Morning journal and courier., 1882-10-16
md the new blacking was speedily abandon

ed.
 Bootblacks are excellent judges of human nature, and can tell to a nicety whether customer is 'ten- center" who will pay & dime without grumbling, whether he will not be coaxed into expending more than the customary five cents. The street boys who are industrious usually combine the boot polishing industry with that of newspaper sell ing. After o'clock they throw aside their brushes and box and can be seen running hither and thither with the newspapers. The despised Italians also swell their carefully guarded savings through the more or less profitable adjunct of a banana peanut stand.
 Colored bootblacks are generally the most expert in the business. How do I do it ?' echoed a dusky polisher. ''Well, you see boot polishing is a fine art. In the first place, you must see that your customer is comfortable. A cushion in the chair is often worth a dime in itself. Then you give him paper to read. Barbers make big mis- take. Customers don't want to be talked to death. If they getting shaved let them go to sleep if they want to. If they get ting their boots shined let them read the news or admire works of high art. Here the ar tist waved his hand toward the chromo sub jects on the wall. Never speak till you spoken to, but go right on with a soft brush until you can see your face in the polish. Then you take whisk broom and brush the trousers leg, and then you are done. Graft
 
 just as you will come again, sir. to get pa tent leather polish, which I offer a standing reward of $5 for any man to beat"
 A great number of the bootblacks lodge in the lodging houses of the Childrens Aid so- ciety One hundred or more live in the News boys Lodging House in New Chambers street. They can get breakfast, supper and lodgings there for eighteen cents day, and receive five cents interest on every dollar that they choose to put in the savings bank. Any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday even- ing visitor may see the bootblacks hard at work with their books. slates and pencils or pens learning to read, cipher and writs. They also have regular competitions in writ ing compositions. The juvenile efforts are carefully preserved by the donor of the prizes. They are characteristic productions, and some of them are very amusing and in- genious. Another gentleman regularly awards 8 prize to the boy who saves the most money during 8 stated period. The competition for this prize was so lively that the bank had to be enlarged. The bank is 8 curious affair. It Is & big square box divided into many smaller boxes, each having over little slit at the top number on polished plate cor responding to the wardrobe number of the depositors. The boys savings vary from BIO to $2O a month, and when the boxes are opened on the first of each month the deposi- tors are free to do as they choose with the noney. Some put it in savings banks others buy clothes, and others still spend the money in grand holiday and in going to the theatre. The closing of the Grand Duke Opera House is still deplored. On winter evenings after study hours the gymnasium is open in the top story, and then the boot blacks, as well the newsboys, abandon theatre going for the healthful recreation of indoor athletics. They romp and tumble, and make much noise as they wish until bedtime.
 "What becomes of them after they give up their business of blacking boots ?" Superin- tendent Conner was asked.
 They keep at it," he replied, ''until they are 16 or IF years old, and then they find employment either as errand boys or porters in stores, or they go to the South and West with the parties sent out by the society. Many of them remain there and settle down as farmers, and some come back and go into stores. Some work their way up into very good positions, where they earn fair salaries few keep travelling over the country and come back and see us and their old associ- ates occasionally, and then start away again"