds of -newsboys, representing nearly every State in the -Union; and newspaper representatives from the -leading papers of the country, there was organized -The National Newsboys’ Association; officers -were elected and instructions were given -them to perfect the organization and adopt the -plan so successfully carried on by the Boyville -Newsboys’ Association, and having for its object -the extension of the work in every town and city -in the land that there may be established fraternal -relations among newsboys everywhere in -making them an important part in the business -world, honored and treated with respect by all -good citizens.</p> - -<p>While the details of the organization were -being worked out, the officers were instructed, by -the trustees, to issue membership cards and -badges and to organize auxiliaries in cities and -towns wherever desired.</p> - -<p>A year has passed since the organization of -the National Newsboys’ Association, and the officers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -have established auxiliaries in many cities -and towns in the United States with inquiries -from foreign cities.</p> - -<p>In the discussion regarding the formation of -the constitution etc., it was agreed that an organized -association of newsboys with an enrollment -of twenty-five boys would be received into -the National Association as an auxiliary, and, in -towns where there were a less number than -twenty-five newsboys, each boy could become -members under the trustees of the National Association.</p> - -<p>No recognition of the work accomplished by -the National and Boyville Associations was so -important and no greater good can be accomplished -than the official approval and endorsement -by the officers of the greatest railroads in -America.</p> - -<p>It is an undisputed fact, railroad detectives -as authority, that a majority of the young men arrested -for stealing merchandise from freight cars -were once boys who sold or waited for newspapers -at the stations of our railroads.</p> - -<p>The officers of the Boyville Association have -on file congratulatory letters from prominent -railroad detectives heartily approving of the work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> -accomplished in trying to teach the boys who sell -or wait for papers at the stations, honesty. One -detective wrote: “You are saving the railroads -thousands of dollars worth of property and a million -dollars worth of trouble.”</p> - -<p>The railroads who have approved of the work -have permitted the officers of the National Association -to issue circular letters to their agents instructing -them to allow no newsboy to sell or -wait for newspapers at the stations unless he is a -member of the association and wears, while on -duty, the official badge. This simply means that -newsboys to sell or wait for papers at railroad -stations must not swear, steal, lie, smoke cigarettes -or gamble. The trustees, feeling that the -good work accomplished among the newsboys -would be still further advanced by bringing the -National Association to public notice, decided -that the expense of sending the newsboys’ band -and cadets to Washington, to take part in the inaugural -parade of President Theodore Roosevelt -on March 4, 1905, would be justified.</p> - -<p>Correspondence with the inaugural committee -proved one of the pleasant experiences, for -the recognition by the chief marshall and other -officials of the civic grand division was quickly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> -and heartily given. The work of completing the -detail arrangements, necessarily irksome, was so -cordially conducted that the trustees felt more -than ever justified in sending the newsboys’ band -and cadets, and the vice-presidents of the various -auxiliaries, in order that Boyville could be officially -represented.</p> - -<p>“Sixty-five newsboys let loose in the city of -Washington during the inaugural ceremonies -would cause the men in charge more trouble and -unhappiness, and disgrace to the city represented -than the honor gained,” was the public declaration -of men who were not familiar with what -could be done by newsboys.</p> - -<p>Satisfactory arrangements were made in all -details.</p> - -<p>To show the activity and self-responsibility -of a newsboy, while the boys were en route they -stopped at Cleveland. Two hours were given -them to go where they pleased. In less than an -hour the sellers said:</p> - -<p>“We have done the town, been all through the -public buildings and we’re ready to go. We were -treated like reporters.”</p> - -<p>In Washington thirty minutes after their -arrival at headquarters, the president called a -dozen boys to him and tried to tell them how to -find their hotel(?) from a given point.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-082.jpg" width="400" height="137" id="i56" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">NEWSBOYS’ BAND AND CADETS—READY TO START FOR WASHINGTON, D. C., TO PARTICIPATE -IN THE INAUGURAL PARADE OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, MARCH 4, 1905.</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_55">55</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Aw, what you trying to give us. We ain’t -asleep. We’ve been round the square, and say, -president, we found a first-class eating place. -It’s out o’ sight.”</p> - -<p>Two hours after the boys were settled, a -majority of them had been through and around -nearly all of the public buildings, and were ready -“to do the White House.” When requested to -report at a stated hour and place, every boy was -there on time and to the minute.</p> - -<p>One of the greatest lessons the president -learned from the trip, from these newsboys, was -the perfect control they have of themselves.</p> - -<p>They were always happy. Always contented -and satisfied with conditions. Never complaining -or borrowing trouble showing that worry is -a thing unknown to newsboys. The loss of a hat, -of a piece of baggage, an order changing contemplated -plans, all were received with the same wonderful -patience and good cheer, which seem part -of the nature of a newsboy. The boy without a -cent in his pocket was happier than the boy whose -parents supplied him with more money than he -needed. Wherever these boys appeared on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -streets of Washington they were little gentlemen, -an honor to the city who sent them, an honor -to themselves and, an honor to the great -country they represent. On the train en route -Governor Myron T. Herrick, in his address to the -boys said: “I consider it a very great honor to -the state of Ohio to send from its commonwealth -such a bright lot of boys, and boys who represent -our little street merchants, boys who are destined -to be the good men of the future.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XI.</h2> - -<p>Newsboys are students. From the necessity -of knowing the special happenings of the day, as -soon as they receive their papers they quickly -read the head lines. First, they can be seen to -slowly spell each word, but in a very short time -they read without assistance. It is one of the advantages -to boys selling papers, it is an educator. -To be successful, they must become familiar with -the news of the day and be able to cry it to induce -men to purchase.</p> - -<p>After the inaugural parade, when most people -were tired, the newsboys, at their headquarters, -“chipped in” and raised enough money to -send one of the boys “down town to purchase a -copy of every paper sold in the city.” The boy returned -with New York, Philadelphia and Washington -dailies and a dozen sellers were seated on -the cots, each earnestly reading, and commenting -on leading articles. One little seller said:</p> - -<p>“Say, look here, fellers, Teddy has started to -work, he made an appointment. I guess he means -business.”</p> - -<p>Is there another organization whose members, -when attending a convention, are so interested<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -in the news of the day as to send one of -their number—“down the avenue to purchase a -copy of each of the dailies the town takes?”</p> - -<p>From the highest officers in the land; from -the committee in charge of the various divisions; -from the foreign as well as the Washington newspapers, -praise and compliments were given -these newsboys for the almost perfect marching, -in the parade.</p> - -<p>They said:</p> - -<p>“The newsboys’ band and cadets made the hit -of the day, in the parade, and made thousands of -friends throughout the United States * * * -President Roosevelt was immensely pleased with -the newsboys and could not say enough of the remarkable -appearance they made. The Newsboys’ -Band and Cadets, sixty-five in all, which -led the third brigade of the civic grand division, -are the first newsboys in America to be recognized -in an inaugural parade. The band thirty-eight -pieces, is uniformed in red with black trimmings; -the cadets, twenty, with red and white -trimmings. The cadets march under the leadership -of Drum-Major Francis McGarry, the -youngest drum-major in the world, and a little -fellow who has to take a hitch-step every other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -step in order to keep up with the procession. The -general appearance and manly conduct of the -young gentlemen elicited many favorable comments. -They were an object lesson of a very remarkable -character, which is calculated to arouse -in them a higher degree of patriotism and love for -their country.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> - -<p> </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p class="pc4 xlarge"><i>PART THIRD</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-092.jpg" width="400" height="588" id="i64a" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“I AM AN OFFICER OF THE SELLERS’ -AUXILIARY; GET BUSY.”</p> -</div></div> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-094.jpg" width="400" height="618" id="i64b" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“LADY, I AM SORRY I RUN AWAY WID DE MONEY.”</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_68">68</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XII.</h2> - -<p>The reader will observe that when Boyville -was well organized no boys were admitted to -membership except those who sold newspapers -or shined shoes. But later, after many years of -work, incident after incident came to the president -of the wrong-doings of the carriers who occasionally -sold extras. Those boys came from the -best families and much was expected from them -by the sellers. But some of them proved to be -very bad boys. The following is one of a number -of incidents that induced the president to include -the carriers in the association.</p> - -<p>A very kind lady, living in the heart of the -city, and who was a subscriber to one of the dailies, -reported to the president; “a boy who carried -my paper and whom I owed eighteen cents, has -skipped with a dollar. He did not have the change -and asked permission to cross the street to get it. -I saw him run down the street as fast as his little -legs would carry him. I knew he was running -away and would not return. It is not so much on -account of the money, that I call your attention -to this, as it is to correct the boy, and save him -from future wrong doing.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> - -<p>She was asked to describe the boy. As it was -dark this was difficult.</p> - -<p>“But I did notice,” she said, “that he had on -a very bright pink necktie.”</p> - -<p>This was the first instance she knew of the -boy being dishonest. He had always delivered -the paper promptly, never missing a day.</p> - -<p>“But, a big new dollar was too much for him.”</p> - -<p>Immediately upon the receipt of this information -the president called his best officer and repeated -the story.</p> - -<p>“A pink necktie,” he said. “Let me see, there -is a pretty lively little fellow that comes down -town occasionally and poses on the corners. I -know him. He always wears that necktie.”</p> - -<p>Inquiry among the sellers soon gave the officer -all the information necessary as to where the -boy lived. He was not a member of the association. -He was a carrier. He was supposed to be -good. A dozen boys knew the pink necktie -carrier.</p> - -<p>Following is the official report of the officer -who went after the boy.</p> - -<p>“I found he lived over a mile from the place -where he delivered the paper. It was a swell -part of the city. When I went there I asked for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -the boy. He was in bed. I told his mother I -wanted to see him on some very particular personal -business. He was tucked up in a nice warm -bed, and I hated to disturb him. When I asked -him if he had received a dollar from a lady for -papers, he covered his head with the clothes. I -knew I was right. I told him to get out of bed, -and go with me to see the lady, return her money, -and beg her pardon. I had him dead to rights for -he didn’t want his mother to know what he had -done. I went down stairs and told his mother I -had some very important things we boys wanted -him to do. She hesitated a little and finally let -him go. He dressed, and when on the way I told -him he must get down on his knees and beg the -lady’s pardon; he cried and said, ‘I will go home -before I’ll do that.’ All right, I said, if you want -your mother to know what a little rascal you are, -how you steal money, we’ll go back, but if you -want to be a little man, and make things right, -with my help, well and good. When we reached -the house, we had to go up a stairway, and the -boy threw himself on the steps and said, ‘Oh, I -can’t do this,’ but I said you could steal all right, -so come on. Up the stairs we went, and I knocked -at the door. I thought that boy would faint.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -‘Oh, I can’t do it,’ he cried, when the door opened -and the lady stood before him. She understood -the situation. She lifted him to his feet. I pulled -him back, and said, ‘No, my lady, he must get -down on his knees, return you the dollar, and beg -your pardon.’ It was a tough job for that kid, but -he did it; and after it was all over he said, ‘My! -but I feel better, I’m glad this is over.’ On the -way he told me he had spent forty cents and had -but sixty cents left to pay the lady, so I gave him -the money to make the dollar, and he is to pay me -five cents a week until all is paid up. On the way -home he was the happiest lad I ever saw. The -lady said it was the slickest piece of detective -work she ever heard of, and wished to thank you -and the boys for starting the association.”</p> - -<p>A few days after this little incident, the -boy was brought to the president, by the officer, -requesting that he become a member of Boyville. -His name was signed to an application and when -the officer asked him how he felt after returning -the dollar, he looked a little ashamed, but quickly -said: “You bet, I’ll never do any thing like that -again. It isn’t safe in this city, the kids find a -fellow out when they are bad. I’m glad we fixed -it up all right.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> - -<p>He gradually paid back the money the officer -advanced. Two years have passed since that -eventful night, and today the boy is one of the -most efficient officers in the Boyville association.</p> - -<p>The following editorial is taken from one of -the city dailies relative to the pink necktie story. -It reads:</p> - -<p>“The story explains how well the officer did -his work. There is a lesson for boys and men, -too, in this little story. It shows that policemen -and jails are not necessary when boys and men -know how to do right. No policeman, judge or -jury was needed to straighten out this difficulty. -Newsboy government did the work. It got the -woman her money, and taught the boy with the -pink necktie a lesson he will never forget. He -didn’t have to be arrested or go to jail. The -public will never know who he is. He will not -be further disgraced. Now, why do these boys, -officers of this association, do this? simply because -they are proud of the reputation of their -association. They have learned that the association’s -reputation is made up of the reputations -of its members. They have learned that one dishonest -act by one newsboy reflects on all newsboys -and on the organization. So they insist<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -that all members must be honest and protect the -association’s good name. It isn’t fear of the policemen -or jails that makes these boys honest. It -is the fear of their own conscience and the opinion -of their comrades. They want to be able to -walk along the street with their heads up, and to -look every honest man squarely in the eye. They -know they are as good as the richest man in town -if they are honest. They are learning that it pays -to do right, and not because of what may happen -to them as a result of dishonesty. If men would -follow the same plan the world wouldn’t need its -thousands of jails, reformatories and penitentiaries. -If men would only feel that each one of them -is a member of the human society, association or -organization, and that wrong committed by one -is a reflection on all, it would save heartaches and -trouble in this world.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XIII.</h2> - -<p>Do you believe a boy that is good at home, -one who is cared for and loved as we often -see an only child, could possibly do anything bad -on the streets, away from home influence?</p> - -<p>A neatly dressed boy, a carrier, whose parents -“wanted him to learn the trade of the street, to -give him self-reliance and business tact, and all -that the street teaches without much effort,” -when through with his little route of carrying -papers insisted upon going, “to the heart of the -city and selling papers on special occasions, extras.”</p> - -<p>Before Boyville was fully organized the president’s -attention was called to this little fellow—as -being “a perfect nuisance. He was impudent, -frequently used profane language and was one -of the worst boys on the street.” At that time the -association had but one (boy) officer. He was -told to watch this boy. See that he was corrected. -“And, above everything not to lose him because -he was bad.” Within a month the officer reported -“the boy’s parents were among the best in -the city, good Christian people, attending church<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -every Sunday, and the boy a regular prize-winner -for perfect attendance at Sunday-school. When -this boy was away from home, out of sight of his -parents—he was a little terror.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what did you do with him?” was asked -the officer.</p> - -<p>“I takes his papers, an’ shows him as how to -sell ’em. How to say thank you when he sells to -a gemmen or a ladies. And how’s not to be the -whole thing when on the street working. He cut -out swearing de furst thing. He was easy doing, -all he wanted wus guidin.”</p> - -<p>“What did he say to your work?”</p> - -<p>“When I puts twenty cents in his hand, an’ -says this is yourn, he gets wise, he gets next to -a good thing and is now working on de square. -He is de boss seller on de street an’ no boy kin -sell on de corners and swear, or steal. He fights -’em. He does.”</p> - -<p>That same little boy, who was given a warning -by a fellow companion with a little authority, -today receives a salary of eight hundred dollars -a year in an important commercial position.</p> - -<p>In every city of our land there are hundreds -of boys like this “good boy at home,” who on the -street surprises their most intimate friends by -their wickedness.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-104.jpg" width="400" height="606" id="i72" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“TROW DE CIGARETTE AWAY.”</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_74">74</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> - -<p>The newsboy cannot gain admission to many -of the boys clubs, debating clubs, athletic clubs, -and is often debarred from many of our greatest -christian associations, because he is a being -within himself, he stands alone in his class, a -creation of his own acts and deeds, and goes upon -the street at that age when environment molds -his future, and generally molds it bad.</p> - -<p>A question is often asked, what would become -of a boy if he were left to himself, with no training, -no guidance, no education. A boy of the -street, who is dead to home influences, or worse, -who is driven out to make a living for himself by -heartless parents or guardians, or unfortunate -conditions of life, and there are hundreds of them -in every city, becomes a power in himself. For -evil, first. “For the heart of the sons of men is -fully set in them to do evil.” If left alone the -evil will get the upper hand. The street teaches -irregular habits and restlessness.</p> - -<p>The following incident will show how diligent -were the boys, not officers, in watching their companions.</p> - -<p>Two little boys, ages nine and twelve, saw a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -fellow member standing in an alley, behind a -pile of store boxes and enjoying a cigarette to -his great delight. He was afraid to appear on -the street as the boys were watching for such -cases. He was a boy about fifteen years of age, -rather stout and independent, but a staunch member -of the association. He might have used his -strength to great advantage in arguing with the -two boys who attacked him as soon as discovered.</p> - -<p>“Say, Mike, youse knows it’s agin the rule -to smoke dem cig’rettes.”</p> - -<p>“Dat’s all right. If I wants to smoke, I -smoke, see? No one sees me in the alley. I -don’t smoke when I sells me papers.”