The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-13
The NevsbOys and Nevsdealers Of London.


Gone of the results Of the penny daily news
papers in England has been the creation of a
new street trade,-Before the duty on paper
was taken OF, and when it was certain loss to
sell paper for a penny, no such thing was
known as the sale OF journals in the streets.
You could only obtain one at the place at
which it was published, or at the newsdealers'
shops, which were comp paratively few. When
pspsrs were brought out at penny, the Lon
fon boy conceived the idea that his time was
come, and began to cry ont the new wares.
The opposition was great The English are in
all such things conservative, and hate with all
their hearts any novelty about which they are
not formally consulted. Pursy old gentlemen
tried to stop the trade, and mplaiued to the
magistrates that the boys were a nuisance
The police were called upon to interfere, and
at one time it seemed as If the shopkeepers
would have all the trade to themselves. But
the public want was imperative, and every
thing had to give way to it. .....s
w.. ... .. THE NEwsBoYs. "..
1 cat the present moment the proportion Of
the circulation of a penny daily paper which
is in the hands of the boys is large. Some of
them commence with half-a-dozen copies, find
out good standing place, and soon increase
their business. | have known some to get a
goodwill at particular corner, which in
years time they have sold for twenty pounds.
These boys fetch the papers from the various
metropolis members of the News Brigade as
they are termed, are daily at work. These
youngsters wear red jackets and carry brass
badge on their caps. They are provided with
the neediul capital by body of benevolent
gentlemen, who have opened premises at
which they can board and sleep at the charge
of one shilling a week. The custom is to
allow the boys threepence on the first four
dozen sold, and one penny on every dozen
afterwards. They get in addition the other
advantages l have named, and some good
schooling besides. When the thirst for news
is exhausted, they often take to selling cigar
lights.
"In the suburbs boys who have become
little known establish a houseto-house con-
nection and leave the higher priced papers at
the doors from day to day; but the great bulk
of their dealings is with the penny press. The
profit allowed them is this:-for every dozen
selling at penny each they pay eightpence.
They are not allowed to return any, so that
when the stock is slow in getting off the boys
get frantic and almost force the passers-by to
purchase. They hang on the door steps of the
omnibuses and shout the names of the papers,
together with the latest bit of sensational in
teligence. 'EUeniny starr Second edition
Of the EGpreSS! Frighttul colliery explosion
Bursting of a balloon in the airl In some
cases-not many | am glad to say-the papers
are cried in this way by women. The expe-
rience is bad one for them. | have seen
women take to it to keep their children, and
have noticed a deterioration going on from
week to week, until they become as slangy
and coarse as the boys.
"Each of the lads taking certain number
OF copies has the right to handbill setting
forth the leading contents. This he either
carries in his hand, or lays in the gutter, or
hangs from recess of the window. But too
frequently the stand is at public house, and
the boy in that case is allowed to use any
hat he hat
ernable race The Office Of penny paper
between the hours of five and six o'clock in
the morning, and three and four o'clock in
the afternoon, is a pandemonium. 1t is i'm
possible, they tell me, to keep anything like
order among them. And yet they are as
shrewd as any beings that live. l went lately
through an Office full of them. There had
been hitch with the machine, and they were
passing the time in sporting, jumping over
each others backs and other similar horse
play. | was amongst them unexpectedly and
could not retreat. With humor which moved
me to burst out laughing despite an attempt
to look preternaturally grave, they made
path for me and offered mock bows in score
OF ways. One of them preceded me like a
master of the ceremonies. Now you young
wild Arabs, said he, where are your man
ners!' Yet the publishers tell me they are
honest. They manage somehow to read the
papers, and know the characteristics. They
public taste, and can tell to a nicely what
amount OF extra sale particular piece of ex-
ceptional intelligence will give. II is a curious
study. They estimate the public just as the
caterers at entertainments do, and know when
ices will be in demand, and when the sherry
and soda water. They are sharpened by their
life, and when they grow up the early training
shows itself.
NEWSPAPERS AT THE RAILWAY STATIONS.
"The blight of monopoly is onmany branches
of trade in England and it is especially so
with the newspaper trade at the railway sta
tiOns. To save themselves trouble the various
railways running out of London let out the
news stalls at the railway stations all along
their line to one firm, Messrs. W. H.Smith q
Son. Consequently, this firm are all-power-
full. They can almost dictate their own
terms. Their profits are higher than those of
any other agents. You must pay them to sell
your paper at a penny, or they wi ask three
haf-pence for il. For the Times they always
ask a haHpenny extra. can hardly describe
to you the position this gigantic firm occupy
in the metropolis. There is an immense
sale of newspapers at the railway sta
tiOns, where people waiting for train are
almost certain to become purchasers. Thus
the smaller newspapers court the Messrs
Smith. Every new journal goes hat in hand
TO them and offers specially advantageous
terms, in order that the new prints may be
duly posted. Smith, Sr., who was plain,
hard rd-wOrking man, is dead Smith, Jr,, who
4 reigns, is a smart, ambitious man, who goes
in for politics. lew years ago he was
/ Liberal but, on being black balled at the Re
form Club, he went over to the Tories. A