The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1880-11-23
.KIDs."
The Process OF Capturing and
Turning into Begglrs and
Thieves Young aud Inno-
cent but Suecept-
ibls Boys.

There are very few people living liz
this city who ever O. do'sn 10 the
levee. To the mai # citizens
life on the leyee is - m"c', a thing
unknown as life in Cana, maybe
more SO. Nor is the study Of human
ity in this section an easy matter,
The dainty searcher after knowledge
who should 20 down there on !: tour
of investigation would be shocked in
deed and thoroughly di-cisted. and
would turn away with = blush CA his
face for his humanity, ard Vet would
have obtained a very superficial view
of the lite of that quarter, and would
be still ignorant of nine-ten'hs g! the
misery, the squslor, the vice. and sb-
iect debasement OF the dwellers lh the
foul ders Of this lower city If ST
Louis. Curiosity sized upon a
Chronicle reporter who CHANGED To pass
down the levee the ether day, and
caused HIM to peep behind the scenes
to penetrate some Of the many OF that
long row of saloons which look down
over the levee at the noble river that
flows by the gates of the city.
Brief investigation convinced him
that to zee and describe levee life in
its true light and character would neces-
slate some precautions. In passing
one of the places where, under the
name of whisky. decoction is dis
pensed which contains more beiiiger-
ency TO the pint than probably any
other LIQUID brewed on this side OF the
river Styx, his attention Was attracted
by the presence of several boys
children of tender years. and in some
cases comely aspect-who formed part
of a motley crowd engaged in drink
ing beer from tin cups, the ef-ct OF
which rotations were distinctly appar-
ent in one or two of them.
A remark addressed to rough but
houest-featured bystander elected the
response:
:Oh, sure them's kids what the
buns has to beg for EN-. They've
had good luck to-day, and its droonk
as 6ddlers they'll all be afure night.
The reporter wished to learn the re.
lat;cu sustained by the ''kids' toward
their adult companions, ard also the
causes which had produced these I'M
natural alliances which made of mere
children habitues of the lowest quar-
ter of St. Louis.
To insure successful and compre.
hensive investigation. the reporter set
about divesting himself of every out
ward vestige Of responsibility aud as
sumed the garb and character Of a
tramp. He directed himself for a
suitable outfit to one If those ''slop
shops" or cheap second hand c!o'hiers
who divide with the salooni-ts the pos
session of the business portion OF the
levee. He requested to be furnished
with some of tine worst wrecked tog'
oerv 10 the business.
Deprecatingly glancing at the nat'y
habiliments of the reporter the dealer
produced some rather dilapidated gar
ments with the remark:
Gals recht! You want to schwap
Veil, 1 give you. You want SONS
boot. AIT it?"
Assuring the obliging and eager
Israelite that exchange was not intend
ed, that a purchase was the object o.
the visit and finally that the clothing
already shown was much too good 70,
his purpose. the reporter finally pick
ed from the refuse of the stock al
outfit In every way suitable for the oc
casiOn.
Having made the necessary change
the amateur detective bent his steps
in the direction of the saloon ALREADY
referred to. lounged into the same
with the air of one accustomed e.
such surroundings and took up po.
sition at the stove.
About the same scene was in pro-
gress as had first challenged bis atten
ton, the only difference being that the
dramatis persona was becoming some
what more hilarious The late ar
rival did not long escaDe the notice of
the jewellers who were rapidly passing
tin cups nominally holding quart
from mouth to mouth, and ere many
minutes the following iD stage wits.
per reached the reportorial ear:
"Say. 'Brocky,' who's that teller
by the stove; it amt 'Omahar Shorty
is it?'
"Naw, yer fool. Omahar
Shor,y's' cock-evea. It's some bum
just got in. and he amt one o the
old uns, either. or I'd know him."
Having delivered himself of the
foregoing the last speaker strobe over
to the new Corners place.
"Hey, pard, you just in. amt
yer?"
"Ya-as. [ Jest got in."
"Wered yer come from ?"
"From Chicago"
AAOH tic <AISou ttdu WI SfuCh
now? Have you got any dust ?"
Without committing himself to any
account of the Alton road AZ 10
''chuck," which was understood to
mean food. the reporter acknowledged
the possession OF little "wealih,"
wherein he was forthwith invited to
join the party.
The invitation was accepted accom-
panied by the contribution Of tine
price of FIVE quarts of sour beer TO-
ward the general entertainment.
which act of fraternal murificence at
once established the claim to good
fellowship and the hearty recognition
IF all the "bums."
While the beer was being drawn
he reporter took occasion to more
'urvey the place and its occupants. A
oar was there, of course, but devoid
If anv of those ornaments requisite to
l,tract the custom Of the aesthetic
lrunkard. 1t consisted simply of an