New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-04-04
NEW ORLEANS /:
n(>sHAs MORNING, APRIL 4, 1858
rHE NEWS BOYS.

l went down the other night, In compan
Nth friend engaged in one of the newspape
O1Iiccs, to see how these boys live. 1t was abou
midnight, when they are coming back from thu
theatres, 70 take their suppers. In the frs
+" coffee and cake " cellar there were several
eathercd-little fellows from ten to thirteen
Years of age-taking their coffee, or just about
lighting their cigars. They were talking costly
Of the play, or what they had sold that day. or
some gambling exploit. They did not seem to
Be conscious of doing any thing extraordlnary-
Of being "on a spree" II was evidently what
they always did in the evenings They had all
1.-The manner of little men. There was one among
fhem-a little, slight boy, with rather deli
cate face and the usual news boy cap, with the
lining hanging out, and large pantaloons, split
M to the knew-who seemed to be quite a
Heading character. They all gathered around
lime, while he discoursed on something. He
lid not look more than eleven or twelve years
{old Ny companion said he was the most ac-
fcomplished gambler in all New York He
ecorned to sell papers, and made his living out
II the other boys by his skill. At g matching
ents he was unsurpassed.
They generally took coffee and biscuit the
poffee quite good. with white sugar, at three
ents cup. No one took any strong drink, and
suspect, as general thing, they do not drink
much till they are older. One boy with whom
Ne talked with said he had been at the theatre
jked the play very much had had a pretty
sood day--made four shillings, and hadn't been
fuck, d O. had no papers left on him. Another,
little German, had made six shillings.
Every news-boy has his own cheat and if
Ne invades the range Of another, he is well
ummeled when they all come back to the Office
he earnings are sometimes very good indeed /;
m active boy will make often from 62s cents to
Il day An execution in the city, or revo-
ntion in Europe, will raise it to 81 or SO. Sun
ays are the rich days for the news boys-a good
)oy netting then sometimes as high as So or 81.
they are very shrewd, and always see, or if
hey can not read, ask whether there is any
raGd accident or news on hand, and buy ac-
prdingly.
After sitting some time, we went out to some
their other haunts, and then to their SO quar-
6fs.1 The first lodgings were down dark
Eairway, under the sidewalk, in great char
pal box, where usually some six or eight sleep,
nth the huge steam press changing in their
1ars. Another was a little corner in the alley
" printing Office, where refuse and other old
aper is thrown; another the floor of the press
pom. Sometimes you will see them curled up
round the grating on the sidewalks, where the
loam comes through. Ii. summer they sleep in
Ne Park, and on the Court house steps.
a little fellow Of this profession came the
her morning to the office Of afriend of ours,
oker IN Wall street, and wanted a half dollar.
But why, my lad!" 81 mean to set up again
I'm dry" 90 But, haven't you any money at
n" Yes, he had five dollars at home. We'll,
NY don't you use that - He wanted to keep
~ for rainy days-it was all he had If he
nd get four shillings he would pay it up in
N or two. On further questioning it appeared
bad no home or friends. He boarded with
old woman up town, and paid her fifty cents
bed and coffee in the morning, and always
no down about five o'clock. The gentleman
ally lent him the half dollar; and in a day
two, true to his word, he came back, clapped
u piece on the counter with g There's your
neT, old cussi" and walked independently of.
The news boys all go to the theatre, and you
ln - them sometimes in the press-rooms criti-
ling the play, or gathered admiringly around
me one who is " taking of /" the favorite &C.
rs They are great admirers of the short |
ys," and the engine hands, but are seldom al |
rcd the privilege Of such company, They
IKE money easier than any other class of boys
the city, and spend it as fast as made The
res, gambling, drink and worse amusements,
Hke it off fast Last fall the news boys had a
kand ball in Tammany Hall. Some of their
lends in the newspaper Offices were invited, and |
hey say that it was os orderly and decent as |
my thing Of the kind could be. Every one was |
good clothes and not single woman of bad
eracter was admitted, though they knew all
y worst g. the city. Their sisters and others
qFy 1wssas of the ball.
Lille uuituer 81 tnfe class is feckoneu various I
I, by those engaged in the Offices, from 200 to |
10. The average age should judge to be thir- |
oen years. "What ever becomes of them y is |
question no one seems able to answer. They |
lsappear as mysteriously as the celebrated
Dst boys described by Sam Weller. With him,
Il might say, ssWho ever earn of any old |
ms boy, or who ever attended news boys
neral p
In one of our reseasches, afterward. we gained
y idea of their probable end 1t was the back,
9rk room of gin-shop, and there were some
q news boys, Of nolder class--perhaps eigh-
I'm or nineteen years of age-sitting around
q stove, SO Supplied with liquor, though it was
lily o'clock in the morning, that they could |
= answer question intelligently.
II seems to me the first step to throw kindly |
kduence about these boys and reform them |
h there is no reason why their business should
t be rs respectable as any other-would be to
lid them cheap lodging house.
This living in eating cellars, and sleeping in
Garcoal boxes and on steps, would make vag-
nts Of them necessarily. A cheerful board
house, with a reading room and library,
buld save many bright working lad, who is
birth something more to society than to die in
gin.shop. IN. Y. Times.
Tu. Tail Ia