</p> - -<p>“Aw! comes off, youse knows de rules. Cut -it out. Trow it away. Youse knows our president -don’t wants youse ter smoke ’em. Cut it -out. Trow it away.”</p> - -<p>This persuasive talk or “bluff” as the smoker -declared, had but little effect until the two boys -began to take off their coats. When donned for -the prize ring, the boys walked to the violator, -presenting a bold front and again demanded that -the cigarette be thrown away, and promise made -that he would never smoke again.</p> - -<p>“What youse goin’ to do?” he said, backing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> -up closer to the building. “We will trow you -down, take your badge frum youse an’ take it to -the president.”</p> - -<p>The big boy stood quiet for some moments, in -the mean time about thirty newsies had gathered -around him, each yelling—“trow it away.”</p> - -<p>“I haint lookin’ fur no trouble,” he finally -said, and threw the cigarette in the alley.</p> - -<p>“We’s only doin’ you a good turn,” said the -nine-year-old newsy.</p> - -<p>“It’s all right. I was only tryin’ to see if you -would stop me. I’ll cut it all out. I will never -smoke again.”</p> - -<p>That boy did not have to be watched. He was -good and kind to his little friends, and proved to -be one of the best boys on the street. Two years -later, when he graduated from the junior grade, -in one of the ward schools, he came to the president, -saying that his mother was poor and sickly -and he had to go to work. He was sent to a -wholesale house where was wanted a good honest -boy.</p> - -<p>The first question asked Mike was:</p> - -<p>“Do you smoke cigarettes?” The president -will never forget the manly, prompt reply. He -was given a good position, and that boy today is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> -traveling for a firm in Cleveland, Ohio, at a big -salary. The increased interest in the detail work -taken by the boys themselves encouraged the -president to believe that he was still on the right -road to build these little street-boys up for good, -not only for themselves but for doing good -for others. Another case of interest in an unusual -way of “doin’ a good turn.” A bright-eyed, -red-faced boy, ten years old, came running -into the president’s office, one evening, almost -out of breath, and after clearing the way through -a long room, he stood before the officer, eyes -sparkling with interest. He had something important -to say. His elbows were bare, his pants -torn, his cap merely a piece of cloth, with a rim -strong enough to hold it in place. His name was -Bluster, receiving it from the boys on account of -his blustering manner of doing things.</p> - -<p>“Say, pres.,” yelled Bluster. “I want authority -to lick a kid.”</p> - -<p>That was a strange request. While the president -was thinking what to say he added.</p> - -<p>“I must have permission fur de gang’s after -me. Dey’re on me track.” Not desiring the -gang to enter the office and create a scene, consent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -was given for Bluster to use force, if necessary -to defend himself. A smile of satisfaction -came over Bluster’s face. A smile that indicated -that he had taken advantage of the president, and -was now about to glory in it. After a moments -thought he said.</p> - -<p>“Say, pres., I already licked him.”</p> - -<p>“Who and what for?” was asked with considerable -surprise.</p> - -<p>“Fur swearin.”</p> - -<p>Before he could explain the details of the -case, in rushed eight or ten boys, all talking at -once. Bluster never smiled when the boys declared -he wasn’t an officer and had no business -to “take the law into his own hands.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” put in Bluster, “ain’t we -supposed to work fur each others good? Well, -an’ wasn’t I ’tendin’ to my own business on de -corner. I wus standin’ there crying all about -de big fire, when a man frum de other side of the -street calls fur me to come over. I starts an’ so -does Swipsey, I beats Swipsey, an’ sells de man a -paper, an’ what does Swipsey do? Does he go -about his business? No, he told the man to go to -hell and used other swear words an’ I saw our -association wus receiving a black eye. It’s no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -use to preach to Swipsey, de only way to bring -him to his thinking is to lick him. He knows as -well as youses that its agin de rules to swear. So -I punched him. I turned him an’ rolled him over -until he cried enuf, an’ promised he would not -swear again. Then de gang came after me an’ -I runned to you.”</p> - -<p>The boys still declared he had no right to punish -Swipsey without permission from the president. -Quick as flash Bluster said:</p> - -<p>“Say, pres., didn’t I have permission?”</p> - -<p>The president could do nothing but back Bluster -up. He had given him full authority. At -this juncture, Swipsey made his appearance. His -hair disheveled, face and hands dirty, and clothes -in a terrible condition. Swipsey listened to Bluster’s -story with a great deal of patience. He -looked guilty.</p> - -<p>“All we want to know,” said the leader of the -gang, “is whether we can punish a boy for violating -the rules, even if we are not officers.” That -was a leading question, and experience had -taught the president that it was a very wise thing -to have any boy punish a member, and in his own -way. The only provision made was that no badge -must be taken away from a boy by a non-officer.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -Where a boy cannot be corrected by a fellow -member, he must submit the case to an officer. -This was agreed to and the boys were satisfied -with the method used by Bluster. The two boys -were made a little present, and they all left in -their usual happy mood.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XIV.</h2> - -<p>The more experience the president had with -the street-boys, boys who spent most of their time -in selling papers or shining shoes, the greater -his desire to keep in close personal touch with -each boy. He had learned that it was not wise -to censure a bad boy, to punish a boy who had -violated any of the rules. That belonged entirely -to the officers.</p> - -<p>Some of the best suggestions for gaining the -most good came from the boys, and boys whom -the general public would ignore, pay no attention -to. The boys were working out their own salvation. -Solving the boy problem themselves.</p> - -<p>The strongest argument for self-government, -among boys, was solved by the boys, the sellers. -This was when they began to bring to the president -money and valuable articles they found on -the streets, and the sincere, earnest request, in -every case, “to please find the owner—it doesn’t -belong to me.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-114.jpg" width="400" height="620" id="i80" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“PRESIDENT, I HAVE ALREADY LICKED DE KID.”</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_77">77</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was through the honesty of one of the hustling -sellers that this new work was started, which -became part of the great work and was carried -on so successfully, and to such an extent that -hundreds of valuable articles, from fifty cents in -pennies to a diamond necklace, were found and -returned to the owners. The following incident -was the starting point.</p> - -<p>A stranger gave a little seller, what he supposed -was a new bright penny, for an evening -paper, and passed on. The boy renewed his work, -and a few moments later another gentleman purchased -a paper, giving the boy a dime. In counting -out nine cents, as change, the seller handed -the man the new penny he had just received from -a stranger. The customer said:</p> - -<p>“My dear son, this is not a penny; it is a five -dollar goldpiece.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know it, sir”, replied the boy. “If -you will please to hold my papers I will run after -the man and try to find him—this isn’t mine.”</p> - -<p>Around the corner the lad went at full speed. -Up and down the street he looked but failed to -see his man. He returned very much disappointed.</p> - -<p>“He’s gone,” he said, “here’s your change—nine -cents.”</p> - -<p>During this little talk a dozen or more newsboys -gathered around the man and when they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> -learned what had happened several of the boys -said:</p> - -<p>“Harry, what you goin’ to do with the mon.?”</p> - -<p>“Our president will tell us what to do, come -on,” replied the little merchant.</p> - -<p>Off the crowd started down the street, around -the corner and a noisier lot of boys never entered -the president’s office.</p> - -<p>Each of the twenty boys present wanted to -explain what he knew about the transaction.</p> - -<p>All the details of how the seller received the -money, and how hard he had tried to find the real -owner were gone over several times.</p> - -<p>The president complimented not only the -boy who received the gold, but the boys who were -so deeply interested in trying to find the owner. -An appreciative present was given to the boy, -and it was understood that every effort possible -would be made to find the owner. When it was -first advertised a generous clothier, a lover of -newsboys, presented the boy with a suit of clothes. -After advertising thirty days and no owner claiming -the five dollars, it was given to the boy. -Nothing ever happened in the neighborhood -where the newsboy lived that created such an -excitement. The newsie posed as an honest boy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> -and was complimented by men and women, as well -as being a hero among the boys and girls. Its -effect was far-reaching, and did good not only -to the boys, but it had a most desirable effect -upon the people.</p> - -<p>More particularly from this incident than -any other did the newsboys “get next” and begin -bringing to the president everything they -found. Among the articles brought to him with -instructions to find the owners, were diamonds, -watches, money, in amounts ranging from fifty -cents to eighty dollars; rings, robes, hats, gloves, -valuable papers, badges of all kinds, handkerchiefs, -money-saving banks, hundreds of addressed -stamped letters, pictures, pocket-books of -all kinds, keys, etc.</p> - -<p>Among the live things the boys brought to -the office was a dog. One afternoon, late in the -autumn, four newsies walked into the president’s -office, talking and laughing, as they always do, -and one of the boys, being “soaking wet,” led a -little woolly dog who seemed to enjoy the fun as -well as the boys.</p> - -<p>“My! how did you get so wet?” asked the -president. “And what have we here?”</p> - -<p>“A man trowed de dog into the river. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -tried to drown him. I jumped into de water -and saved him.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, president,” said the hero, “I thought -it would please you to save the dog’s life.”</p> - -<p>Of course it pleased the president, and the -boys agreed it was a very brave act. This little -incident had its effect upon the boy, and they always -looked upon him as a great fellow, and it -wasn’t long until they elected him to an important -office.</p> - -<p>It is a noticeable fact that newsboys have a peculiarly -natural way of drawing, what they call, -tramp dogs to them. Many a newsboy has been -seen caring for a poor dog, who had either lost -its owner or was hurt.</p> - -<p>Sympathy is aroused very quickly. Often a -poor, worthless dog has been taken into a seller’s -favorite lunch-room and given a square meal. -From a boy who jumped into fifteen feet of water -to save a little dog, something might be expected. -He was watched. At one of the regular meetings -of an auxiliary he showed the metal he was -made of by introducing the following preamble -and resolution, and spoke so strongly in its favor -that it was passed unanimously.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> - -<p class="pbq p1">“<span class="smcap">Whereas</span>, It has come to our notice that boys -throughout the city, and boys, too, from our swell families, -are killing the song birds in the little patches of -groves within the city limits, by the use of the Flobert -rifle; therefore be it</p> - -<p class="pbq"><i>Resolved</i>, That the members of the Boyville Newsboys’ -Association bitterly disapprove of this wanton -slaughter of our song birds, and we, therefore, pledge -ourselves to do everything in our power to stop boys, -whether members of this association or not, from killing, -in any manner, these birds.”</p> - -<p class="p1">In his closing remarks he said: “If we expects -people to show us kindness we must also -do something what’s right. And what can we -do better’n protect the dumb animals. Let us -show, what we are trying to get, kindness, justice -and mercy.”</p> - -<p>A short time after the adoption of the above -resolution one of the trustees attention was called -to a member, a boy eleven years of age, who was -very much worked up over the acts of some of -his associates, not members of the association. -The boys had made a trap and were trying to -catch the robins that made their summer homes -in the yards along the street.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> - -<p>The little boy always told his mother his -troubles and in this case went to her for advice. -She told him she would pray that God would tell -the birds not to go near the trap. He seemed -satisfied, but went away deeply buried in thought.</p> - -<p>A few days later he was sitting on the fence, -at his home, when the trustee passed. Knowing -of the incident he asked the boy about the trap.</p> - -<p>“Well, the trap was set all right,” he said, -“and my mother prayed hard, asking God to -strengthen the instinct of the birds so they would -keep out of danger—not go near the trap.”</p> - -<p>“Did God answer your mother’s prayer?” -asked the gentleman.</p> - -<p>“Sure thing He did,” the newsy quickly answered.</p> - -<p>“Why were you so certain?”</p> - -<p>“Because when it got dark I went to the barnyard -and busted the trap all to pieces. There wasn’t -enough wood left to make a tooth pick.”</p> - -<p>The trustee slowly walked away saying to -himself:</p> - -<p>“Action was needed with prayer.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XV.</h2> - -<p>The individual interest in the monthly auxiliary -meetings developed into schools of instructions. -The boys began to learn how to debate, -how to make a motion, to discuss any subject.</p> - -<p>The vice-presidents of each auxiliary took personal -interest in the details of the work, and kept -the various committees busy.</p> - -<p>The reports at each meeting showed how well -the boys had the affairs of the association under -control. In the meetings, the entertainment features -were very interesting, from the fact that -the boys themselves prepared the program. If -it was necessary to secure talent, the executive -committee required each boy, beginning with the -officers, and then taking the names as the boys -were registered in alphabetical order to show -what he could do. First a boy, a bashful newsie, -was required to “step forward and make a bow,” -and after several pretty rough introductions of -this nature, it was always found that the victim -began at once to prepare something for the next -meeting. First, he would commit a very short -piece, perhaps two lines, always selecting something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -of a comical nature. Then later, of his own -composition. After a few efforts he became master -of the platform, and was generally over anxious -to do something.</p> - -<p>It was surprising the different talents unearthed -by this method. Musical turns, good, -sweet singers, short and long recitations, original -dialogues, and many “new stunts,” as termed -by the boys, when surprised at what someone -produced.</p> - -<p>The trustees always took advantage of this -work, and did everything to encourage it. The -talent thus discovered, and trained, in the auxiliaries, -was used in the Sunday afternoon meetings -to great advantage and honor to the boys.</p> - -<p>At one of the Sunday meetings a very serious -carrier asked the president: “How can a boy -avoid being bad if he don’t know what bad is?”</p> - -<p>“How do you know bad money?” asked the -president.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know bad money, I know good -money.”</p> - -<p>A newsboy is never at a loss for a reply to -any question, and knows something about any -subject discussed in our daily papers. This boy -further surprised the president by saying: “Those -who are thoroughly skilled in navigation are as -well acquainted with the coasts of the ocean, with -the sands, the shallow places, and the rocks as the -secure depths in the safest channels, and good -boys must as well know the bad that they may -avoid it as the good that they may embrace it.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-124.jpg" width="400" height="382" id="i88a" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE HEADLINES.</p> -</div></div> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-126.jpg" width="400" height="624" id="i88b" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“DIS HERE IS DE DOG.”</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_83">83</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> - -<p>This boy occupied a front row for many -months in all entertainments, and when a speaker -interested him he paid very close attention. One -time a very good minister was talking over the -heads of the boys, preaching a sermon they could -not understand. This little fellow, with his ever -serious look, cried out:</p> - -<p>“Say, mister, can’t you cut some of that out?”</p> - -<p>It had its effect, much to the embarrassment -of the good divine.</p> - -<p>It is one of the most difficult things in the oratorical -world for any one to entertain newsboys. -A speaker must not talk over them. He must -become as a child and talk as a child, and he will -be surprised to see what a good effect it has upon -the boys. One time a very nervous boy, a seller -from the avenue, became quite noisy and restless -in the seat he generally occupied. The president -observing this asked him if he would like a seat -in the front row.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Sure thing, I’ll ’tend every Sunday if you -give me this seat,” pointing to a chair next to -a post, where the president imagined he wanted -to rest his head.</p> - -<p>“It doesn’t make any difference what boy occupies -this seat,” said the president to “Front -Row Art,” as he is called, “I want you to get the -seat. I don’t care what we are doing on the -platform.”</p> - -<p>One Sunday when the house was crowded to -the doors, Art’s seat was occupied by a boy about -fourteen years of age, and much stronger than -Art. While the speaker, a minister, was praying, -the president saw Art at the door. He saw him -push his way through the crowd and when at the -platform, he took the boy, who occupied his chair, -by the back of his neck and gave him such a shove -along the seats that the young man was glad to -reach the other end of the row. Art sat down, -folded his arms, put his feet upon the platform, -and eyed the speaker as if he had been there all -the time.</p> - -<p>Art was always ready with a smart answer -to any question put to the boys. Even if his attention -was directed to another part of the house, -his little fingers were snapping, indicating his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> -readiness to answer. His replies, while not always -pertinent, gave the speaker a fair warning -not to be too familiar in asking questions.</p> - -<p>Art had a companion who was known as -“Splinter,” on account of his being rather slim, -but no boy of his age, twelve years, ever had so -many new movements as Splinter. He was never -quiet, not so noisy, but continually annoying the -boy who sat next to him. To take a companion’s -hat and throw it across the room, while some -good minister was praying, was of frequent occurrence. -He would answer questions without -raising his hand, and would give the boy sitting -next to him a knock of some kind before he stood -up. With all this restlessness he was one of the -best-hearted boys among the sellers. There was -something in him that the president concluded -he could not afford to lose sight of—just what -that was did not develop enough to encourage.</p> - -<p>At one of the Sunday meetings there was a -speaker who knew how to hold the boys when -asking questions. He had them perfectly quiet -and recognized no answer unless the boy raised -his hand.</p> - -<p>He asked a question which required as an answer -a verse in the Bible. To the president’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> -embarrassment, “Splinter’s” hand was high above -the others and he kept a continual snapping of -his fingers. He was determined to be recognized. -The president was in hopes the speaker would -pay no attention to him, fearing the reply would -spoil the effect of the speaker’s talk. However -“Splinter” managed to be heard.</p> - -<p>“That tall boy may answer,” said the minister.</p> - -<p>The sweat rolled down the president’s forehead -as he tried to get back into his chair.</p> - -<p>“Splinter” arose, not a smile on his face. He -looked serious, and without a quiver in his voice -repeated, word for word, one of the longest verses -in the Bible, and which gave an appropriate -answer.</p> - -<p>The speaker looked as surprised as the president, -and the compliment he gave the boy was appreciated -by all.</p> - -<p>“Splinter’s” education, after that, was looked -after.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XVI.