xt7rfj299f5n https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7rfj299f5n/data/mets.xml Hogeland, Alexander. 1884  books b92-148-29450695 English John P. Morton : Louisville, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Newspaper vendors Kentucky Louisville. Louisville (Ky.) Social life and customs. Ten years among the newsboys  / by Col. Hogeland. text Ten years among the newsboys  / by Col. Hogeland. 1884 2002 true xt7rfj299f5n section xt7rfj299f5n 











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COL, ALEXANDER HWO-ELAND,
  (The Friend of the Poor and Neglected Boys of the Street.)
 



DEDICATED TO THE NEWSBOYS OF THE
               UNITED STATES.



TEN YEARS


         AMONG THE



NEW



S



BOYS.



         COL. ALEXANDER HOGELAND,
Feunder of the Louisville Newsboys and Bootblacks' Association and Night Schools; author
      of the work on the Mineral and Agricultural Resources of Kentucky;
          and late Secretary of the Mechanics and Manufacturers'
             Exchange, and late Agent Kentucky Infi7nary.




                  YI3ErX  SEDITIONt.




                  LOUISVILLE, KY.
   PRINTED BY JOHN P. MORTON AND COMPANY, WEST MAIN STRBET.
                         1884
 





































  Entered according to Act o. congrems, in the Year 1882,
         BY COL. ALEXANDER HOGELAND,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
 










MY MOTHER'S VOICE.



   I have yielded at last to the solicitations of friends and to
a growing impression with myself that I ought to put in print
my strangely-romantic experience of ten years among the
newsboys and bootblacks of Louisville and other cities, for
the benefit it may prove to others in stimulating them in
efforts to assist those who are struggling with the adversities
of life. I may here say that for whatever I may have accom-
plished in this way I am, in God's providence, indebted to the
kind, Christian influence of my affectionate mother; for in my
whole life, from childhood to manhood, she was the guiding-
star to whatever of good I may have been enabled to accom-
plish. Her maiden name was Parker. She was left an or-
phan at six years of age. A month thereafter she took a trip
of one hundred miles, horseback, in charge of her oldest
brother, over the mountains of Pennsylvania to the house
of an uncle in Virginia. The story she told me in my
childhood of the sympathy shown her by those relatives in
raising her has proved an incentive to me to assist others in
return.  Mother often said, "My son, help others as I have
been helped;" and now my greatest anxiety is that those who
read the incidents and actual experience in my own case may
in turn do something to help others. It is "bread cast upon
the waters," and will return to you, as it has to me, in a
reward measured by a thousandfold.

 












































































A GROUP OF LOUISVILLE NEWSBOYS AND THEIR FRIEND.



- ,   ti-41- I

 








TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.




   Ten years ago, on a sultry spring-day, as I turned out
of Fourth into Green Street, at the corner of the old Louis-
ville Theater, now replaced by the Courier-Journal building,
I heard the cry of "Fight! fight!" Perceiving newsboys
on the opposite side of the street, I rushed over into the
crowd; a glance brought to view two newsboys fighting des-
perately, encouraged with shouts of " Give it to him, Piggie! "
"Hit him again, Sam !"  My nature is such that I was only a
moment deciding as to my duty. I took Piggie in my arms
and did not stop until the pump, a square off, was reached.
A fewv words of sympathy, then the application of pump-
water, and the fretted, angry, and bloody-faced boy was paci-
fied. He then explained that the big boy had thrown his
papers in the dirt, and a fight was the result.
   That incident prompted the opening of a night-school a
few weeks later, with Piggie as a scholar. It was held in the
basement of the old Unitarian Church, corner of Fifth and
Walnut streets, and was to some extent an experiment, but
certainly proved a great success, chiefly for the good moral
influence it exerted on the newsboys of that day. A very
good, perhaps the best, feature was the opening in the building
of a commodious wash- and bath-room. After two winters of
careful training by faithful teachers, the City School Board of
Louisville opened night-schools, taking in the newsboys, with
an attendance of six hundred scholars.
   A brief reference to reforms growing out of the Newsboys'
School is worthy of mention. The first of which was the
                                                (5)
 



TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



bringing about of a compromise between white and colored
boys, by which the latter were permitted to enter the field as
newsboys and bootblacks, which they had not been allowed to
do previous to that date. It was finally accomplished on the
occasion of a fight between some colored boys who came to
the room on a Sunday night and while I was addressing the
newsboys. The presence of the colored boys was considered
by the newsboys as an insult. The excitement of the moment
I shall never forget. I was apprehensive that some one might
be injured, perhaps killed, and was also in dread of disturbing
the religious exercises then going on in the Methodist Episco-
pal Church across the street, and dreaded the disrepute such
conduct would bring on the school. A good policeman
happened to be near by; and with his assistance the newsboys
returned to their seats in the lecture-room, after chasing the
colored boys a square away, with an air of satisfaction and
triumph and expressions of "Did n't we clean 'em out!" etc.,
evidently thinking their conduct would meet with a hearty
approval from me.
   It was an occasion that called for sober thought, and that
with judicious handling might be turned to good account.
Soon all were again seated. The chain of thought in my
address was in the excitement lost to view. So I inquired if
they would like for me to tell them an interesting story of my
boyhood They gave unanimous assent.
   I began by saying: "When I was a boy, twelve years
of age, I stood on the bank of a stream where some men
were engaged in fishing, one of them got into deep water,
and not being able to swim was on the point of drown-
ing. His friends were paralyzed with fear, and not one of
them -moved. The poor man was going down for the last
time, with no one brave enough to assist him. At this junc-
ture a stout colored boy, who was simply looking on, saw the
poor white man sinking for the last time. With the quickness



6
 



TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



of thought he threw off his coat and vent to the rescue, dis-
appearing in the same spot where the fisherman had gone
down. The moments they were out of sight seemed an age,
but there soon appeared on the surface the form of the colored
boy striking out with one hand and with the other firmly
grasping the hair of the drowning fisherman. A moment later
the friends relieved the colored boy, and by vigorous rubbing
brought their half-dead companion to consciousness and life.
When he asked who saved him, they said, the negro boy.
He was full of expressions of gratitude, and wanted to pay
him, but this was modestly declined. A crowd of nearly forty
persons, who had been gathered by the excitement, testified
their approval of the heroic act in rounds of applause. That
was, indeed, a brave act, and I know you will say so." Each
boy raised his hand in approval. " Now, boys, I wish to put
a question to each one of you. Suppose you were to fall into
the Ohio River to-morrow, and the only person near enough
to rescue you was one of the boys you have just chased over
to Green Street; and suppose you should call on him to save
you, and he should recognize you as one who stoned him
to-night, could you reasonably expect the boy to aid you"
There was magic-like silence for a few moments. Realizing
the providential turn the moment afforded, I then said, " Boys,
all of you who will, from to-night, take as a motto, 'Live and
let live,' hold up your hands." It was unanimous. "Since
Emancipation-day colored boys have wanted to sell papers
and black boots, but whenever they appear they are run off
the street. You can not help seeing, from the story I have
just told you, that you may sooner or later find yourselves in
trouble, and you would think it a great hardship if certain
boys should drive you out of the streets, and thus prevent your
making a few pennies to get your living. Now, I am going
to take a vote. All of you who will, from to-night, agree to
let the colored boys of Louisville sell papers and black boots,



