New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-06-11

mary Cralnlng, W0lCn usually la0C0 ten
days or more, Is over, they are en-
ployed in active service. The amount
Of work done by these 600 boys may be
inferred from the fact that the messen-
ger receipts average about $500 day.
The greatest demand for these boys d
during the holidays, and the dullest
period is during portion Of the sum-
mef. The boys answer summons ct
all hours from $50 boxes, which are
in welling-houses, and on the corner
Of blocks, in all parts Of the city. In
some blocks in the upper part Of the
city nearly every house has an alarm
box by which messengers may be sum-
moned for any purpose in less than five
minutes.
The uses to which these hundreds Of
boys are put appear to reveal many
curious phases Of character. There
are many young men, too, who are
employed by the company for various
purposes. OF late there has arisen
demand for escorts to places Of amuse-
ment, and from one house to another.
In the former case the address Of the
person applying for the attendant Is
taken, and word is autographed to the
central Office for an escort. The one
who answers the summons is given the
address and letter of introduction,
and accompanies the applicant to what
ever theater she desires. The escort
pays for the car-fares and tickets from
money that his newly-made friend has
given him. He attends her back to the
hotel and receives two dollars fol, his
services.
The custom Of employing escorts
has become regular practice, and APP
pears to be growing in favor. One
evening recently there were eight la
dies at six different theaters, including
Booths during the Kellogg opera sea-
son, whose escorts were furnished 'sto
order" The men employed for escort
duty are carefully selected, and in the
majority Of cases they are in the serv-
ice OF the telegraph company during
the day. As . rule the demand for
these disguised messengers comes from
married women, widows and maiden
ladies Of mature years. Not infre.
quently two women apply for one es-
cort. 1t 10 said that the daughters Of
. prominent professional man and of q
wellknown clergyman are among those
who take advantage Of this curious
custom. Many Of the women who ap-
ply for these attendants are strangers
to the city, ignorant Of the situation Of
the theaters.
Men, however, as well a. women,
employ escorts for various purposes.
Many, in fact most Of the men, too,
who require the services Of the mes
sengers, are strangers who wish for
guides to show them the "si9hts.''
The new Postoffice and other public
buildings are the places which the ma
5ority OF the country visitors desire to
visit. It is said that one old gentle-
man from the country who has been
repeatedly fleeced'' BY gamblers,
keeps . good guide by his side every
hour while he is in the city. These
guides appear with or without uni
forms, according to the fancy Of the
applicant. Most Of them are expe-
rienced men, who understand human
nature, and who are thoroughly &C.
quainted with the city. The charges
for guides vary from thirty five to sew
enty.five cents an hour.
Another use that is made of the Dis.
trict Telegraph messengers ID to attend
children, particularly girls, to and
from school. About seventy-five chill
dren are ct present called for in the
morning at their homes and In the aft
ernoon at their schools BY messenger
boys. It Is said that there Il one moth
or who will not allow any of her chill