</h2> - -<p>An interesting case came to the president -showing how one family can disgrace an entire -neighborhood; can give a bad name to a whole -street. On one of the small narrow streets -within the two-mile circle, lived a family, man -woman and five boys. One of the boys, a young -man, served a term in the penitentiary for robbery. -The names of two of them appeared on the -police station blotter about three times a year for -drunkenness. It was on account of these boys that -the neighborhood gained such a bad reputation. -The other two boys, John and Tom, ages nine and -twelve, were newsboys. Boys who were driven -from home, by the parents, “to get something to -eat elsewhere.” They frequently slept in stairways, -old buildings, cellar-ways or any place -where they could find shelter from the storms, or -where they thought they would not be disturbed. -These two newsboys were doing more to ruin boys -on the street than the entire membership of the -association, and when they came into the president’s -office seeking admission, the president concluded -that if these boys could be saved, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -their bad acts turned into good, Boyville would -be a success. It wasn’t necessary to ask them if -they were eligible to membership, if they sold papers, -if they were newsboys. Every word, every -act told all that was required. With all the rags, -and dirt, and slang talk, these boys were up-to-date -in everything. All the leading topics of the -day were discussed by them. Every base-ball -player they knew by name, and it was discovered -that all newsies followed them when they wanted -to get into a ball-ground free, or into a circus. -They had their own way, and without money. -They feared nothing. They worked for themselves -only. The little sympathy they had for any -one was drowned in their eagerness to move on. -They gave no thought for the morrow. There was -no hesitancy by the officers in giving these boys -membership cards, and when they received them, -to the question, “Well, now boys, what does this -mean?” they answered:</p> - -<p>“We mean to lick any one as doesn’t do right.”</p> - -<p>The vice-president, a smart young man with -the courage of a lion, went to the boys’ home to -make an investigation of how they lived, and why -they were so bad when on the streets. Here is -what he discovered:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> - -<p>They lived in a small cottage and with a man -and woman who were not their parents. Their -own father had died leaving several valuable -pieces of property to his wife, who was again -married within a year, and to a man who soon -lost all the property, having spent the money for -liquor. The mother died, and her husband again -married in less than a month, and to a woman -who drank as much as he did. This was the home -of the two newsboys.</p> - -<p>“They both went to bed, nearly every night, -with their clothes on,” said the officer, “and what -the boys had to eat wasn’t fit for a dog.”</p> - -<p>The case was left entirely in the hands of the -young officers with instructions to report within -a month. In less than the appointed time a report -was made. The two newsboys were brought -into the president’s office, each having on a nice -suit of clothes, their faces and hands clean, and -their general appearance and deportment remarkably -improved.</p> - -<p>“What did you do?” was asked the officer.</p> - -<p>“We went to the house and demanded that the -boys receive care and attention for what they -were doing—they were bringing into the house -from fifty to sixty cents a day earned by selling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> -papers. And instead of the drunken man and -woman spending this for whiskey, we made them -buy good things to eat. A retail clothier gave us -the suits of clothes, and the boys are simply good, -and are working their way on the streets.”</p> - -<p>While the boys were working on this case the -president reported to the humane officer the condition -of things at this home, and in a very short -time the family was quite respectable and the boys -attending school. To the president, remarkable -as seemed the turning of two bad boys into good, -honest little sellers, the work of the two officers of -the association with the parents was even more -so.</p> - -<p>Self-governing boys. Boys whom we think -can do nothing, and seldom trust, for fear of failing, -and yet they brought in line two of the worst -cases Boyville had experienced.</p> - -<p>As the weeks passed the two boys became favorites -among their little friends.</p> - -<p>One afternoon about six or eight months after -the two boys became members, one of them, the -younger, came running into the president’s office, -holding a roll of bills in his hand. Everybody had -to get out of the way. He was followed by the -“gang,” some twenty boys, all looking at the little -fellow with wonderment.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-136.jpg" width="400" height="241" id="i96a" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">ROLL OF HONOR.<br /> -SOME OF THE BOYS WHO TURNED IN VALUABLE ARTICLES FOUND ON THE STREET.</p> -</div></div> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-138.jpg" width="400" height="272" id="i96b" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">THE BOYVILLE CADETS—WHEN FIRST ORGANIZED.</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_48">48</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> - -<p>“See, here, pres., what I found,” he said, laying -fifteen dollars on the desk. “I found this at -the post-office.”</p> - -<p>“And what do you want me to do with this?” -asked the president. “I wants you to find the -owner. That’s what.”</p> - -<p>“Well, why didn’t you blow it in? My! what -a fortune you have.”</p> - -<p>“Blow it in? Would that be honest? No, sir, -as soon as I found de dough I broughts it to you -to tell us what we must do wid it, see?”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” said the president, “and -you are teaching us all a good lesson. How often -we say; ‘it is just like finding it.’ and even grown -people wish they could find money, and would they -turn it over to someone, and ask him to please -find the owner? Not that they would think they -were doing anything wrong by keeping what they -found; they simply never thought of trying to -find the owner. You have done a great thing, -and here is a bright, new dollar, for your honesty. -I will advertise this in the daily papers for thirty -days, and if I can’t find the owner, it shall all go to -you.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> - -<p>Proudly they walked out of the office, all trying -to get closer to the happy finder, the honest -boy.</p> - -<p>The money was advertised, and in a few days -the rightful owner was found. He wanted to see -the newsboy. For his honesty he presented him -with five dollars, adding: “In six months I want -to see you in this hotel. In one year if you are -reported all right by the officers of the association -I want you to write me at this address.” And he -handed him his card, which gave Indianapolis, -Indiana, as his home. Six months passed. The -boy met him in the hotel. The officers reported -that he was one of the finest and best boys on the -street. A year passed, and one day he received -a letter requesting him to “take the next train for -Indianapolis, provided the president of Boyville -says you do not swear, steal, lie or smoke cigarettes.”</p> - -<p>The president could truthfully vouch for all -these, and the boy was sent to his new home. -Seven years have passed, and that boy today is -foreman of one of the largest manufacturing institutions -in the state of Indiana.</p> - -<p>What effect did the good work of these two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> -boys have upon the family? It caused them to -stand on the street posing as relatives to two honest -boys.</p> - -<p>Does it pay to take an interest in a bad boy?</p> - -<p>A boy of eleven years of age made application -to become a member. He was approved by the -proper officers. A sealed note accompanied the -application. It read: “He is accused of giving -wrong change to customers, and runs away with -money.”</p> - -<p>As soon as he received his membership card, -and badge, and left the president’s office two officers -were on his track. They watched him sell -papers. Three days passed when he “stumbled -against something.” A gentleman in the post-office -gave him twenty-five cents for a morning -paper. He had no change, but excused himself -to “step across the way to get it.” Instead of -going into the store the little boy started in a run -around the building and was lost from sight. -The gentleman made this remark to a friend: “I -might of expected it.” This was overheard by -two newsboys. One said: “Oh, no mister, your -money is not lost. We’ll have it for you in ten -minutes. Don’t you be uneasy. You stand right -where you are for a few minutes.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> - -<p>Out ran the boys, one going to the right, the -other to the left, and a third joined them who took -to the alley. In less than ten minutes the boy was -brought to bay, and appeared before the gentleman.</p> - -<p>An apology was given, the money returned.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you say anything to him,” said one of -the newsboys, “we won’t do a thing to him, oh, -no.” The man soon forgot the incident, and will -never know the severe punishment that boy had -to bear. They took him in the alley, bumped his -head against the wall of the building, rolled him -in the mud, took his badge from him and with a -parting word of advice left him. The badge was -turned over to the president with instructions to -return it to the boy at the expiration of fifteen -days. What for? The president did not know -and only learned the particulars a month later -from one of the officers. The boy called for his -badge, and it was given to him without a word.</p> - -<p>The books show that this same boy, after leaving -the junior grade in school procured a good -position and the proprietor particularly called -attention to him for a peculiar trait. He said: -“The boy applied for work, office work. We gave -him a job. He asked particularly how many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -hours he must work. When he began and when -he stopped. This given, we were surprised to -see that he was at the office every morning two -hours before his time, and pegging away at a -typewriter. His wages have been increased -three times. He’ll be one of the firm before we’re -through with him.</p> - -<p>“The only recommendation he had was that -he was a member of The Boyville Newsboys’ Association—and -this we took. In fact, it proved -a better recommendation than that offered by his -mother, who called to get part of his wages to -purchase whiskey.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> - -<p> </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p class="pc4 xlarge"><i>PART FOURTH</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-148.jpg" width="400" height="276" id="i104" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">MEMBERS OF THE EAST SIDE AUXILIARY.</p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XVII.</h2> - -<p>It was just before Christmas; the streets and -stores were crowded with people purchasing presents.</p> - -<p>An old lady was standing on the corner waiting -for a street car. In her hand she held a small -package, a Christmas present for someone. A -boy, about fourteen years of age, darted out from -a door-way, grabbed the package, hastened down -the street and dodged into an alley. A newsboy -who saw the act started after the thief, and as he -ran several other newsboys joined in the chase. -While they were gone another newsboy went to -the lady expressing regret at her loss, but assuring -her the boy who stole the package would be -caught.</p> - -<p>With tears in her eyes the old lady told the -boy that the box contained a number of presents -for a little girl who was confined to the house -on account of being a cripple for life. That the -purchase was the result of many weeks’ hard -work, sewing for some of her neighbors, that she -might earn the money to get a present for the -little girl.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Now, my lady,” said the newsboy, “don’t -you worry for a minute, one of our officers started -in a dead run after him and I know he will -catch him. We don’t allow anything like that to -happen. That boy don’t belong to the association.”</p> - -<p>The lady was escorted to a drug store where -people wait for cars, and advised to remain there -until the newsboys returned. She did not have -to wait long, for, in a short time, the officer returned -with a dozen newsies all trying to push -the “grafter” ahead of them. When in front of -the lady, he was made to hand her the package, -and get down upon his knees and ask her forgiveness. -The old lady was placed upon a street-car, -and the officers took charge of the boy. They -brought him to the president’s office.</p> - -<p>“Mr. President,” said a member of the executive -committee, “we have here a new boy. He -was pretending to sell papers on the streets, but -he proved to be a ‘grafter,’ for we caught him -stealing a package from an old lady who worked -all summer to save money to buy a Christmas -present for a little girl who is a cripple. We run -him down.” The boy hung his head. He was -under no obligations to any of the boys, and could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -have been independant over his capture but when -he was told the package belonged to a little cripple, -it had a strange effect upon him. He lost -sight of everything but the wrong done to the -little girl.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know it belonged to a cripple or I -wouldn’t have taken it. You see, we at home don’t -think nothing of taking things as we can get, we -believe in helping ourselves to anything we wants -when no body is looking. I am sorry I took the -present.”</p> - -<p>The boy lived in a bad neighborhood. His -father was dead, his mother had no influence over -him, he roamed the streets at will, and spent the -majority of his nights sleeping in freight-cars. -He was just the kind of a boy who grows up -along the docks of our lake cities, and takes advantage -of every opportunity to steal anything -he can use or care for without being detected, -from freight depots or cars. This is the class of -young men the association has been aiming to -reach for a long time. The selling of papers being -only a subterfuge for stealing. He was fifteen -years old and admitted having done many -bad things.</p> - -<p>“It is boys like you,” said the president, “who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> -disgrace any association, and while no one seems -to look after you, or want you, we will take you -into the association and the officers will have you -under their charge; what do you say to that?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I guess you have me down pretty fine, -and if I wants to ever get a job I must start my -life over again.”</p> - -<p>“The boys will forget this little package act, -and blot out all your bad deeds, if you will begin -a new life, and I will guarantee that in six -months, by the time warm weather comes, we -will get you a nice position.”</p> - -<p>“If I would have known that package belonged -to a little girl do you suppose I would have -swiped it?” he added.</p> - -<p>“It isn’t that alone we object to. Every time -you steal something someone suffers, and the only -way to avoid injuring any one is not to steal at -all,” said the president.</p> - -<p>“Aw! tell him to cut it out, cut it out, he kin -do it just the same as we do,” put in a little bootblack.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but you don’t have to go out on the -street and takes what ever you kin carry home, -like I do,” he replied.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Well, if your mother makes you do that we -won’t do a thing to her,” said a seller, who -claimed to own four corners.</p> - -<p>The conversation ended by the president giving -the new boy a membership card with instructions -that he must report in thirty days.</p> - -<p>Soon after he left the office, three members -of the executive committee hastened to his home. -The mother was warned that “this sending your -boy out to steal must stop, and stop quick.” They -listened to no arguments, simply gave advice and -orders, what must be done, and left.</p> - -<p>A month passes and the day named for the -new applicant to receive his badge, found him at -the president’s office, as is usual with boys, an -hour before office hours.</p> - -<p>“Gee, but I have lots of good friends. Some -of the boys took me to see a show, some let me -sell papers on their corners, but I had to cut out -swearing.”</p> - -<p>The numbered badge was given him.</p> - -<p>A member of the executive committee who -had him in charge reported:</p> - -<p>“He was hard to bring down to our way of -doin’ things. It was natural for him to steal as -to eat, and he wanted to give the wrong change<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> -two or three times. We licked him three times. -He was game. Give him his badge, he’s all -right.”</p> - -<p>Six months later this boy was given a position -in a wholesale house. He began on the top -floor to work his way up in the business.</p> - -<p>His eagerness to learn, his willingness to do -things not exactly as part of his duties caused -his employers to notice him and he was advanced, -in less than two years, to shipping clerk in one -of the departments.</p> - -<p>Here was a boy whose home life was degrading. -His neighbors paying no attention to -him or his family, except to say: “That boy ought -to be turned over to the police.” The newsboys, -the boys we often look upon as being bad and -useless, changed the life of this young man.</p> - -<p>He is now slowly becoming one of the reliable -business men of the future.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> - -<p>The president was about to board a street-car -for home one evening, when a dozen newsboys -came running towards him, calling him to -“come here.”</p> - -<p>“Bundle found fifty-six dollars,” was heard -from a bunch of sellers. The president, of course -had to return to his office.</p> - -<p>Bundle was a little round, red-faced boy, who -always wore a large scarf around his neck, and -in most any kind of weather. The sellers were -not surprised at any of their number finding -money but, said a bootblack:</p> - -<p>“What’s going to happen when slow-pokey -Bundle finds something?” But he did, and at -the enterance of one of the largest buildings in -the city.</p> - -<p>“There it was,” said Bundle, “all wide open -before my eyes, I stumbled over it and the money -scattered. Didn’t it Sam?”</p> - -<p>There was nothing in the roll to indicate -its owner. Some one accustomed to carrying -money in his vest pocket had lost it. As soon as -Bundle picked it up, he called to the boys across<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -the street and on the corners. A dozen boys answered -him, and they all marched towards the -president’s office. Each boy had something to say.</p> - -<p>“Say, pres., we come near losing you, didn’t -we?” said Bundle, “but if you did go home I -would have stayed up all night holding the dough -until you come to your office.”</p> - -<p>Bundle was rewarded, his companions were -as delighted as he was. A happier lot of boys -never walked the streets than these sellers.</p> - -<p>The next morning, Bundle, with five other -boys came into the office, their faces were long; -Bundle looked sad.</p> - -<p>“Bundle got a licking,” said one of the boys -looking sympathetically at Bundle. The president -looked surprised.</p> - -<p>“Got a licking, and what for?”</p> - -<p>“His mother licked him because he brought -the money to you. She said it belonged to her and -she could spend it as she liked.”</p> - -<p>It was a fact that Bundle was severely punished.</p> - -<p>“All the boys on the street saw me get a whipping,” -said Bundle, “and I don’t like it.”</p> - -<p>The boys were assured that all would come -out right in the end. “You just wait until we -hear from the advertisement we put in the papers,” -said the president.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-158.jpg" width="400" height="989" id="i112" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“FIRE-TOP.”</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_117">117</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> - -<p>The boys were soon playing upon the street.</p> - -<p>A prominent clothier saw the notice of the boy -finding the money and his desire to seek the -owner. He wrote the president: “If you will -send that honest boy to me I will present him -with the best suit of clothes in my store.”</p> - -<p>The mother accompanied Bundle to the store -and not only did he receive a new suit of clothes -but an overcoat as well.</p> - -<p>Within forty-eight hours after the find was -advertised the rightful owner appeared, received -the money, and presented the boy with a five -dollar bill and a good watch.</p> - -<p>“Keep this watch to remind you that if you -will follow up your honest beginning, you will -not only be a rich man, but a good one.”</p> - -<p>The object of relating this incident is the -sequel.</p> - -<p>The big head-line compliments in the newspapers; -the many little presents and congratulations -Bundle received had a surprising effect -upon his mother. She was proud of being the -boy’s mother. Her sons and daughters posed on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> -the corners and pointed with pride to their -brother.</p> - -<p>Not only did this act have a good effect on -the boy and the family, but upon the entire street, -as the remark is often heard, “this is the street -that has the honest newsboy.