7
 



TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



hold up your hands."   It is needless to say the cord in
their hearts that vibrated to sympathy was struck. There
was a ready and a unanimous response in favor of the colored
boys taking their chances and making their living in their own
humble profession. Acting in good faith, from that night to
the present there has been no opposition to the motto, " Live
and let live." Many times since, reference has been made to
the thrilling incident of that evening by boys, now grown to
manhood, who were present.
   Another and equally interesting incident was that of per-
suading a large number of boys, ten years ago (many of
whom were young men), to quit the business of blacking boots
and go to trades. This humble calling was never regarded
more than as a temporary job, without the shadow of a trade.
The second winter of the night-school found at least eighty
full-grown young men who, for want of suitable encourage-
ment and advice, were still hanging about the hotels, saloons,
and street corners, in some cases using the business as a pre-
text for loafing. Just how these hays were to be induced to
quit the boot-polish trade and enter manufactories was a diffi-
cult and perplexing question. But, as in the case just referred
to, which settled the variance of race and color, the opportune
moment came.
   A well-known merchant one day inquired about the suc-
cess of the night-school. To the response that it had a good
outlook, he declared he would never give any further assist-
ance to the support of the school as long as boys over fourteen
years of age remained in the trade. He qualified it, however,
by adding that when that result was brought about he might
feel encouraged to continue his subscription. I realized in a
moment that the dissatisfied merchant had given me the clew
that might, if utilized, secure results long wished for. I
thanked him heartily, and while in the school the next even-
ing arranged for a full meeting of the boys. The following



8
 




TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



Monday night was the time set, and a full house was the
result-some with only standing room, and all anxious to
know what was going to be done. A few moments were given
to remarks of a general character, with short sketches in the
life of street-boys and others. Then incidentally I asked every
boy who felt thankful to the merchants for the benefits of the
night-school to indicate it by holding up his hand. The ex-
)ression was approved. A further request was then made as
to their feelings for the good advice and for occasional enter-
tainments. This was also heartily indorsed.
   To make it still more emphatic, I said, " Boys, you have
just expressed, in a very prompt and decided manner, your
hearty thanks for the night-school and other favors bestowed
upon you. I am now about to give you the best advice I can,
and let all who are willing to act on it hold up their hands."
There seemed to be a spirit of reluctance to vote on the ques-
tion, for fear it might in some way place them in an embar-
rassing position. I reminded them that only good advice had
been given, and there was only one desire among their friends,
and that was for their good. A renewal of the vote brought
a unanimous show of hands. I then repeated the saying of
the merchant who refused to give aid to the school so long as
there were any boys over fourteen years of age blacking boots.
"This, boys, is the best advice I have ever given you. I now
say to every boy over fourteen years of age who wants to
make a man of himself, never black another boot, but go at
once and learn a trade. If you do not, boys, the business
men will not support the school longer, and here are one hun-
dred boys under twelve years of age who will be deprived of
an education, while you large boys have enjoyed two terms,
giving you each a fair start." It was a solemn moment. Many
shed tears, not knowing what to go at, after having blacked
boots from boyhood to that night. I assured them in the most
kindly manner of the unreserved sympathy felt for each of



9
 



TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



them, and spoke of the pleasure it would give their friends in
after years to find them mastering some profession, trade, or
manufacturing enterprise. A general hand-shaking followed.
Each returned to his humble home from the most important
meeting of the two winter's schooling.  All over fourteen
years of age had fairly voted themselves out of a temporary
livelihood, but which some really began to think was a life-
calling.
   The next night witnessed a small attendance, and that only
of small boys. Inquiry has revealed what a daily experience
has since confirmed, that that night relieved the city of Louis-
ville of what might, under other circumstances, have devel-
oped into a troublesome element; and the good effect of it is
further confirmed by daily meeting with the young men who
answered for the last time at that roll-call as bootblacks and
as members of the night-school.
   It might be interesting to trace the history of many of
those boys, now grown to manhood and occupying positions
of trust and responsibility. One is a much -esteemed em-
ploye of the Western Union Telegraph Company. Another
is money clerk of an express company. A third is general
agent of a railroad transportation company. A fourth is a
successful farmer in Tennessee. Two brothers are industrious
bill-posters. Two own a line of hacks. Some are machin-
ists, molders, and others are in various branches of business,
and one is an assistant secretary of the Young Men's Christian
Association. Jimmy Cooper, a bootblack, firm in notions of
self-reliance, two weeks from that night took the position
of cabin-boy on one of the lines of the ocean steamers then
plying between New York and Liverpool, England, and filled
the position three years. Others entered various professions
and trades. It was a genuine and strictly practical step, in
the fullest sense securing the greatest good to the greatest
number.



