The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-29

THE RAGGED NEwsBOYs OF NEw IORK-The
immense circulation Of newspaper, in this city ha,
crea.ed a class Of he most cunning. wide. awake,
ndefatigabe, industrious, noisy little urchns tn II
grace the streets of any city, and make the air
vocal with their shrill and OF unmuscal cries
Residents in thu. ei.n.h~,,lecs TINT they seldom
excite any remarks from them but strangers and
visitors are as much struck with the riscs
of the newsboys as they are with the hustle and
activity OF our population, or the appearance of our
streets and buildings
The first thing which stranger naturally
wishes Tor in the morning is to see some of
the daily papers, and his want is readily sup
piled by one of the thousand ubiquitous little news
boys running along the streets and yelling out the
names of the papers he has for sale. The ragged
appearance Of this young messenger Of knowled,e
generally excites the wonder and pity of the
stranger, who does not understand the tact;cs
of the newsboys, and if he is dsnosed n b.
benevolent, be drops a quarter into his w;,,;o,
palm. A gentlemen told us, the other dav &c
rencontre which he hai had with on. Of
these Juveniles, which 0il serve to illustrate
their character. The boy was a smart, hardy look.
ing little chap of about ten years. attired in style
loose and airy ii not very fashionable. His Jacket
which might have been in the W ord twice as long
a. hlmself, was worn and torn at the elbows and nm
the sleeves, and he had good deal of htchinp With
his shoulders to keep 1T on at all His pants, which
had been originally made for person much his
senior, and were tucked up at the bottoms to aos
bis bare feet to make heir appearance, were in
keeping with the jacket and his shirt seemed never
to have had introduction to soap and water. and
in hat ,1a
and hands. lie had little bundle of papers under
his arm, and bis hand was engaged in holding up
the weight of cents in his pocket The gentleman
was astonished at his ragged condition. and asked
him why he did not manage to get himself dressed
better "Oh, said the little fellow, nave got
rev coat at hone if liked to wear it, RI.
why don't you wear it p cob never wear il ex-
cept on Sundays "But why not IL isasb,me 70
see you in that state'' The precocious little seuu,
gave his quesioner alook which conveyed, as clearly
a. look could, that he considered The object of i,
a precious green un," and replied very naive,y-
" Because, when wear dirty ragged clothes, peo-
pie take pity on me and buy my papers, aud the
more ragged am, the better sale get for nv pa-
pers This reply was perfectly satisfactory to his
in'erogator, who had not before understood the
intimate relations which u ragged Goa, bore to mer
camille success in the newspaper line. aud he ac-
knowledged that the newsboy was truly wise in hi
generation
This boy may be taken as a type Of his class
They are smart, intelligent and cunning to n re.
narkable degree. Their nellecs arc early develop.
ed and sbarpened up by rivalry in trade and by the
necessity Of providing for their daily wants Some
Of them, though they look poor and ragged, never.
theess save money, and grow up be very respects.
bic men We know some Of them who started SELL
ing the HERALD and ether newspapers, who saved
money by their calling, and who are nov wealthy
mers in the country, proprietors Of newspapers
Or editors. or lawyers according to their several
astes, the force Of circumstances So let no one
light or contemn the little newsboy, but give him
,.lpng hand in the way Of his business, and he may
yet emerge from his rags become an esteemed oiti.
,tn, and establish for himself :" local habitatop
and a name'