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XIX.</h2> - -<p>There are many interesting cases coming to -the attention of persons interested in newsboys, -and they all have a tendency to awaken sympathy.</p> - -<p>Two little boys, ages nine and ten, were -brought to the president one morning by an officer -of the association. They were accused of -fighting, “almost to a finish.”</p> - -<p>Between sobs and tears they both tried to -tell why they were fighting. While telling their -story, a boy about fourteen years of age entered -the office. He was also crying, but more seriously. -The president turned to him and sympathetically -asked, “what is the matter?” With -his hands rubbing his eyes he answered: “One -of the newsies run out of the alley and throwed -my papers into the gutter and they’re all spoiled.”</p> - -<p>“Where did the boy go?”</p> - -<p>“He runned away and left me alone.”</p> - -<p>“How many papers had you?”</p> - -<p>“I had four.”</p> - -<p>The two boys that were crying, forgot -their troubles and became interested in the other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -boy. Calling the two boys, the president asked -them if they would run out and try to find the bad -boy who threw the papers in the street. Of course -they were delighted to go. Taking the crying -fourteen-year-old newsboy by the hand, the little -fellows left the office.</p> - -<p>After waiting an hour, and no signs of the -boys returning, the president went upon the street -and to his surprise saw the two little boys, who -were to hunt down the villain, playing together.</p> - -<p>“Well, what was done with the boy who ruined -Joe’s stock of papers; did you find them?”</p> - -<p>“You see, we went to the alley, we looked -ebery place fur the kid as what threw de papers -into de gutter, but he had skipped. So me an’ -Skinny talked it over quickly an’ we just gave Joe -eight cents an’ told him to go home, to fade away, -to forget it. As de case wus settled we thought -it no use ter bother you wid dis trouble, an’ we -resumed our bizness.”</p> - -<p>Certainly a new way of settling troubles.</p> - -<p>There is a small boy who has the reputation -of being a little boss in the territory in which he -sells, owing to his desire to settle all disputes in -his own way. He goes upon the idea that it is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> -absolutely necessary to resort to pretty severe -punishment to gain a point.</p> - -<p>One evening a boy about fifteen years of age -came into the office, crying as a boy only can; the -tears found considerable trouble in working -their way down his cheeks, making his face look -as if furrows were established for a time at least. -On the left side of his forehead were several clear -spots, round in shape, which he pointed to with -considerable feeling. The president’s sympathy -was aroused, and to the question, how he was -hurt, he replied:</p> - -<p>“Firetop—licked—me. He—hit—me—with—his—fist.”</p> - -<p>Firetop was not over nine years of age, and -the president knew of his fighting qualities, but -somehow no one ever presented any charges -worthy of investigation. His name, the boys -said, “came to him on account of his red hair.” -His reputation for honesty was never questioned. -He was simply a fighter. He was one of the most -successful sellers on the street. Because he was -a “pusher, he went every place, and asked every -person he met to buy a paper.” While the boy -was telling his story, three other members<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> -dropped into the office. They stood for sometime -looking at the poor boy.</p> - -<p>“Do you boys know Firetop?” asked the president.</p> - -<p>“Certainly, we all know him.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you go out and try to find him and tell -him I want him to come here immediately.”</p> - -<p>Out the boys went and when on the sidewalk -started in different directions to find Firetop. -Ten minutes passed when Firetop came running -into the office. The boys had found him but he -was too fleet of foot for them.</p> - -<p>“Pres., they tell me you wants me, what fur?”</p> - -<p>“Look at that boy’s face,” said the president, -pointing to the injured lad who began to cry in -earnest.</p> - -<p>“I see it. I did it. But say, kid” turning to -the boy, “what did I do it fur. Look up at me; -say, what did I do it fur?”</p> - -<p>“For nothin’,” came a faint reply.</p> - -<p>“Come off, I hain’t going ’round doin’ things -fur nothin’. Answer me, you kin talk, what did -I do it fur?”</p> - -<p>No reply.</p> - -<p>“Didn’t I punch you fur swearing at a lady?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was some moments before the boy answered, -and he drawled out, “yes.”</p> - -<p>Firetop then told the story. The boy was -selling papers on the street, he asked a lady to -buy a paper, and because she refused he swore -at her, using language seldom seen in print.</p> - -<p>“I heard it, an’ I told him it was against the -rules, an’ if he didn’t cut it out I would punk him. -What did he do but swore at me. He violated -the rules before my face. I punked, gently at -first, an’ then I punked him again. He ran into -the alley, I followed him, an’ de boys come from -the street, I told them he was my game, an’ I -punked him again. I told all the boys I would -punk de gang ef they came to help him. Say, -pres., wasn’t I right in punking him?” The boy -acknowledged he swore and Firetop kept at him -until he promised he would never do it again. -This was accomplished with very little trouble. -The boy’s face was washed and as there was no -traces of a wound the matter was amicably settled. -The boys left the office, good friends.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XX.</h2> - -<p>This incident recalls another case of -swearing, and the peculiar method adopted -to correct a boy, as well as to influence a -family to train their son in the right path. -One reason why so many boys swear is because -they constantly hear men swear on the -streets. At Sunday-school the boy learns that -he is violating one of the commandments. But -men pay no attention to it, then why should boys? -Boys are imitative. They want to do what men -do. It is seldom that we hear of a mother approving -of her boy swearing and encouraging -him in this, certainly vulgar habit. This method -used by the president in curing a boy of swearing, -may not meet the approval of many of our Sunday-school -teachers, and it is given with some -reluctance. It is given, however, to show what -can be done in extreme cases.</p> - -<p>“Are you the president of the Newsboys’ association?” -asked a boy with a very pretty face.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and what can I do for you?”</p> - -<p>“I want to join the association.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-168.jpg" width="400" height="604" id="i120" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“HE SWEARED AT A LADY AND I PUNKED HIM.”</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_118">118</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> - -<p>The usual questions were asked and answered. -He proved to be a carrier and had -twenty-eight customers. A membership card was -given the boy with instructions to call in thirty -days and get the badge.</p> - -<p>The boy left the office perfectly happy. In -about a week he returned, walked to the desk and -laid his membership card down, saying: “My -mother says I can swear all I want to, and you -have nothing to do with it. You must not tell -me to stop swearing.”</p> - -<p>The president turned around, looked at the -boy for a moment, discovered he was unusually -bright, and back behind his black eyes he showed -the right kind of spirit indicating that if he made -up his mind to do a thing he would do it.</p> - -<p>“So your mother wants you to swear. Well, -well, and she don’t want you to belong to any -association unless we all swear. Well, you shall -not be made unhappy. If your mother wants you -to swear you shall have that pleasure. Does -she swear?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, we all swear to beat the band,” he -replied, and in a tone indicating that it was one -of the pleasures of his home life.</p> - -<p>“And don’t any of you think it wrong to -swear?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Oh, no, father says he can swear and it gives -force to his arguments. Mother says if I want -to swear I can do it.”</p> - -<p>“This association compels no one to stop -swearing—the rule adopted by the boys simply -says we don’t believe in it. And the officers -wouldn’t for the world have you do anything to -displease your parents.</p> - -<p>“How many swear words do you know?”</p> - -<p>He thought for a moment counting on his fingers, -then said:</p> - -<p>“I know seven.”</p> - -<p>“Seven big swear words, well, well, and can -you name them to me?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, all of them and I may know another.”</p> - -<p>“All right. Try it. One, two, three, four, -five, six; my! that’s an awful bad one, and—and—seven. -There they are.”</p> - -<p>In repeating the words, his manner showed -he was familiar with their use. Not a blush rose -to his cheeks.</p> - -<p>“Do you want to be a member of this association?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, all my friends are members and -they want me to join.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I will pin your card before me, on the desk. -See?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, I see it.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I will let it remain there until you call -for it, either to tell me to tear it up or you take it. -Now, here is what I want you to do. And this -not unless you want to. You go home, and every -time your mother wants you to do something use -one of those seven swear words, and say it loud -enough so she can hear it. Keep this up until she -tells you to stop that swearing.”</p> - -<p>“I will do it, but suppose she licks me, then -what?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that would hardly be in keeping with -her teachings, she wants you to swear, doesn’t -she?”</p> - -<p>“Sure thing, she never licks me for swearing.”</p> - -<p>“Do you want to stop it and become a member -of the association? Well, you try this plan, -and if you can, throw the entire lot at her, the -seven words, all at once.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll try it. It looks easy.”</p> - -<p>The boy left the office with a hearty “goodby.”</p> - -<p>The following Saturday he returned. He -stood smiling at the desk.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> - -<p>“You can give me the membership card,” he -said laughing.</p> - -<p>Recognizing him the president shook him by -the hand.</p> - -<p>“Well, I have been wondering what luck you -had in swearing.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I had luck. Only got licked seven -times.”</p> - -<p>“Got licked, and by whom?”</p> - -<p>“Well, you would think the whole house fell -on top of me. Father said, send that boy down to -you at once, but mother licked me until I saw -stars. I’ll never swear again in our home. She -stopped it. She said she never heard such terrible -swearing and when I said I learned it of her, I -got the seventh licking. Gee, but I was sore for -a week. Mother told me the first thing this morning -to come after that card.”</p> - -<p>“What did you do when you first went home?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I threw those seven swear words right -at her, and, from the very beginning. She looked -at me several times. I backed up, and when she -asked me a question, I let fly the worst word, then -I had to run.”</p> - -<p>“What did your father say?”</p> - -<p>“He only said, ‘didn’t I tell you that some day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> -that boy would disgrace us, now it’s up to you to -straighten it out,’ and when they knew I told you -why the card was sent back, that changed everything. -I’ve been down here four times, father -made me go.”</p> - -<p>His name was placed upon the books, a badge -was given him, “with a lucky number,” and he -left the office.</p> - -<p>A month later the president met him at one -of the auxiliary meetings, and to the question, -“How about the seven swear words,” he said:</p> - -<p>“We busted up swearing at our house. Everybody -had to stop it.”</p> - -<p>No better worker on the street can be found -than this boy. His whole soul is in the work for -doing good among his associates.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> - -<p> </p> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p class="pc4 xlarge"><i>PART FIFTH</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-178.jpg" width="400" height="271" id="i128a" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">CARRIERS.</p> -</div></div> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-180.jpg" width="400" height="276" id="i128b" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">CARRIERS.</p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXI.</h2> - -<p>There is no subject that has received so much -attention and has worried so many good people -as the liquor question. Saloons and drinking -never cease to be problems for our well-meaning -temperance people. Why man created saloons, -no one undertakes to answer. The strongest man -is never too strong in a saloon, and the weak is -to be pitied. The saloon is an evil that has been -with us a long time and seems to be here to stay -in one form or another. While we cannot eradicate -the evil, especially by extreme methods, -can we not modify its influence? We have tried -the probation method, and failed. We have tried -the open saloon, the clubs, the no-treating, the -open reform saloon, the wet and dry division—but -the saloons are still with us, and this because of -the fact that the state, the city, property owners, -recognize the saloon legally, through the assessment -of heavy licenses and taxes, and good well-meaning -people ask and receive money from the -ever-willing giver, the saloonman, and use it for -charitable as well as church purposes. The world -today is heartless in its mad rush for money getting,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -and the “graft” is in the minds of thousands -of well-meaning, but over-anxious to get-rich-quick -men; among them the saloonman. Let us -suggest to our saloonmen how they can stop a -great deal of misery in the world. We have in -mind a saloon that was “made good” by five newsboys. -“A real live saloon, where politicians congregated -to lay plans for work, and whose owner -had an eye to making money, and saw nothing -else, even to the ruining of boys and men.”</p> - -<p>“Say, pres.,” said a newsboy from the saloon -district, and an officer of an auxiliary, “Jimmy -Smith is drunk and laying in the alley at the -saloon where politicians hold their meetin’s. The -bar-tender throwed him out.”</p> - -<p>The books showed Jimmy Smith’s father was -a “ward politician,” a good fellow who was often -taken home drunk by his son, a newsboy. Jimmy -was eleven years old, very bright and intelligent -for his age. He learned to drink liquor through -his father and mother sending him to the saloon -for beer, and “dropping in the alley on the way -home and tasting the beer, until he began to -like it.”</p> - -<p>To the question, “did you ever see Jimmy -drink in the saloon?” the boys answered that it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -was a common thing; “but today when the bar-tender -took Jimmy’s nickel, and he was full, he -throwed him out. He said he didn’t want the -kid to disgrace his place.”</p> - -<p>Three of the best officers were called, they -went to the alley, and took Jimmy home. Three -of the five boys who were assigned this case, belonged -to a gang and were familiar with all the -inside workings of a saloon, they were never slow -in showing their appreciation of a saloonman who -defended them, and who turned them down for -entering the saloon. The method adopted by the -boys was their work. They knew the proprietor -of the saloon, and knew him to be a very kind-hearted -man. No person ever asked him in vain -for a donation to any cause. His own boys were -model young men, stood high in school, and associated -with the best of church members. -Strange to say the two sons of the saloonman -were regular at Sunday-school. It is a fact that -when any society, church or other organization -desired aid, this saloonman was sought after by -a dozen persons. They knew he was easy. This -man in his home, on the street, in the lodge room -(and he belonged to many societies), in any public<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> -gathering, was recognized as an honest man; -but behind the bar he saw nothing but money.</p> - -<p>He never thought he was doing a wrong by -taking the last cent from a drunken man; it was -business, and that was why he was there. When -reminded of it he simply replied that, “I might -as well have it as any one else, for someone will -get it.” Often he said: “He is bound to drink -and the best way is to let him drink up all his -money and that is an end of it.”</p> - -<p>When the newsboys called upon him to plead -for their friend, Jimmy, they were received with, -“the utmost attention and kindness.” The following -is what the chairman reported:</p> - -<p>“We said to the boss, we come to see you -about Jimmy Smith and his father. You see -Jimmy has been in bad company, the bad company -was at his home, his father an’ mother. He -learned the habit of drinking by tasting beer he -was sent after by his father, and he said when he -learned to drink that your clerk gave him a glass -of beer every time he came after it. So the other -day your bar-tender threw him out of the saloon. -He had gradually taught the boy to drink, and -when he began to get so that it annoyed him, he -didn’t want him. We come to see if you won’t<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> -please stop giving Jimmy any more drink and tell -your man to throw him out of the saloon before -he drinks. We’ll stand for that, but we won’t -stand for his pitching him in the alley when he’s -got all of Jimmy’s money and is drunk. As to -his father, we don’t want you to sell him anything -when you see he has enough. Don’t take the last -cent he has when you know he is full already. -Send him home. His family needs every cent. -And don’t sell Jimmy any beer if he comes with -the bucket.”</p> - -<p>The boys were treated with great kindness -by the owner of the saloon who promised to do -more than they asked of him. His bar-tenders -were instructed, under penalty of dismissal, not -to permit a newsboy in the saloon.</p> - -<p>“I realize the wrong being done to the boys,” -he said to the president, “and it is through -thoughtlessness that we permit the boys to come -here at all. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. One of my -relatives has an interest in a commercial college. -I’ll buy this boy, Jimmy, a scholarship if he’ll go -to school.”</p> - -<p>Jimmy was only too glad to accept.</p> - -<p>Two years pass, and Jimmy is about to graduate -from the college. The manager said: “I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -have four men after this boy. He has the right -kind of push in him to make a splendid business -man.”</p> - -<p>Four years later Jimmy received a monthly -salary of $100, and during that time has assisted -in helping many a street boy.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXII.</h2> - -<p>At one of the auxiliary meetings the vice-president -of the association, who was always -practical in his talks to the boys, gave a little advice -to the sellers.</p> - -<p>It is worth remembering.</p> - -<p>“Boys,” he said, “rain or shine be at your -post, at your corner. Never be out of papers, and -never be out of change. Many a good boy who -needs money loses a sale for want of having -change. Keep your eye peeled. If a man wants -a paper, you should see it, though he is a square -away. I know of one little boy, smaller than those -who were selling with him, who always saw a -customer a block away, and when the evening’s -work was over he generally had ten to twenty -cents to the clear more than others. Be polite -and always cheerful. Keep your face and hands -clean, and you will get many an extra nickel. If -you are polite and civil you will get a regular line -of customers who will always wait for you. Thank -everyone who buys a paper. Tip your hat to the -ladies and they will speak well of you when they -get home. Any little favor you can do for a man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> -or woman on the street (and not look as though -you expect something), will always bring you -business. The wind blew off the hat of a gentleman -one day, and a little seller saw it. Quick as -a flash he ran after it, took his own cap to wipe -the dirt off the gentleman’s hat, and handed it to -him. The gentleman said: ‘How many papers -you got?’ ‘Twenty-four, sir,’ said the boy. ‘Give -them all to me.’”</p> - -<p>On the membership card it reads: “He does -not approve of swearing, etc.”</p> - -<p>A probation member, a boy who received his -membership card, and had thirty days to wait for -his badge, brought an old member to the president, -one evening, with this plea.</p> - -<p>“President, this boy swears like hell. I heard -him on the corner.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, what you given us, you swear yourself.” -replied the accused.</p> - -<p>“Yes that’s all right. Tell me something; -how would I know what swearing was if I didn’t -know something about it,” proudly answered -the new member.</p> - -<p>“Well, you have no right to bring me here and -accuse me of doing what you yourself do. Read -your card, kid, read your card.