10
 



TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



                  IT WAS KINDNESS.

   After all that is done and said, this sentence, "It was
kindness," is the secret. This expression may be fairly named
as the "crown jewel" in a catalogue of the most valuable
expressions in our language. If a boy is sick, visit him; if
his fingers are cut, bind them up; if broken down, stock him
with papers or blacking; if arrested, follow him to jail and
secure his release. Reference to a few of many cases must in
this pen-sketch suffice.
   That of Matt. Devine, whose foot was accidentally crushed
between the couplings of two railroad-cars, between which he
was trying to pass with his elder brother's dinner. I heard
of the accident two weeks after it occurred, and went imme-
diately in search of him. It was on a bleak and cold day,
and a strong western wind in December went howling mourn-
fully past the three-story brick tenement, on the Ohio River,
at the foot of Bullitt Street. A little boy, acting as guide and
holding my hand, said, as we reached the head of the dark
stairway, "Now we are on top; when the door opens you will
see a light, and that 's where Matt. lives." The door opened,
and I stepped in. A pale, care-worn woman replied to my
question about the wounded boy, pointing to a bed. I stepped
up and was greeted with a smile from little Matt. Then,
introducing me to his mother, he said, "It's Mr. Hogeland,
the friend of the newsboys." I had not met her before, and
in her affliction she was very deeply distressed. She thanked
me for my sympathy, and said the family all knew me through
Matt. and her grown son Jimmie, both of whom had been
newsboys. I arranged for the removal of Matt. to the Ken-
tucky Infirmary, where, a few days later, good doctors came
and cut off the crushed limb. Careful nursing for nine weeks
restored the boy to health, but left him a cripple for life.



11
 



TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



   During Matt.'s illness an incident occurred which deserves
special mention as furnishing an illustration of how we learn
to help others when we are helped. I called to see the mother
of Matt., and noticing a sick child in the place formerly occu-
pied by her son, inquired, Who of the family is sick Mrs.
Devine replied, " It is an orphan girl, suffering with disease of
the heart. I thought, as the Lord sent you to take care of
my son, whom I could not treat, I would in turn take care of
this poor, homeless child." It was indeed a beautiful incident,
and puts to shame the so-called claims of charity of many
families who close their hearts and doors against neighbors,
and sometimes against relatives, in hours of affliction.
   A few weeks after Matt.'s recovery I visited the newly-
opened school on Bullitt Street, made up largely of the news-
boys from  Fifth Street and the river-front. Mrs. Emily
McGinnis, the teacher, requested one of the boys to come for-
ward, and, in response, Matt. Devine stepped up. I took his
extended hand, and was informed by Mrs. McGinnis that the
school had been failing for want of scholars. Matt. volun-
teered to hunt up new ones. His canvass from First to
Twelfth Street was rewarded with an increase of nearly forty
new scholars, which from that time forward made the school a
success.
   I could, with like good results following, multiply cases to
show how one good act follows another. While addressing a
large open-air meeting, nearly a year after this circumstance,
an intoxicated rough in the audience showed a disposition to
interrupt me, and asked in a very boisterous manner who the
speaker was. A voice near by said, "That is the man who
saved Matt. Devine's life." The effect was electrical. I suf-
ered no further interruption, but received many expressions
of commendation, and a hundred boys and girls before me in
the street, belonging many of them in families where the sons
were newsboys, formed in single file, and by request I shook



12
 



TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



hands with each one; and for two squares, under the bright
moonlight, many followed as an escort. Who, I will ask, can
blame me for especially liking those in the humbler walks of
life, when they give such strong proofs of appreciation of
kindness shown



           MATT. McCUE-FOOT CUT OFF.

