Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-20
TIE MANAGER OF THE HooDLuMs


The controlling spirit Of this assemblage is .
stern looking man. dressed In clerical black, with
a mass Of hair thrown back exposing high tore
head, and clean shaven face showing strongly
marked lines and the square cut Jaws.
''Looks like prize fighter" remarks visitor
in a whisper.
The comparison Is not an unjust one. and
when one examines the individuals that COM
pose this large school, one is apt to conclude
that il the leader is not prize fighter he ought
to be one. He is. however. Methodist minis
ter, who gives his entire time to the manage
ment OF this institution, and has acquired
reputation along the river front, as not only
hard but an effective hitter.
THE BARE FOOT BRIGADE.
There does not seem to be an abundance OF
clothes. and most of the boys are in their shirt
sleeves and bare feet. The girls are not so
numerous, and are better dressed. The singing
is accompanied with q piano and cornet,
played by young man, whose lungs act like
pair OF leaky bellows. and whose desparing,
almost asyonized expression OF countenance. In
dcate accurately to the sympathetic observer
the eob and flow of the wind supply When
the music ceases there is general hum OF
voices through the great room. Presently the
grim leader advances to the front Of the high
PLATFORM with a military stride and clasps his
hands. The noise subsidies somewhat, but the
congregated hOOdlums are restless The leader
flashes his eye from one part Of the hall to an
other. Then he opens his mouth aud speaks.
All the noise and hustle Of the great crowd Of
fdgetting children is completely lost i'm the roar
of that mighty voice. 1t penetrates to the
farthest corner. commands the attention Of the
most restless child and conquers every other
sound. When he ceases speaking there is al
most perfect quiet I'm the room. The leader had
evidently made no exertiOn to speak loud, but
used his ordinary tone.
The same visitor remarked in burst OF admi.
ration:
what chairman Of presidential conven-
ton he would make!"
THE MILITARY PRECAUTIONS.
But his present assemblage contains elements
that, if once started, would Guido the most viO-
lent political convention. The stern man in
black, with a voice like q steam hammer. is not
the only controlling power in the crowded hall.
The visitor can see certain strong bodied keen
eyed men stationed at intervals about the hall,
and every once in while these men are observed
moving among the seats, ready to check
incipient fights. and shifting about boys that
have tendency to make one neighborhood too
hot to hold them for any length Of time
THE PAY SYSTEM.
There is, however, no disturbance. Every
thing goes on quietly. The children are d.
vided into classes and teachers provided. The
mothers and the infant class are shut of from
the rest Of the school by glass doors. At the
end Of the school each person attending is given
card, which is equivalent to five cents. and can
be used tor the purchase of clothes, food and fuel
All these articles are supplied in the rooms con-
nected with the mission. There is besides
reading and coffee rooms and lodging rooms
and the mission, situated. as it ia, on the river
bank, amid hard population. is. as may be sup
posed, one Of the sights OF Cincinnati.
HOW THE PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR MINDS
1t would be Of interest to Washington readers
to note that of all this great throng of Sunday
pleasure seekers that fill the beer gardens. the
aters and other places of amusement, but very
small proportion find their way to the public
library and museums which open wide their
doors on Sunday.