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-190.jpg" width="400" height="483" id="i136" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">FIRST SALE OF THE DAY.</p> -</div></div> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> - -<p>Without showing any signs of worry, the little -fellow said.</p> - -<p>“President what can you expect of a bationist. -When I get my badge things will be different. -I cuts swearing out then.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but you better wait instead of buttin in -before you are a live member,” said the carrier.</p> - -<p>They talked some time about the matter between -themselves and finally they locked arms, -slowly walked out of the office saying:</p> - -<p>“Guess we better cut out swearing all -around.”</p> - -<p>The following story illustrates a good method -of treating boys who disobey their parents. It -may not meet the approval of many fathers and -mothers, but the sequel has in it the success of -the work among the street-boys. We regret that -we cannot give due credit to the author for the -suggestions embodied in the story.</p> - -<p>A young boy was left alone in the yard to -play. Everybody had gone and left the house in -his care. He was given the key and told not to -enter the house until the family returned. After a -while he became tired of the birds, the flowers, the -the trees, the sunshine. The spirit of disobedience -entered into him and slowly he took his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -way to the house. He unlocked the door. The -first thing met his eye was his father’s razor. He -had always been forbidden to touch it. But the -spirit of license ran riot in his veins, and in using -it he cut his face until the blood trickled down. -Next he made his way to a matchbox. He had -always been told to let it alone. He first built -fences with matches on the floor, then fires under -the lace curtains. A hole in the carpet, ruined -curtains and his fingers blistered was the result. -Suffering with pain and ashamed of his disobedience -he steals out under the trees, and like -Adam in the garden, he thought he could hide -his sins by hiding himself. So he stole away and -crawled under some bushes. When his father -came home, discovered the ruined articles, he -thought, what can be done to restore and mend -that which his boy had broken, had ruined? His -razor was broken, but he could buy a new one. -His matches were consumed, but he could buy -more. The curtains and carpet were defaced by -fire, but they could be replaced and repaired. -Wealth could repair the damage done to the -house and make all as before. Skill and nature -could repair the wrong done to the hand and the -face, and make them as they were before.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> - -<p>But where were the riches and where was the -teacher that could make the boy’s heart as it was -before his disobedience? None could be found. -Let me tell you what happened. The father came -not to upbraid, but to entreat; not to chastise, but -to weep; The child’s hand was burned, the -father’s heart was broken. The boy cried for -shame, the father cried for sorrow. The father -put his arms about the boy and with his head upon -his breast together they sobbed out their sorrow. -One part of it was the boy’s confession, and the -other part of it was the father’s pain. Together -they made a new resolution and hand to hand, -and heart to heart, and love to love, they began -together to repair the ruin that had been -wrought.</p> - -<p>During the early stages of a boy’s membership -he is constantly reminded that some day he -will leave the street, he will seek employment -elsewhere, and his start in a business life depends -upon his street work. To illustrate this teaching, -a boy found a small child’s savings bank. It -was filled with money, small coin; and it was -heavy. It was picked up on the street over a mile -from the president’s office. As soon as found, the -boy started on a run, as they always do, for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> -office. It was delivered with the usual instruction -“to please find the owner.” To try the newsie -the president called him aside and said, in a confidential -whisper: “Why didn’t you sneak around -the corner, into an alley, any place where no one -could see you, and take a stone break the old bank -all to pieces, take the money, and, my, what a -good time you could have had.”</p> - -<p>The boy quickly replied: “No, sir, Mr. President, -suppose I wanted a job, and stood in line to -be questioned by the man, and he would ask, have -you always been honest? What would I say? -Why! my face would show I did something -wrong—I took a little bank from some poor boy, -and he would say, I don’t want a boy I would -have to be afraid of; no that don’t belong to me.”</p> - -<p>This plainly shows what can be successfully -impressed upon the minds of these hustling, seemingly -thoughtless, street-boys. And when the -owner of that bank proved to be a little girl—and -how happy she was when it was found and returned -to her, the boy said: “I would rather have -the girl’s smiles than all the money the bank contained.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p class="pc4 xlarge"><i>PART SIXTH</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> - -<p>From the very beginning of the Boyville association -there has scarcely been a day without -something of importance transpiring among the -boys. It has been gradually building up, incidents -and noble acts showing the willingness of these -boys not only to do right themselves but to assist -others.</p> - -<p>The work so humbly begun in 1892, with one -hundred or more members, mostly the poorest -boys of the streets, little outcasts, as they are -often called, developed so rapidly under the self-governing -plan, that in the early part of the year -1905 the books of the Boyville Newsboys’ Association -showed a membership of over three thousand -boys under fourteen years of age. This enrollment -includes two hundred and fifty boys who -started with the association as sellers and shiners -of shoes, but who today have graduated from the -street. The majority of this number are engaged -in some business, lawyers, doctors, commercial -travelers, clerks or working in some trade, and -all ambitious not only to earn a living for themselves -but also to lend a helping hand to those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> -who are in need, ever having in mind the teachings -of the association. The following will show -how well some of the principles have been remembered -and how long they remained intact.</p> - -<p>Early in January of 1905, a young man -brought to the president an old pocket-book containing -twenty-two dollars and sixty cents ($22.60), -together with some letters, the contents of -which revealed the fact that the owner was a poor -woman and had been visiting her relatives to secure -assistance in raising money to pay taxes, -long since due, on her home. Names were given, -but no residence.</p> - -<p>The president said to the young man: “You -know we advertise what the boys find in the daily -papers and do everything we can to seek the -owner and—”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” replied the young man, “I know -all this and have been through it many years ago. -That is just what I want you to do, please try to -find the rightful owner. I want no compensation, -and I don’t want my name mentioned in any -way.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-200.jpg" width="400" height="269" id="i144" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">LINING UP READY TO GO TO CHURCH.</p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> - -<p>As it was necessary to know who the finder -was, so that after the expiration of thirty days -the money could be returned to him, he finally -gave his name and address. When he had left -the office, something about his eyes reminded the -president that he had seen him, somewhere many -years ago. Bringing out the Newsboys’ book he -found among the first names recorded eleven -years ago, this young man’s. Following the name -was: “Seller, and shiner, age eleven, poor parents, -smart boy,” and on leaving the street, as a -seller, became a graduate member. So, he was a -newsboy eleven years ago, and still retained the -desire to do something for others.</p> - -<p>About a week after the money was advertised, -a very aged lady called. She minutely described -the contents of the pocket-book; she said: “I was -returning from a visit to my son, where I went to -get $22.60 to pay taxes on my home. This -amount included some back taxes. The property -was already advertised for sale. What to do -when I lost that money I did not know. My mental -suffering was most intense. I walked from -the depot towards the court house and did not -miss my pocket-book until I crossed the bridge. -Yes, this is mine.”</p> - -<p>During the recital of her story her eyes were -filled with tears, and she showed the mental -strain under which she was laboring. When the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -pocket-book and the money were handed to her, -the change in her demeanor was beautiful to behold. -When the young man was told to whom -the money belonged and the great good it did, -he said:</p> - -<p>“No money reward could pay me for this. I -am only too glad we found the owner, especially -as it belonged to so poor a woman.”</p> - -<p>Does it pay to be a life-member of The Boyville -Newsboys’ Association?</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> - -<p>The finding of valuable articles and turning -them over to the president, with a request to find -the owner, is not a rule of the association.</p> - -<p>All these little acts have a tendency to cultivate -a desire to assist others and many times violations -of the rules are corrected by members -who are not officers.</p> - -<p>At almost any time of the day can be seen a -man with a two-wheeled cart, slowly circulating -around newspaper offices, especially about the -time the dailies are out. The newsies purchase -a penny’s worth of ice cream, or cheap candies, -and often these old men become quite confidential -friends of certain boys—particularly the shiners, -who are on the street almost constantly. One -time a new member, a bootblack, a boy about -fourteen years of age, before he understood the -secret workings of the association, had a dispute -with a vendor of ice cream and peanuts, about the -loss of several sacks of peanuts. The boy was -accused of stealing the peanuts. “Yes, you didn’t -see me steal ’em,” said the shiner, “an if you don’t -catch a feller, how youse goin’ to prove it?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> - -<p>The boy was about to leave the wagon, when -several sellers came to him.</p> - -<p>“Say, Muddy Water,” cried one of the boys, -“we seed you steal the peanuts. You must settle -wid de ole man.”</p> - -<p>The boy came back, but pleaded that he did -not have any money.</p> - -<p>“All right, we’ll chip in an’ pay de debt.”</p> - -<p>The money was raised, and the boy was required -to pay for the stolen peanuts and make an -apology.</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry, but I didn’t know it was again’ -the rules of the association,” he said.</p> - -<p>“Of course it’s again the rules, an’ it’s our -business to give all new members warning when -they do things like that. Don’t do it any more.”</p> - -<p>This was a warning well heeded as after -events proved.</p> - -<p>One of the greatest benefits gained by the -newsboys in belonging to the association is the -securing of suitable positions; for boys, as they -grow older, naturally leave the street work.</p> - -<p>Wholesale as well as retail men, frequently -ask for good, honest boys. During the twelve -years existence of Boyville it has been the delight -of the president to secure some two hundred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> -places for newsboys. With all this great number -it is a pleasure to state that not one in fifty proved -unworthy of the positions, or unfitted for the kind -of work. The majority of boys for whom -positions were secured were from very poor parents, -mostly widowed mothers, needing their -assistance.</p> - -<p>Unless a person is familiar with street -boys, no conception can be formed of their energy -and determination in following up anything -they want.</p> - -<p>A young man, who had outgrown newsboy’s -work called upon the president and wanted a position -as brakeman on one of the railroads.</p> - -<p>He was kindly informed by the president that -he knew the superintendent of the road he wished -to work for had already over five hundred applications -from young men wanting to be brakemen. -Instead of asking the president to see the -superintendent, as is generally done, he said:</p> - -<p>“Please give me the name of the man who -does the employing of brakemen. I want to see -him. I think I can show him he wants me.”</p> - -<p>“I am afraid it won’t be of any use, but I -like your pluck. Here is a note to him.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> - -<p>This note simply said the bearer was an honest -young man.</p> - -<p>A few days later the young man called.</p> - -<p>“Well, I got a job. I’m brakeman on one of -the fast trains.”</p> - -<p>This he secured through his own tact, for this -certainly was necessary. His street experience -taught him to hustle for himself, and it became -part of his nature as he grew older. He did not -sit down and wait for something to come his way, -for something to turn up. He turned up something -for himself.</p> - -<p>His frank and honorable method of working -the superintendent, his earnest but manly appeal, -his push, his politeness, his tact, secured for him -what five hundred young men were “waiting to -receive by letter.” When the matter was referred -to the superintendent he said: “His every action -showed he was a willing worker and not afraid -to work overtime if necessary. He works as -though he owned the entire road.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXV.</h2> - -<p>Commercial men, some of our best merchants, -sometimes, in their eagerness to make money, forget -the first principles of honesty, and often make -assertions that upon second thought they would -not make. Sometimes in their advertising they -will say things which they would never think of -saying under other circumstances, though lying -in business matters is equally as dishonorable as -in private life. The relations between the public -and the merchant, as well as between master and -servant, must rest on mutual respect and confidence. -Here is an illustration, by a close observer, -a boy fourteen years of age.</p> - -<p>Walking along one of the principal streets, a -newsboy noticed the following sign, in large type, -in a show window and attached to some article -for sale. It read: “Regular price, one hundred -dollars. Our price, twenty-nine dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Say, president,” said the boy, “is that man -telling the truth when he says a twenty-nine dollar -article is worth one hundred dollars?”</p> - -<p>It was a question that required a wise answer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> -but put it in any business way possible, nothing -could satisfy the boy that it was strictly honest.</p> - -<p>“When I go into business,” said the seller, -“you bet I’ll not fool the public; when I say a -thing is worth so much it will be worth that -much.”</p> - -<p>What time would develop, what changes come -over this young man, no one could tell, but the -right principle had a good hold of the boy, and it -meant success and a clear conscience during his -manhood.</p> - -<p>That the success of the association does not -depend upon the efforts of the officers entirely, -will be seen by the following:</p> - -<p>Three newsboys called upon the president; -two of them were leading a ragged little fellow -with a shining-box thrown over his shoulder.</p> - -<p>“Say, president,” said one of them, “here’s a -boy shining shoes on the market an’ the way he -swears is puttin’ men out o’ business.”</p> - -<p>The accused bootblack was a sight. To the -question where he lived he replied: “I have no -home. My father’s dead an’ my mother, she’s -no good. There’s no room fur me in the house.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-210.jpg" width="400" height="613" id="i152" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">THE TOUGH FROM MARKET SPACE.</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_152">152</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> - -<p>By further questioning it was learned that the -clothes he had on were given to him some two -months ago and had not been taken off since he -put them on. This may seem strange, but it is -only one of the dozen of cases where parents do -not require the removal of their boy’s clothes -when they go to bed.</p> - -<p>The peculiar odor coming from boys who are -treated in this shameful manner will prove this. -This boy walked from a neighboring city, or stole -a ride on some freight-train. He had been shining -shoes around the market-space for a month -or more, and declared that to be in the push, to -be recognized by men, and to secure business, it -was necessary to swear and be tough.</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t be a bootblack,” he said, “if I -couldn’t swear, the men wouldn’t shine if I -didn’t.”</p> - -<p>The newsboys who frequented the market -were very much put out by this boy’s swearing -and general tough appearance, so when opportunity -favored they began their missionary work, -with the result of persuading the shiner to accompany -them to the president’s office.</p> - -<p>The boy had a very attractive face. He was -worth saving.</p> - -<p>“So, you come to see me about joining the association,” -said the president.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> - -<p>The boy replied: “The boys say I can make -more money if I cut out swearin’ an’ belong to -the association.”</p> - -<p>“They tell me you swear and sometimes don’t -know how to give correct change to your customers. -If that’s so you are just the kind of a boy -we want. You little hustling fellows make our -best young men. You don’t wait until someone -comes to you for a shine. I have seen you follow -a man who had red shoes a whole square. You -will make a good business man, and these little -boys, friends of yours, are just the kind of boys -who will help you, will bring you business, will -tell you where to get something good to eat, and -I think we can throw away your old ragged -clothes and get a new suit, how would you like -that?”</p> - -<p>His face had a surprised look. He didn’t expect -some one to offer anything of interest to -him, he expected to get lectured, to be “talked -goodygood to,” as he afterwards said.</p> - -<p>“Well, you see, mister,” said the boy with -some familiarity, “we can’t do business on the -street unless we do as men do. They swear at -us an’ we must swear at them or we lose the -shine.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> - -<p>“How often do men swear at you?”</p> - -<p>“How often? I can’t count ’em. Every other -word.”</p> - -<p>“Well, it doesn’t sound nice, does it?”</p> - -<p>“No, an’ I could cut it out.”</p> - -<p>“Sure thing he can cut it out, an’ we’ll be -right behind to see that he forgets it,” put in one -of the newsies.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll start you in the association,” said -the president, “but I don’t want you to be too -good to start with. Sometimes you may forget -what the card means, and you will swear before -you know it, but don’t let that worry you, the next -time you will do better and forget it. But when -you get the badge, in thirty days, then you mustn’t -swear at all, for if you do the officers will be right -after you and your name will be on a list that -means something when you get older and want -a position in some big store.”</p> - -<p>The membership card was given to him, a -new suit of clothes was furnished by a kind -hearted clothier, and the boys—including the -chairman of the executive committee—took the -boy home. When his mother discovered some one -took an interest in him, she began to think he -amounted to something, and from that time on,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> -he received attention. At the expiration of thirty -days the numbered badge was given to him and -he started on his new life.</p> - -<p>In the fall of the same year this bootblack -was unanimously elected as an officer of Boyville, -and is one of the best boys on the street. Two -months later he brought to the president a gold -watch, worth forty-two dollars and fifty cents. -The owner was found, and insisted upon seeing -the young man. He was sent, with the watch, to -him. The wealthy lawyer handed him ten cents, -and gave him some good advice. The boy returned -the money saying:</p> - -<p>“No, Mister, you keep this, you need it more -than I do.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> - -<p>Among the great number of boys who called -at the office, none cast such a ray of sunshine -about him as a little seller known as Sunny Willie, -on account of the smile he always seemed to have. -But with all his good nature and kindness of -heart, he, at times, became very serious.</p> - -<p>One evening after the boys had sold their papers -and were enroute to their homes, Sunny -Willie, as was often his habit, called upon the -president to say good night. Just as he was leaving -the office, two boys walked in and the loud -talking between them indicated trouble. Willie -concluded to remain. Leaning against the desk -he became a very attentive listener. The smile -had left him. He looked thoughtful.