    Attention is called to another incident almost identical with
that of Matt. Devine, and the moral lesson it teaches merits
attention in these pages. I refer to the accident, on August
17th, to the little six-year-old newsboy, Mattie McCue, residing
at No. 49 Fifth Street. Providentially I happened near by,
and the screams of a boy at the side of a passing street-car
invited my attention, and a moment later I stood beside him
and bound my handkerchief about his crushed and bleeding
limb, and then, stepping into a telephone-office, notified three
leading physicians of the accident. An hour after the injured
leg was cut off above the knee-joint, rendering him, as in the
case of his namesake given above, a cripple for life and an
object of deep solicitude to his grief-stricken parents. Atten-
tion from good friends, including the ladies of the Flower
Mission, proved a great relief to the mother. Along with plans
suggesting themselves for assisting the family was the opening
of a branch wash-room for newsboys in that vicinity in charge
of the little boy's mother, compensating her from the News-
boys' Association fund. The plan being approved, tables with
basins and towels brought one hundred children of all sizes;
and now, after eight weeks, there is no abatement in the
attendance, and from all a hearty expression of approval, and
" more clean faces and better order there than for ten years
before." So say some of the neighbors. Thus the sad afflic-
tion of a poor little six-year-old newsboy is blessed in extend-



13
 



TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



ing and encouraging a much-needed and highly-prized reform.
A vigorous constitution and careful nursing were followed
by a speedy recovery, and the little fellow, on crutches, can
be seen daily on the principal thoroughfares, selling "The
latest papers."



         THE BOY FOR SHELBY COUNTY.

   A friend inquired if the boys ever deceived me or took ad-
vantage of my kindness. I regretted to say that they did, and
will mention one or two instances.
   In July a boy of ten years applied to me, saying he was an
orphan, and wished to obtain assistance and a home. I de-
termined at once to send him to a well-to-do farmer residing
in Shelby County. After boarding him a few days and replac-
ing his worn-out clothing with a good second-handed suit, by
arrangement I called at the wash-room and asked for the boy
in question, and was informed by the office-boy that he had
slept out. While pausing to know what to do respecting the
disappointment his failure to go would cause the farmer, who
was expecting him at the station forty miles away, a boy,
whose parents were dead, spoke up and said, " Mr. Hogeland,
please send me in his place. I need a home." " Do you really
wish to go " I replied. " Yes, I do," said he. " Then make
haste and come along. Where is your clothing" said I. "All
I have is on my back." And out came the little form with
coarse pants and shirt, but no coat or shoes. A hasty walk of
five squares brought us to the train. After seating the little
fellow I spoke encouragingly to him, and inquired if he had
any word to send to any one. " Yes," said he, as the tears
trickled down his care-worn face, "You may say good-bye to
the newsboys for me." We can only hope he may yet make
a good man. The boy who was expected to take the place,



14
 




TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



but failed to be on hand, proved to have practiced a deception,
for he was arrested a few days later, at the request of his dissi-
pated father, on the charge of being a truant and runaway,
and by order of court was sent to the House of Refuge.
    The case of John Pelton was none the less interesting. He
 was supposed to be an orphan boy, but was in reality a runa-
 way; for he had a father, mother, sister, and brother, as the
 sequel will show. Johnnie made his appearance in Louisville
 some two months ago, and was boarded a portion of the time,
 given a good outfit of second-hand clothes, and several times
 stocked with newspapers. He seemed industrious and honest,
 and made no objection to getting a place, provided one could
 be found. Two weeks later, on the occasion of the singing of
 the choir of the House of Refuge at the Christian Church on
 Chestnut Street, Johnnie, with some forty other boys, was
 present, and his case being made known, Mrs. Boyd, residing
 at 816 West Chestnut Street, proffered the supposed orphan
 boy a home. On calling next morning at the Association
 rooms on Jefferson Street, I met a gentleman giving the name
 of Mr. Joseph Muzio, of Gallipolis, Ohio, and who claimed to
 be the father of Johnnie Pelton. A brief explanation satisfied
 me that the man's story was a true one, and that the boy had
 practiced a deception. I lost no time in calling at the resi-
 dence of Mrs. B., the lady who kindly proffered him a home,
 and returned with him to the rooms where the distracted father
 was in waiting for his son. For prudential reasons I had not
 told Johnnie of his father's presence in the city, and on enter-
 ing the room the boy walked directly up to where a half dozen
 boys were sitting before the grate warming themselves. They
 seemed aware of what was about to transpire, and each gazed
 intently toward the father of Johnnie, who sat in the corner
 of the room and unobserved by his son, almost breathless with
 suspense for a sight of his lost boy. At this moment the boy
caught sight of his father, and after a moment's hesitation ran



15
 



TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



and threw his arms about his neck. I can find no language
to describe the scene that followed. There were a dozen per-
sons present beside the boys, and they all shed tears. There
was a perfect reconciliation between the father and son. Three
of the boys in the room were also runaways, one of whom was
so impressed with the scene of reconciliation between Mr.
Muzio and his boy that he asked me to write to his mother
in Indianapolis and tell her he wished to return home; and
finally all three of the boys expressed a desire to go back.
Little Johnnie left home in March last to reside with his rela-
tives in Nashville, and stated that he had been cruelly treated
and ran off, beating his way on the train. Finally he arrived
here and practiced the deception, and caused his parents months
of untold agony of mind. " Many nights," as the father said,
"the boy's mother never closed her eyes; but oh, how thank-
ful I am, and how rejoiced the mother will be over his return
home!" He was full of expressions of thankfulness for our
keeping the boy until he found him.. But the Lord must
be praised, and not our feeble selves.




TWO WHO DIDN'T RUN OFF-WILLIE McGUIRE, OF
       CHICAGO, AND THE PITTSBURGH BOY.

  While some are mentioned as running away, we shall give
briefly the cases of two who, from dire necessity, are out on
the charity of the cold world. It is three months since Willie
McGuire, aged twelve years, on a hot day in September called
at the wash-rooms. He was in a most pitiable condition; and
if the story of his sufferings be true, his case is one of the most
extraordinary it has ever been our privilege to fall in with.
His parents, he stated, died suddenly last February, in Knox
County, Illinois. As the neighbors were not willing to keep



16
 




TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



him, he struck out for Chicago-a few weeks there; then a
trip to Cincinnati, remaining about the same length of time;
thence to Indianapolis. In the various places, blacking a few
boots daily and selling some papers constituted his means of
support until he reached here. His clothing was in a fearfully
dilapidated condition, while his head was coveried with a spe-
cies of honey-combed ringworm. The hair had completely
fallen off, leaving him a fearful spectacle to behold, and caus-
ing every body at first sight of him to involuntarily get out of
his way. Arrangements were made for boarding him, and the
professors of the Medical University of Louisville agreed to
treat his case gratuitously for the use he would be in a series
of lectures before the students. He has now well nigh recov-
ered, and will soon be furnished with a suitable home. As
evidence that the boy had enjoyed training in a Christian fam-
ily, he has on two or three occasions, when the Association
was holding outdoor meetings, stood up before large crowds
of persons and repeated in an impressive manner the Lord's
Prayer.
   John Bryer, better known among the newsboys as " Pitts-
burgh," aged fourteen, very polite and well-behaved, made his
appearance in the city six months ago. His story is briefly
told. His father kept a saloon, and mother and he quarreled
eight years ago, since which time I have never seen them, and
have been trying to make a living for myself." Two weeks
ago thin clothing and the inclement weather caused Johnnie
to seek shelter at the newsboys' room. Not being well, he
made a request to be sent to the House of Refuge, which being
made known to its officers, he was atmitted. When asked by
the superintendent what recollection he had of his parents, he
replied, "Very little;" but said he could sing a song taught
him by his mother, and that was all, two verses of which
he sang in an impressive manner. I left him after accom-
panying him to the institution and seeing him introduced
                            2



17
 




TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



to the officers.  Like the case of the boy first mentioned,
and the one going to Shelby County, Johnnie was a genuine
orphan boy.