</p> - -<p>“I know you’re wrong,” said one of the boys, -“you’re talking to hear yourself talk. You are -looking fur trouble. That’s what you are. I ken -prove it. I ken show you I wasn’t on the corner -fur a week.” “That’s right,” replied the other -boy, “why wasn’t you there fur a week, because -you stole the papers from the poor old woman and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -was ashamed to sell ’round the corner. Now, -come off, you took de papers.”</p> - -<p>At the corner of the post-office is a small stand -kept by a woman, who has been engaged in selling -papers for a number of years. One morning, -some papers were missing from a bundle lying -upon the sidewalk. The boy accused usually sold -papers on the corner and his absence for several -mornings gave rise to the suspicion that he either -took the papers or knew something about them.</p> - -<p>“As I said before,” continued the accused boy, -“I did not steal the papers, an’ you got no proof -to show I did.”</p> - -<p>There was silence for some moments when -Sunny Willie, said, in a whisper, to the president:</p> - -<p>“I saw de kid take the papers. Shall I butt -in?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, you arbitrate the case—settle it,” replied -the president.</p> - -<p>The usual smile was still missing when Willie -said, quietly:</p> - -<p>“Sand the track, you’re slipping.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” asked the boy, his face -becoming very red.</p> - -<p>“You know the rule of the association is to -warn a boy when he’s slipping; when he’s doin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>’ -something wrong. When I say, sand the track, -I mean you can’t go forward, you go backward, -and some one must help you or you slide back, -see? I’m the fellow who’s ready to stop you from -sliding. I saw you take the papers.”</p> - -<p>The accused was surprised. He could not -talk. Sunny Willie again came to his rescue.</p> - -<p>“I’ll give you these pennies,” he said, and the -smile returned to his pretty face. In his little -hand he held ten new pennies.</p> - -<p>“Now, didn’t you take the papers?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but I intended to return the money for -them, or make it all right with the old woman.”</p> - -<p>“Come,” he continued addressing Willie, “I’ll -go with you and we’ll make it all right.”</p> - -<p>Out the three boys went and they were soon -talking with the old woman. Shortly, Sunny -Willie returned to the office.</p> - -<p>“If I hadn’t a put sand on his track he would -have slipped way back,” he said to the president, -“Everything’s all right. He will never steal papers -again.”</p> - -<p>Another little seller, a favorite on the street -among business men, one of whom the president -often purchases a paper to please the newsboy, -came running into the office one evening and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -throwing his bundle upon the lap of the president -said:</p> - -<p>“Here, pres., hold these papers until I go into -the hotel to get a drink of water.”</p> - -<p>The act was done so quickly the president -found the big bundle on his lap before he really -understood the wishes of the newsie, but he -quickly returned, took the papers, and said, as he -hastened out:</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Mr. President.”</p> - -<p>The confidence this boy had in the president -was appreciated, not only by him but by those -who witnessed the act.</p> - -<p>It has always been a source of great pleasure, -to the president and his associates, to see how -deeply interested the officers of the association -become, as the following will show.</p> - -<p>Three officers were walking on one of the principal -streets casually looking in the show-windows -when they heard music; looking ahead they saw a -newsboy, a seller, walking along, playing a -mouth-organ. Coming to him, it was noticed the -instrument was an unusually fine one, and a new -one.</p> - -<p>“That mouth-organ is too expensive for that -boy, there’s something wrong,” said one of the -officers.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-220.jpg" width="400" height="642" id="i160" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">DIVIDING THE PAPERS.</p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Where did you get that organ,” was asked -the newsie.</p> - -<p>“I buyed it at Smith’s store, down yonder,” -was the reply.</p> - -<p>“Well, I guess, not. You never had so much -money. Come on with us and show us where -you bought it.”</p> - -<p>They walked to the corner when the boy said:</p> - -<p>“I didn’t buy it there, I bought it down on -Monroe street,” giving the correct name of a -store on that street.</p> - -<p>“All, right, come along, we’ll go down there.”</p> - -<p>Around the corner they started and when -within a block of the street the boy again changed -the place of purchase.</p> - -<p>“I buyed it of Mr. Jones, way out on this -street.”</p> - -<p>That was five blocks away.</p> - -<p>“Now this is the last time,” said one of the -officers, “if you change the place again, look out.”</p> - -<p>But when they had walked four squares the -boy again made an effort to change.</p> - -<p>“No, you don’t my chappy,” said one of the -officers, “We know you stole it. We knew it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> -from the first. Now you own to the truth or we -will take you to the president, and then what?”</p> - -<p>The boy squirmed considerable, but every -movement gave evidence that he stole it.</p> - -<p>“Now, where did you get it?” was bluntly -asked, as the boy was backed up against a building.</p> - -<p>This was too much for him. He owned he -“hooked it.” Naming a prominent department -store as the place he took it.</p> - -<p>“You must go with us, hand it to the proprietor -and beg his pardon,” said the officers.</p> - -<p>This at first seemed a most difficult task, but -when they promised to accompany him to the -store he agreed.</p> - -<p>When at the door of the great store he asked -the officers to step aside.</p> - -<p>“If I do this you will not tell the president, -will you?”</p> - -<p>“Of course not, he shall never know anything -about it.”</p> - -<p>He walked in, took an elevator and soon stood -before the manager of the store.</p> - -<p>He told how he saw it on the counter and -“hooked it when the girls were not looking, but -I will never do anything like this again.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> - -<p>The manager thanked the boy for his determination -to do better and told him he would forgive -him for the theft, and promised to give him -a position in the store if the officers of the association -would bring him there when he was -through school.</p> - -<p>The president learned of this incident a month -later but never knew the name of the newsboy.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> - -<p>As has been said, the boys are continually suggesting -by their acts and words, something new, -something whereby the officers can build upon -their ideas.</p> - -<p>The membership cards were given first, to -show the boys some of the written rules; and, -second, that the boys might have something official -to show in case they lost their badges; but a -new idea suggested itself to one of the graduating -sellers, who was about to engage in business -other than selling papers. A prominent churchman -advertised, “a boy wanted in his manufacturing -concern.” This young man saw the advertisement -and became an applicant for the position. -He was received very kindly and naturally -so because he had an honest face, and was a willing -worker. The gentleman asked if the boy -could give any reference.</p> - -<p>The newsboy took from his pocket a membership -card of the Boyville Newsboys’ Association.</p> - -<p>“Do you know any thing about the association -of newsboys?” asked the seller.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, I know all about them.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> - -<p>“This is my reference,” the boy replied handing -him the card on which the man read—“He -does not approve of swearing, stealing, lying etc.”</p> - -<p>To the boy’s surprise and disgust, the gentleman -took the card crumpled it in his hand, and -threw it upon the floor, remarking: “that’s no -reference—that’s no good in business.”</p> - -<p>The boy picked it up, and, to use his own language, -said:</p> - -<p>“I waited until my temper cooled down and -I asked him, ‘can you say you never swore, never -stole any thing, never gambled, never cheated any -one? I can, sir, and that’s what that card means. -I wouldn’t work for you.’ Oh, I hit him hard. -As I was leaving he called me back, but I said, -‘if you would give me five thousand dollars a year -I wouldn’t work for you. You have not only insulted -me but the association.’”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> - -<p>Before Boyville was thought of, a personal investigation -into the home-life of over a hundred -boys was made, and this covered a period of three -years. Of the one hundred who were graduating -from the street work as newsboys not more -than thirty were engaged in a business that would -lead them to fortune or fame. Seventy were satisfied -with making a living by earnings of vice -and petty crimes. It was learned that a boy who -was permitted to go on in his own way would have -no useful training for later work. The seventy -boys followed the rule of men in wrong-doing. -“No man is guilty until caught,” is the general -rule of men who make it a business of stealing.</p> - -<p>The progress of any humanitarian legislation -is gradual.</p> - -<p>No one ever stopped to make inquiry about a -newsboy. He lived in a business, and social circle, -all by himself. He was left to shift for himself -and in a most unequal battle.</p> - -<p>When investigation revealed the deplorable -fact that seventy per cent. of our newsboys were -being educated and trained with their faces towards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> -jails and penitentiaries, the question arose, -how can we reduce this number, how can we turn -their faces towards a better life, a happier condition, -a delightful ending? How make them honorable -citizens, good men, loved by all who know -them, an honor to themselves, to their parents, -their friends, the State and city in which they -live?</p> - -<p>The problem solved itself in personal experiences, -convincing us that we must try to catch -the candidates for prison before they have been -debased and to keep them decent. “It is the -Christian, decent, brotherly way for one thing, -and it is the cheapest way in dollars and cents for -another.”</p> - -<p>It is a rule, rather than an exception, that -people have always considered a newsboy bad, and -he is therefore treated accordingly.</p> - -<p>Everybody knows or can soon learn to know, -that the street is the great school of crime. Betting -and gambling are typical of the combination -of work and play of man and boy that street work -produces.</p> - -<p>One of the greatest evils of the street was that -of begging; of boys working on the sympathies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> -of the public by taking advantage of men and -women on street-cars or in public places.</p> - -<p>Some boys made a business of begging, the -majority not from their own choice, but by compulsion -of their parents.</p> - -<p>One boy in particular was doing more to injure -the success of the association’s work on the -street than hundreds of others who were bad in -other lines.</p> - -<p>The father of this boy would wait until the -theatres were out, at night, and instruct the boy -to “work the car,” by begging, and if that failed -by forcing papers upon young men who were -compelled to purchase what they did not want.</p> - -<p>It took some time, almost a year, to stop this -kind of business, and then the president had to -call upon the efficient Humane officer to stop it. -As every case of begging was traced to the fault -of parents the Humane Society had to deal directly -with them.</p> - -<p>The Boyville association gradually stamped -this evil entirely out.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-230.jpg" width="400" height="731" id="i168" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">TWO NEW MEMBERS.</p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> - -<p>To stop begging, stealing, swearing and -gambling, four leading street evils among the -newsboys and in guiding the footsteps of these -little wanderers, for this they are when seen upon -the streets of our great cities, that Boyville came -into existence, and it is to co-operate, when it -is possible or desirable, with the parents and the -home in reclaiming boys who have gone astray or -are likely to follow paths that lead to ruin.</p> - -<p>There is no greater, stronger sign of love to -young or old than when a friend gives a warning -in the right spirit.</p> - -<p>The children of Israel had no better friend -than Moses, and when they obeyed his warning -they never went astray. We may be wrong in -our liberal methods of giving to charity; we may -be wrong in dropping pennies into the hats of -the street beggars—the blind—the lame—the -crippled who stand or sit on our public streets -pleading in a tone of experience; and we may -be satisfying an ever-warning conscience; but -there is one thing certain, we can never make a -mistake by warning a newsboy from doing anything -wrong—from stealing, lying, swearing, or -gambling, and it is always wise and safe to give -a boy the right start in life.</p> - -<p>In every city, with a population of one hundred -thousand or more, thirty per cent. of the -newsboys, the sellers, have no homes or their -homes are worse than none at all. If men and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> -women would stop to think, to investigate, listen -to the stories as told by these street boys; of the -wants, miseries and degradation in the sad conditions -that surround many of them; these dirty, -ragged boys would receive a more Christian-like -attention and care. If your nature to mingle with -the meek and lowly is forced, if your mission for -doing good in this world is cast in other fields, -where better results may be reached, you can take -a personal interest in seeing that those who are -familiar with work among street boys, and who -delight in trying to aid them, are given proper -encouragement and assistance so that their work -may be carried on successfully.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> - -<p>A few months’ experience with boys who -spend most of their lives upon the street, and pride -themselves on being tough, will teach one a great -lesson. You will learn you cannot reach a boy -unless you get near him, are of his kind; and the -most lasting and truest friendship, and through -which you can gain the best results, is where you -place a boy under personal obligations to you, -through kindness. You may buy him for money, -but he does not look upon you with the same interest -and confidence as when you gain his love -through personal attention. The boy must be understood. -No two boys are alike. Though many -are endowed with similar characteristics, each has -his own individuality. The trees are not all of -one kind. Even the leaves on the same tree differ -in size and contour. One tree in the writer’s -yard, one of the choicest of plums; a long branch -sprouted out every spring and grew so rapidly -that before the leaves in the fall began to show -signs of decay, it became strong and reached -several feet beyond any other branch. It made -the tree look awkward, unnatural, but when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> -trimmed down, even with the others, it produced -more and better fruit than any other portion of -the tree. The boys are like the birds who are unlike -in plumage and song; the flowers in color -and fragrance, and yet nature would not be -perfect were it not for these different lines of -beauty, strength, and fragrance.</p> - -<p>In the cultivation of plants the gardner considers -the nature and needs of different stages of -growth, furnishing the nourishment and care that -will be most helpful just at that time. So in boyhood -we observe various stages of development, -whose natures and needs must be studied that we -may properly provide for them.</p> - -<p>It has been said: “That the home, the church, -the school with their natural and uplifting influences -have been responsible in the past, and must -continue to be in the future, for the manhood and -womanhood of this nation.” It is a well-known -fact that the home sometimes fails, or there is no -home, or one which the church and the school do -not reach. There are times when even these have -no power over a boy’s acts. A boy who violates -the laws of the land is answerable not to the home, -the church or the school, but to the State.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> - -<p>Crime among boys, in America, is greatly on -the increase. The reports, official and unofficial, -that are made public, of the per cent. of the criminals -serving time in our jails, workhouses, reform -schools, and even our penitentiaries, are astounding, -and almost beyond belief.</p> - -<p>How to check this is a problem of the greatest -importance, and it cannot be solved without -the hearty co-operation of every person.</p> - -<p>Among the first things to be done must be -the recognition of the power of home and our -neighbors. We cannot live without our neighbor. -Each home depends upon some other home; and -when the boy leaves his home to go upon the -street, he is at once overcome by the stronger -power and influence of a boy of some other home, -and, perhaps where the rearing and training was -not good. The boy is a result more or less, of all -influences and environment of the lives of his -companions. Every good mother recalls the pang -that came over her heart when for the first time -she led her boy to school, knowing that her influence -must be shared with that of the teacher. -It is not long until the boy quotes his teacher, and -sometimes in defiance, when he says: “My teacher -says so an’ so.” And how many times we hear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> -this from the boy when away from home, more -frequently than the sayings of his mother. The -boy’s school life soon begins to develop self-reliance, -full of possibilities, of curiosity and questionings, -the period of formation of thoughts, -feelings and desires. And when a boy reaches -that stage in his life when he is permitted to go -down town alone—he at once begins a new life. -And there is not a mother in our country but -who makes this pleading request to her son as he -is about to start: “Don’t go into bad company.”</p> - -<p>It is on this line that the Newsboys’ Association, -with all its varied interests and objects, -through its many channels of work, backed with -that true spirit of Christianity characteristic of -everything that means good, with the aid of its -president and its many working officers, in the -name of God and humanity, aims to make the -bad boy of the streets of our cities and towns -good, so that the mother will not find it necessary -to say: “Now, my dear son, don’t go into bad -company.”</p> - -<p>Let us all hope, and pray, and work for the -time to come when there will be no “bad company” -on the streets.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXX.</h2> - -<p>At one of the auxiliary meetings the question -was asked a carrier, why the association “kicked -against drinking whiskey when my father drinks -four times a day.” In a talk at the meeting the -vice-president said: “Your father may have been -a respected citizen. He was all right when he -started out, but today he is a physical wreck, I -know him. He drinks too much. He paid no attention -to warning. Perhaps he had no one to -tell him. He trembles now, and I have seen him -fall to the ground, helpless. Some day he will -fall and get up no more. Every boy has in his -mind a real desire to do good, but if you start in -life as a whiskey drinker, if you stand around and -see your friends drink without giving them a -warning, some day you will regret it, something -will come up in your life to remind you of your -carelessness, your lost opportunity to help a fellow -being, and his ruin means more to you than you -think it does.</p> - -<p>“There was a man once rowing in a small boat -above Niagara Falls, where the water was quiet. -He got funny and ventured down stream too far<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> -until he got into the current and not having -strength enough to pull out of it, he was going -faster and every second he saw certain destruction -ahead of him. It was too late for him to -think and act. The thinking should have been -done up the river on peaceful waters. So you -boys better do your thinking now if you don’t -want to follow that kind of people over the brink. -No, boys, don’t drink intoxicating liquors, don’t -start it, cut it out, forget it.</p> - -<p>“We do not believe that temperance is really -promoted by compulsion, but this we do know, -that the boy who will let whiskey and all spirits -alone is very fortunate, and has a bright, happy -future. He is the boy who will succeed; he is -the young man that is wanted; he will be the man -to be trusted.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-240.jpg" width="400" height="308" id="i176" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“TENEMENTS ON THE AVENUE.”<br /> -IN THESE OLD BUILDINGS, AT ONE TIME, LIVED -SEVENTEEN FAMILIES.