   In my address delivered at the June festival, mention was
made of some boys that had died. I shall refer now to a few
more circumstances of a different nature.
   The first winter of the night-school I inquired into the
number using tobacco. A show of hands marked all present
as using the article, and in reply to a request to quit its use all
voted affirmatively to try. Two weeks later a show of hands
as to how many had quit the use of tobacco indicated only
one. The boy next him charged that the boy had told a
falsehood. In the sharp dispute both boys were put on the
stand, and the one claiming to have quit the use of tobacco
took from his mouth some small sticks, insisting that he had
conquered the obstinate appetite. The accusing boy apolo-
gized, and the conquering hero-for such he was-received
the promised prize.
   While trying to enforce the necessity of brushing their
teeth, I pointed to a boy whose mouth showed the loss of
all his front teeth. There was suppressed laughter; and, -on
inquiring into the reason of that unexpected expression, the
boys stated that his teeth were not lost from lack of brushing,
but had been kicked out by a mule. Even this incident was
not without its moral lesson, for it was admitted that his loss
of teeth was through carelessness.
   On one occasion a well-known newsboy began stammering,
it was reported, through an effort to imitate another stammer-
ing boy. I sympathized very much with him, as his trade
was gone and his clothes were in a sorry plight. I set about
aiding him as best I could, furnishing him with a second-
hand suit of clothes.



, 8
 




TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



    I then remembered a cure for stammering, told by my
 father in my boyhood. It being simple, I will give it here,
 as it may profit others. I told the boy to place his tongue on
 the roof of his mouth before speaking. This being done, he
 discovered to his great joy that he was cured if he only ob-
 served the rule. The theory is this: Persons who speak dis-
 tinctly place the tongue against the roof of the mouth before
 uttering most words, although not conscious of it; while stut-
 tering or stammering persons let the tongue fall loosely in the
 mouth. That boy is now a young man, and has many times
 referred to his relief from stammering through this simple
 remedy.
   One day, more than six years ago, I was met on the street
by three boys, who informed me of the arrest of one of their
newsboy companions, who by accident had broken a carriage-
window, and the police were taking him to jail. I went on a
double-quick with the boys and found the police within a few
yards of the prison. An explanation brought all back to the
store, near Fourth and Green streets. The lady occupant of
the carriage was much excited, and offered to let the boy off
on payment of two dollars for the glass. It was clearly shown
to be an accident, and fifty cents was agreed upon as the price
to be paid. I pleaded strongly for the lad, and was delighted
when the lady agreed to forgive him on the promise not to
do so any more. The policeman said he had no case against
Jim, and let him go.
   Four days after, while seated at my desk in the rooms of
the Mechanics and Manufacturers' Exchange, of which I was
the Secretary, I was called upon by the same boy, who laid
a pocket-book on the desk, saying that he had found it. The
owner, hearing who had found a pocket-book with over thirty
dollars in it, called next day and left two dollars to reward
the newsboy's honesty. Some think his being rescued from
prison a few days before, after breaking the carriage window,



19
 



TEN YEARS AMONG THE NEWSBOYS.



stimulated him to an honest purpose; hence his remark, " To
show you I am a good boy, here is a pocket-book I found."
   I will relate another incident, which illustrates in a favor-
able way the necessity of bearing with the faults of so-called
bad boys, that happened nearly ten years ago, while giving
second-hand clothes to some sixteen