</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_178">178</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> - -<p>The problem of the boy is a great one, and -the more we have to do with his life upon the -street the greater the task of solution becomes. -It is said that two great factors make the sum of -human life—heredity and environment. We are -told that if you will gather up soil from the arctic -regions and carry it on a steamer southward, you -will soon see it covered with vegetation. If the -soil of the tropics is taken to the frozen regions of -Franz Joseph Land, it will become barren. The -soil of both regions is full of heredity, but the -difference of environment greatly modifies the -result. There are in all of us hereditary tendencies -to both vice and virtue, and under favorable -surroundings, these tendencies will be either dormant -or developed.</p> - -<p>A thief may come from a morally healthy family, -a happy prosperous home, but he is an unhealthy -exception not the rule. It is the offense -of our day that the tendency of life is toward destruction -of character. The crowding of population -to the cities, is gradually destroying the home -feeling. This rapidly increasing rush from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> -country and small towns to the centres of individual -energy, brings a dependent class of boys, -and the official reports show a significant increase -in the number of juvenile criminals, from -small towns, and also that they are much younger -than formerly. This does not mean that the energetic -young man of the country should stay -away from the cities, or should not seek employment -or business in a city; it simply means that -christian people should take a greater personal -interest in trying to make the boy good before he -leaves his home, and that the city people should -make city life purer.</p> - -<p>So long as our best reputed citizens, the first -men of many of our churches, own the dilapidated -tenement houses, receiving from such occupants a -rental sufficient to pay taxes, and without caring -who occupies the premises or for what purposes, -the criminal tendency must increase.</p> - -<p>For a time charitably-inclined people may -check and partially correct an evil, but the tendency -will remain, sure to assert itself in one -form or another. If the present cheap-John tenements -should be wiped out, and it were made -possible for the proper classes to secure homes in -the country, modest as necessarily they would be,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> -it would go a long way towards correcting one -of the greatest evils of the day.</p> - -<p>“The prison returns of one of our great States -show that fifty per cent. of all young criminals -come from bad homes, from tenement houses -owned by rich men, and only nine per cent. from -good homes.”</p> - -<p>Since the Humane societies are so well organized, -and doing such magnificent work, much -may be expected for the better in the condition -of the houses of the poor. There are many streets -in our great cities where people shudder when -compelled to walk, on account of their bad reputation.</p> - -<p>The tenants may be bad, but are they worse -than the owners of the property? Have you ever -stopped to think who owns a building under -whose roof lives a dozen bad characters?</p> - -<p>One Sunday morning, a gentleman in the city -was walking down an avenue of considerable -importance when he was surprised to see two -young newsboys coming out of the rear door of -a saloon, each trying to keep the other from falling -to the ground.</p> - -<p>The building was old and rickety. On the second<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> -floor were not a half dozen whole panes of -glass in eight window frames.</p> - -<p>Astonished at this, a question was asked, of -a passer-by who owned the saloon property?</p> - -<p>“Mr.—— owns all the property on that -side of the street. He is now teaching a Sunday-school -class while boys are in his building drinking. -This thing’s repeated every Sunday. It’s -headquarters for young men.”</p> - -<p>When our leading men of business, our wealthy -citizens, men of influence, men who stand -high in the commercial world, are renting their -property to persons who, for the money they -make, are ruining hundreds of young lives, what -can we expect?</p> - -<p>We need an era of enforcement of law, less -of pretense, more of purpose. Whether the laws -be good or bad, is not a question. If they are -good, they should be enforced for the welfare of -the community and the vindication of the State. -If they are bad, they should be enforced so that -their injustice may prove sufficiently oppressive -to lead to their appeal.</p> - -<p>The saloons will always be with us, and so -long as the State, and the city receive the price for -their existence, and grant them recognition and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> -endorsement, they should be protected in accordance -with the laws governing their business, but -beyond all this, there is a law, a moral law, a law -of decency, of respect, for the welfare and happiness -of mankind, that should appeal to every -man engaged in the selling of liquors.</p> - -<p>Five men, of our acquaintance, engaged in -the saloon business, have for many years mutually -agreed to do certain things. They do not -open their places of business on Sunday. They -do not admit a minor into their saloons for any -cause. They will not sell liquor to a man who -shows the least sign of being intoxicated.</p> - -<p>If every man engaged in the saloon business -would follow to the letter these few simple rules, -thousands of good wives, and innocent children -would be happy, and the influence for good could -not be estimated. Our Sunday-closing laws -should be enforced.</p> - -<p>The lives of a majority of men, hard-working -men, are dreary enough for six days of the week -without having all of the desolation compressed -into the seventh and drilled into them through -the avarice of selfish men who aim to take advantage -of a man under the influence of liquor, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -take from him his last cent and then throw him -into the street.</p> - -<p>We are learning to regard the majority of -youthful offenders, especially in our large cities, -as the victims of environment, sufferers from lack -of opportunity for good. In nine cases out of -ten, boys who are found in saloons come from -well-to-do families, and are permitted to be there -through neglect and carelessness of their parents.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> - -<p>A question is often asked, why young men do -not more frequently attend church services. May -not one of these reasons be traced to neglect and -carelessness on the part of the parents? Nothing -in the religious world can be more important -than the proper training of young men. It is said -that the only place where real religion can be -taught is in the home. By this it is not meant -religious forms, but real religion. To go to -church every Sunday and sing religious -hymns and listen to eloquent sermons is -not all there is to religion. The formation of -character, the stimulus of the moral sentiments -must be done largely outside of the doors of the -church. To assist in building up the boy who -roams our streets at will, and to take an interest -in and to encourage the boy to live up to and follow -the instructions he receives at his home, is, -indeed, to practice real religion.</p> - -<p>It is a well-known fact, often repeated by the -guards at our penitentiaries, that no man ever -entered these institutions but what at sometime -or other declared that, if he had followed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> -admonition and religious instructions of his father -and mother, his life would have been different. -If father and mother do not practice in their -daily lives this real religion, and if the boy is not -brought up to believe that some people are to be -avoided, and held in contempt, all the churches -in the world cannot correct such mistakes, because -they have but few hours one day in a week -to accomplish what six days can undo.</p> - -<p>It will be seen, then, how important it is that -the boy on the street, whether he comes from a -good religious home or a bad home, should be -watched and carefully guided and taught.</p> - -<p>Our work in the garden is not to pull out onions, -radishes, tomato plants, but carefully to destroy -the weeds, and not only those weeds that -are crowding the tender plants, but all weeds. -Get the wild sprouts out, pull up the weeds by the -roots and throw them away. This a good gardener -will do, and he will carefully pull the soft, -rich earth around the plants to brace them up.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-250.jpg" width="400" height="458" id="i184a" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“I WILL BUY FROM THE LITTLE FELLOW.”</p> -</div></div> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-252.jpg" width="400" height="331" id="i184b" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">WAITING FOR THE LAST EDITION.</p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> - -<p>If the same interest is taken in our newsboys, -to pull out the weeds so that the boy can grow, -it will be doing what the preacher often says: -“A good man’s goodness lies not hid in himself -alone; but when he endeavors to strengthen his -weaker brother.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> - -<p>Men often lose great opportunities to assist -their fellow-men through neglect, through carelessness -and indifference. It is so easy to say, -“you have my sympathy, you are doing a noble -work,” when many times the speaker may be -better adapted for the same kind of work and be -far more successful. And so an opportunity is -allowed to slip by all for the lack of taking advantage -of it.</p> - -<p>The influence a man or a woman teacher has -over a boy is wonderful. In the eyes of a boy, a -teacher stands for a model of perfection and is -supposed to be in reality, in daily life and actions, -what he seems to be when he shows his best side -to the pupils.</p> - -<p>From the school, from the teacher, from a -trusted friend, the boy carries the influence back -to the family, into his daily life upon the streets, -and many of the teachings follow him through -life. The boy at school is taught to be kind, to be -generous, and to remember his little friends -whenever opportunity favors. Heartfelt sympathy -in a newsboy, comes like a flash of lightning,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> -and he is ever ready to fall in line when the boys -want to remember a friend. The president was -taken by surprise one day when the street sellers, -the poorest of our newsboys, through one of their -hustlers, presented him with a gold badge. The -money to purchase it was raised by subscriptions -from the boys, in amounts ranging from two cents -to twenty-five. A few days after the presentation -the president was walking on one of the main -streets when he was accosted by a little seller, -from the opposite side of the street.</p> - -<p>“Say, president, come over here.”</p> - -<p>A boy never called the president to go where -he wanted him to go but he complied at once, and -cheerfully. The little ragged fellow stepped in -front of him and said:</p> - -<p>“Pres., have youse got de gold badge we gives -you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, here it is,” and the badge was taken -from the coat and handed to the boy. Looking at -it closely, and calling several companions to him, -he said:</p> - -<p>“Pres., youse see that diamond in the center?” -pointing a dirty finger to it.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, we all see it, and it’s a beauty.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you see,” he said straightening up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> -above his natural height, “I subscribed four cents -to this here badge, and all the boys put up the -dough. When I went home and thought it over, -I says to myself, we ought to have a bigger badge -than this fur our president. So when I comes -down town I see de boys and we concluded to have -a diamond put in the center. It met wid de kids -’proval, and it was done. You see de diamond?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” replied a dozen voices.</p> - -<p>“Well, I blowed eleven cents in it,” he proudly -replied. Adding, “Ain’t it a bird?”</p> - -<p>Happy youth.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> - -<p>How many prayers have been offered for the -salvation of the slums; how many sighs and expressions -of regret and sympathy have been -given, by well-meaning people, for the “poor and -unhealthy boys of the slums.”</p> - -<p>Those who are familiar, and it is to be regretted -that they are so few, with the real conditions -of these, supposed, unhealthy and certainly -unpleasant districts, will substantiate the -declaration that the boys who live there, in these -ill-favored spots, and who have followed the vocation -of selling papers or shining shoes, until -they arrived at that age when it was necessary -to seek other and more lucrative employment, -are ninety per cent. healthier and stronger and -better able to fight disease than boys raised in the -most sanitary districts and in wealthy families. -The slums of Whitechapel and Westminster, in -London, inhabitated by a squalid and criminal -population, as well as the slums in New York and -other American cities, maintain a healthier condition -among the inhabitants.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> - -<p>In a period of six years, with an enrollment -of two hundred and fifty newsboys, who belonged -to the sellers auxiliary; a majority of them living -in what is called “the worst part of the city, the -most unhealthy; the most degraded; the most undesirable,” -and boys who from necessity were -compelled to sell papers or shine shoes, thus requiring -an almost daily appearance upon the -streets in all kinds of weather, there were but -three cases of sickness, and but one death, and -this death was caused by an explosion at a Fourth -of July celebration.</p> - -<p>Little Barney Frank, one of the brightest and -most promising members of the association died -January 28, 1903, having been injured by a toy -cannon.</p> - -<p>The president attended the funeral of this -little boy and being asked to say something touching -the life of his friend, he said:</p> - -<p>“Barney was an exceptionally bright and -happy boy, loved by his companions, and almost -worshiped by his heart-broken parents. His -happy disposition, his smiles and great interest -in his fellow newsboys will live forever in the -hearts of those who knew him. It is often asked -why are the young and innocent taken from us?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> -Some of us believe that the road to heaven opens -wide to welcome little boys.</p> - -<p>“One of the most pleasing remembrances of -Barney’s life was shown in the following incident. -It was a cold November evening, with a heavy -fall of rain and sleet. I was standing in the street -looking for a car to take me home, when little -Barney came running to me and said: ‘You go -in the store, in a dry place, I’ll watch for the car -and I’ll call you,’ and in spite of protestations, he -stood in the rain until the car passed. So it was -always with Barney, ever looking after the happiness -of his friends.”</p> - -<p>They took the remains to another town, and -buried him in a village graveyard. There he rests -in peace. In summer the grass grows green and -the daisies and violets keep watch; and in a tree, -whose branches shade the unmarked grave, there -comes a robin red-breast, and every morning at -the rising of the sun, and every evening just as -the sun is sinking behind the hills, he sings his -song of love.</p> - -<p>Who knows but that it is an angel who comes -to the grave of that little newsboy?</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-262.jpg" width="400" height="558" id="i192" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“BILLY BUTCHER, WE MUST HAVE AN UNDERSTANDIN’, -WHICH CORNER OB DE STREET WILL YOU TAKE?”</p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> - -<p> </p> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p class="pc4 xlarge"><i>PART SEVENTH</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> - -<p>After more than fifteen years’ experience -among the newsboys we can say with considerable -force, that the only way to give substantial -assistance to the poor boy is to give him a start -in life, helping him to work his own way through -a hundred little temptations that would easily lead -him wrong. Today Boyville Association boasts -that it has driven from the streets of a great city -all kinds of begging, gambling, swearing, smoking -cigarettes, and instead of insulting, impudent -newsboys, we have the finest lot of gentlemanly -young business men in the world.</p> - -<p>How to carry on successfully work of this -kind, with results as previously stated, is the desire -and wish of thousands of people in our country -today. A person must bring himself in touch -with the boy, he must learn his ways, his habits, -by so doing he learns the best way to approach -him and gain his confidence. This done, the rest -is easy, because the boy works with you and you -simply guide.</p> - -<p>Education cannot be given, it must be -achieved, and the value of an education lies not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> -only in the possession, but also in the struggle to -secure it.</p> - -<p>Everybody knows that the infallible receipt -for happiness, is to do good, and under the right -conditions it is as natural for character to become -beautiful as for a flower. In scores of instances it -has been seen that the principles early established -in the minds of the street-boys, especially where -they are watched by their companions, and -warned when they do something wrong, leave a -lasting impression that time cannot efface.</p> - -<p>Life is full of opportunities for the young man -to do good, and if in his early career he begins -to do right it soon becomes part of his life. The -street-boys who first join the association are so -gradually led into the good fellowship of their -own making that the toughest natures thaw out, -they are subjugated, submit cheerfully to the controlling -powers of truth and honesty. Their manners -soften, their words become more gentle and -their actions show a willingness to be little gentlemen. -The good that is in them is brought out -by their own unselfish acts, and the hidden sleeping -humanity bursts into a fuller life.</p> - -<p>Today it takes a high order of men to succeed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> - -<p>With the world as a competitor, where profits -are figured by fractions, it requires young men -of brains, combined with hard common sense, -men of good moral characters, and a willingness -to work.</p> - -<p>For a young man to reach a rich inheritance -he must work; he must remember that the root -qualities of character are sobriety, industry, unselfish -economy, and he must be honest in all -that the word implies. Swearing, stealing, -grafting inclinations, expecting something for -nothing, smoking cigarettes or drinking intoxicating -liquors will prevent securing good positions.</p> - -<p>Already some of our great railroad systems -will not employ a young man who drinks intoxicating -liquors, or smokes cigarettes; and some go -so far as to forbid swearing while on duty.</p> - -<p>To gain this rich inheritance, to build up the -boy who has no chance in life, who, in many -cities, is regarded as a sort of a pest, something -to be kicked and cuffed out of the way, is the great -aim of the Boyville Newsboys’ Association. It -is a kindergarten in the great school of business -and citizenship, and many years experience proves -conclusively not only that the boy of the street is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> -capable of conquering himself, and of mastering -his own will-power, but also that he can assist his -companions, to be honest, patriotic, and self-reliant.</p> - -<p>Many a boy goes astray simply because home -lacks sunshine. If home is the place where faces -are sour and words harsh, and the boy is continually -hampered with don’ts and censures, he will -spend as many hours as possible elsewhere. A -personal investigation of twenty homes of boys -who were upon the streets a greater portion of -their time, especially at meal hours or after nine -o’clock at night, revealed the fact that nine boys -were away from their homes on account of there -being no restriction on the part of the parents. -These nine families did not know, did not care, at -what hour their sons returned at night, or whether -they were at home at meal hours or not.</p> - -<p>Home should keep in sympathy with a boy. -His little troubles, his sorrows are made much -easier and lighter through attention and sympathy, -and if the boy can’t get this at home he will -go elsewhere; and he will often find it in society -he would otherwise shun. No boy ever grows too -old for love. And should the boy seek companionship -in our crowded streets and discover some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> -one in whom he can place confidence, his whole -life is wrapped up in that love.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> - -<p>In the Boyville Association it has always been -the rule that, no matter how great a wrong committed -by a boy, and the fine or sentence be what -it may, if the boy looks forward to doing better, -to putting his whole soul into trying to do right, -if he hates and despises the act committed, that -boy has a right to be honorably reinstated, and is -heartily welcomed back to his friends.</p> - -<p>“Often” says a thoughtful writer, “men and -women mourn over past wrong-doings with -which their present identity has no connection.”</p> - -<p>A good preacher once asked a despondent soul, -whose life was shadowed by a wrong committed -in early years: “Would you do the same thing -again?”</p> - -<p>“Do it again?” answered the man, “No, a -thousand times, no.”</p> - -<p>“Then,” said the preacher, “You have outgrown -the conditions that caused the wrong-doing, -and you are no longer responsible for it.”</p> - -<p>The best way to correct wrong-doing is to -prevent it, to warn a boy against the evil vices -that tend to his ruin in later years. And one way -to prevent crime is to reward virtue.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-272.jpg" width="400" height="610" id="i200" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">“HE WAS FISHING IN THE LAKE.”</p> -<p class="plink"><i>See Page <a href="#Page_205">205</a></i></p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> - -<p>Hon. Ben. B. Lindsey, of Denver, Colorado, -Judge of the County and Juvenile Court of Denver, -after many years of hard work, intermingled -with the kind of experience that brings good results, -declares that in the work of the Juvenile -Court he has found a way to make our boys of -today, who are inclined to be bad, follow paths of -virtue and honesty that will lead them to good -and honorable citizenship, and his success has -been along the same self-governing plan of the -Boyville Association.</p> - -<p>We do not think there has been a more interesting -official report nor one of so great a value -to the thinking people as the publication of “The -Problem of the Children and How the State of -Colorado Cares for them,” by Hon. Ben. B. Lindsey.</p> - -<p>“Power under any law,” writes Judge Lindsey, -“may be abused. Mistakes under any law -may be made. No system is perfect. If any conceives -the idea that the Juvenile Court was created -for the purpose of correcting or reforming -every disorderly child, they are, of course, mistaken. -Jails and criminal courts never did that.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> -On the contrary, criminality among the youth of -this country has been amazingly on the increase. -Over half of the inmates of jails, reformatories -and prisons combined are under twenty-four -years of age. They are there largely because of -uncorrected delinquency in childhood. While the -Juvenile Court and probation system will not, -and cannot, entirely overcome delinquency and -waywardness, it will do a great deal better than -the jail and criminal court ever did. The Juvenile -Court generally deals with cases in which -there has been a failure in the home, the school, -and often the church. These three institutions -are the places through their various influences to -form the character of the child. The Juvenile -Court is rather an aid to the home and the school -in the moral training of the child. If these two -latter fail, the court, through its officers, can supply -the deficiency. In the Denver Juvenile Court -none are convicted of crime or subjected to the -contamination of the jail.</p> - -<p>“The Juvenile Court does not tolerate the idea -of the child being a criminal. It does not consider -the question of punishment the important -thing. If the child cannot be corrected at home, -for its own good and for the good of society at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> -large, it is simply sent to a State public school, -where discipline is superior to that of the home, -and where it is intended to correct waywardness -and to serve as an example to prevent waywardness -in others. The purpose is, in delinquent -cases, to inspire and receive obedience, to improve -and strengthen character. We never release -a boy upon probation until he is impressed -with the idea that he must obey. It is explained -what the consequences will be if he does not obey -and keep his word. It is kindly, but firmly impressed -why all this is so, and why, after all, he -is the one we are most interested in and that it is -for him we are working and not against him. We -want him to work with us and not against us. He -must, to do this, obey in the home, in the school, -and of course, he must obey the laws of the land -and respect the rights of others. We must know -that he obeys. We know this by reports from the -school, signed by the teacher, every two weeks; -by reports from the neighborhood, when necessary -to investigate, and frequently, by reports -from the home, and, in exceptional cases, visits -to the home. And more important than all this -is the trust and confidence we impose upon the boy -himself through the administrative work of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> -Court. We arouse his sense of responsibility. -We understand him as best we can, and we make -him understand us as best we can.”</p> - -<p>Nothing could be said or written of the history -of Boyville and the intention of its workers -that could explain the great object in view better -than the above report.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> - -<p>There is a city ordinance in Chicago which -prohibits fishing in the lakes of the city parks, and -persons caught doing so are treated as trespassers. -No one would blame a boy for wanting to -fish.</p> - -<p>A boy, ten years old, left home with line and -hook for one of these artificial lakes. After securing -a pole from the drift-wood near-by, he -sought an inviting spot to fish; and amid the -green bushes, the songs of the birds and the -breeze that brought sunshine to his young heart, -he cast his line into the peaceful uninhabitated -waters.</p> - -<p>A protector of the peace, a defender of the -law, saw this little boy fishing in public waters. -While earnestly waiting for a bite the boy was -arrested. He was taken, by the policeman, to the -station. He did not have any friends to give bond -for him, so they locked him up and left him there -all night in a cell alongside of men who were in -there swearing and cursing, using the vilest of -language. He was placed with hardened people -whose association could not be anything but injurious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> -to a ten-year-old boy. Next day he was -brought into Police Court, accused of fishing in -the lake, sentenced for violating this great and -important law of the city of Chicago, and sent to -the work-house, to serve a time in the city prison.</p> - -<p>This was twenty years ago, and, just such incidents -as this, caused good honest-thinking people -to try to introduce something that would protect -and care for similar cases. Now, the boy who -violates a law is not arrested and placed in jail or -even a Police Station, but under the splendid -Juvenile Court system the boy is brought into the -presence of a judge who has an opportunity of -showing what he would like to do in other courts, -by extending an encouraging hand to the wayfaring -boy.</p> - -<p>The boy is greeted kindly and the strange feeling, -which even men and women have under similar -circumstances, is removed. Instead of the -judge looking sternly at the criminal, as has been -too often the custom, thinking, perhaps justly, the -dignity of the law requires it, he kindly explains -to the boy where he has made a mistake, where he -has violated some law; and after gaining the -friendship and confidence of the little offender, -he is placed in charge of a kind-hearted Probation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> -Officer, who personally looks after the interests -and welfare of the accused. The Juvenile -Court has power to require the boy to go to -school, and the boy is impressed with the fact -that it is for his benefit. Truant boys are looked -after by this method, and the Probation Officer -goes so far as to visit the homes of the boys to -learn their surroundings. This has been the -means of influencing many families to take better -care of their homes and to keep things in a neat -and tidy condition. This has never been accomplished -before by any methods of a legal nature.</p> - -<p>With the valuable work of the Juvenile Court -and the Humane societies, together with the self-governing -plan of the Newsboys associations, all -working harmoniously, what must naturally be -expected of the boy? The home is the natural -environment in which to develop a boy in the direction -of true, self-sustaining manhood; and it -should furnish the conditions most likely to bring -about the happiest results, not only to the individual -and the family, but also to the State. When -this fails, as it often does, the Juvenile Court steps -in and the results are wonderful.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> - -<p>Boyville has made itself known to all classes -of citizens, and has attracted intelligent attention -throughout the country. The newsboys have -learned to work together harmoniously, and this -is one of the valuable secrets of human society -that all must learn in order to be successful and -happy. In the auxiliary monthly meetings the -newsboys conduct the business with more decorum -and intelligence than the average political -conventions. So much for the self-governing -plan.</p> - -<p>The following interesting talk on “The Evils -of Cigarette Smoking” was part of an address -delivered at one of the Sunday afternoon meetings, -and is well worth the time spent in reading:</p> - -<p>“Smoking cigarettes causes both insanity and -the degeneracy that ends in crime. The cigarette -slave is always enfeebled in body, in mind, or in -moral sense, and generally in all three. Whatever -be the cause—whether it is opium and other -drugs mixed with tobacco, or oil created in the -paper by burning, or the immediate absorption of -the nicotine from the lungs by the blood, to be -lodged in every nerve and brain-cell in the system—the -fact remains beyond dispute that the -cigarette is a deadly poison.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-282.jpg" width="400" height="274" id="i208" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">PASTIME—THE BEGINNING.</p> -</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> - -<p>“It not only deprives the blood of the proper -quantity of oxygen and thus prevents its purification, -but it also loads it with filth, so that the heart -becomes clogged and the delicate convolutions of -the brain, upon which the mind’s attitude toward -intellectual concepts and moral principles depends, -are paralyzed. Cigarette smoking also creates a -perpetual irritation, like unquenchable thirst, in -the nervous system. It sets up a continual discomfort, -a kind of a gnawing in the nerves, -which makes the victim eternally uneasy except -while he is inhaling the poison into his lungs. -The result of all this is, that he lives in a constant -state of nervous excitement, which reacts upon -his poisoned brain and makes him incapable of -serious and consecutive thought. His body is -weary all the time, except when it is being stimulated -by the alcohol which cigarette slaves inevitably -seek and find, and at last cannot do without. -It is a fact that crime and cigarettes nearly always -go together. Prison records show that -criminals, almost without exception, are cigarette -slaves. Such is the history of the cigarette<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> -slave, and while, if he is a natural man of good -family history, education, intelligence and ample -means, he may avoid crime, yet he is in eternal -danger. Boys, newsboys, for your own interest -and welfare, for the love you have for your parents, -if you are cigarette smokers, stop it at once. -If not—do not begin.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> - -<p>The question is often asked: “Do you want -us to go out upon the streets and bring those ragged, -dirty boys with us into our churches, and -have them sit in the same pew with us?”</p> - -<p>No, indeed, no. Both you and the boys would -be unhappy.</p> - -<p>The idea is for you to take an interest in preparing -them for your church. To shove them out -of your way, into the gutter, and say, “they are -only newsboys,” will never bring these boys to -you or into your churches. They are the strayed -sheep.</p> - -<p>When upon the street you meet these “dirty -brats,” instead of avoiding them, of paying no attention -to them, say pleasantly, “Good morning,” -and say it in a tone that means you are sincere -and really wish them a very good morning. That -would be easy and a thousand times better than -to throw them money, as you, perhaps, have often -done, to get rid of them, or thinking you have -done them a great act of charity. All this costs -you nothing.</p> - -<p>Instead of having in your heart the desire to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> -destroy; encourage the desire to rescue, to uplift. -Instead of hating, cultivate love. “Go forth into -the world and seek for light and light is yours.”</p> - -<p>If you would learn the secret of real happiness, -mingle with the children. They are messengers -which come to bless.</p> - -<p>But you must understand them. They will -teach you things you never knew or dreamed of.</p> - -<p>A speaker at one of the auxiliary meetings -asked a boy to give him an illustration of, “who -is my neighbor?”</p> - -<p>He answered: “This morning I shoveled off -the snow from the sidewalks in front of our house. -After I got through I went across the street and -cleaned the snow from the sidewalks of a widow -lady. A friend passing asked me ‘why I did it,’ -I replied ‘why, she’s our neighbor’.”</p> - -<p>We often hear it said that time is wasted in -trying to save these newsboys, not perhaps because -of the boy himself, but because of that -which makes him what he is. It is argued that -his environment, the influences which surround -him from the day of his birth, will make him a -criminal in spite of all we can do.</p> - -<p>The Bible holds man responsible.</p> - -<p>If you kind reader, believe in God, believe in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> -the Bible, you will find the divine law (Ezekiel -XXXIII.) determines your personal responsibility. -“So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a -watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore -thou shalt hear the word at my mouth. If thou -dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, -that wicked <i>man</i> shall die in his iniquity; but his -blood will I require at thy hand. Nevertheless, if -thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; -if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his -iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”</p> - -<p>Following down the ages the same responsibility -is required of Christians (James IV-17): -“To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it -not, to him it is a sin.”</p> - -<p>The man who fails to rise above the level of -his own selfish interests is the man to whom these -apply.</p> - -<p>The church, at large, today, is like what Napoleon -once said: “The army that remains in -its entrenchments is beaten.” The church remains -mostly in its own entrenchments of conventional -practices and indifference to the unsaved -young men. There is but one remedy for -this present indifferent condition, and that is to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> -be found in an awakening of consciousness of personal -responsibility for the salvation of the boy.</p> - -<p>We need a new doctrine, not a new law, that -will bring people back to the Simple Life that demands -some self-sacrifice.</p> - -<p>If we follow these teachings what shall be -our reward?</p> - -<p>Do you remember what Pharaoh’s daughter -said when, winning that strange prize from the -bulrushes, on the Nile; she called to the woman -whose child might have perished?</p> - -<p>Pharaoh’s daughter said to the mother: -“Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I -will give thee thy wages,” and that message is -given as the crown of all motherhood on whom -the divine mercy falls today. There comes this -same message: “Take this child and nurse it for -me, and I will pay the thy wages.”</p> - -<p>The good that you have done you shall know, -“not here, but hereafter.”</p> - -<p>We should never forget that the best and -truest lives are those who strew all the years with -the sweet aroma of loving and self-sacrificing -deeds. Did you ever go, in summer, to the great -marshes of our fresh-water lakes, and in the little -bayous, where the muck and grasses are so thick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> -it is difficult to even row a boat? If not, it will pay -you to go. You find the white water lilies, dotted -here and there all over this forsaken waste. They -take root and grow silently amid the slime and -mud in the quiet waters, until, in mid-summer, -they open their creamy beauty to the persuasion -of the sunshine, the glory and idealization of all -flowers. So amid the lowest and poorest of humanity, -among its shadows and mists, we can -sow, day by day, our small seeds of gentle and -generous deeds, not knowing when they take root, -or expecting to ever behold their unfolding into -the blossoms on the great river of time.</p> - -<p>To have a perfect government we must have -a perfect people, and that cannot be accomplished -unless we educate, unless we train, our boys in -the right direction. If we do our share in this -generation it will be easier for those who follow.</p> - -<p>The more you mingle among newsboys the -easier it is to learn how to influence and guide -them in the right path.</p> - -<p>They will open out to you a world you have -never found, a world full of sunshine. If you are -inclined to serve these boys, and are willing to -try to teach them how to live right, you will build<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> -for yourself a crown of happiness in this world -that all the wealth of a nation cannot purchase.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-292.jpg" width="400" height="262" id="i216" - alt="" - title="" /> - <div class="caption"><p class="pc">PASTIME—THE FINISH.</p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">CHAPTER XXXX.</h2> - -<p>It is hoped that the preceding pages have -given the reader some idea of the workings of -Boyville, of the self-governing plan carried on -successfully for many years. It has demonstrated -the fact, to the president and his faithful associates, -the trustees, and the officers of the auxiliaries, -that boys can govern themselves, that they can -build up and carry on the work that has usually -been done by older persons. Corporal punishment -is not necessary and no arbitrary authority is -needed. There is nothing compulsory about the -entire work of the association. The simplest -methods are always adopted, keeping in view the -wishes of the boy. Not by advanced theories -that reach beyond the comprehension of the boy, -but by gradually introducing good principles that -have a tendency to uplift the boy, and following -as nearly as possible the lines he is interested in.</p> - -<p>Through the ever-willing assistance of the -Humane officers, and later, the splendid work -of the Juvenile Court, the association has been -able to get behind the cause of much of the wrong-doing -of the newsboys, by reaching their parents.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> -Any good physician, to cure a disease, will make -every effort possible to discover and cure the -cause. There is an old saying: “A stitch in time -saves nine.” This is certainly true and applicable -to work among newsboys. We agree with the -many good things said and written by the late -Samuel M. Jones, and this in particular: “The -only way to help people is to give them an opportunity -to help themselves.”</p> - -<p>Our cities are full of boys growing up to manhood -without advice, without help. They are -turned aside to do the best they can, to battle with -life with everything against them. The question -to thinking men today is, shall we permit these -boys to continue on the certain road to ruin, or -shall we turn a few steps out of our way to lend -a helping hand? Shall we wait until they become -confirmed criminals and are serving sentences in -prisons before we try to help them?</p> - -<p>It is much easier to save a soul in a healthy -and satisfied, comfortable-feeling body, than in -a body wasted by want and with a mind diseased -by injustice, cruelty and wrong.</p> - -<p>The good accomplished by the members of -The Boyville Newsboys’ Association, we hope, -will go on forever, and that this generation may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> -prove the best and our people continue to be the -most prosperous, and our boys grow up to be God-fearing, -honest men, is the prayer of every man -and woman of our land. But prayers will never -be answered if we sit with our hands folded waiting -for someone to do the work.</p> - -<p>In these hurrying days, when life is becoming -complicated in so many ways; when the love of -money is greater than the love of mankind, you -wonder where can real happiness be found.</p> - -<p>Let us kindly suggest a new work, a new field -of labor; a field that may test human goodness -and human ability, but where you will reap more -than riches, more than fame.</p> - -<p>Begin today, go out upon the streets, work -among the newsboys, reach down to those below, -and offer a hand to lift them up. Throw around -them the proper protection and influence. In -your own city, your own town, at your own -doors, are acres of diamonds only waiting for -you to help in the work of polishing.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/ill-296.jpg" width="300" height="110" - alt="" - title="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<h2 class="p4">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</h2> - -<div class="transnote"> -<p class="ptn">—Obvious print and punctuation errors were corrected.</p> - -<p class="ptn">—A Table of Contents for Chapters was not in the original work; one -has been produced and added by Transcriber.</p> -</div></div> - -</div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Boyville, by John E. 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