The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-11-04
VERY BRIGHT KIDS.
Cunning Little Messenger Boys
With Young Faces and
Old Brains.
How They Live and What Their
Duties Are-Keeping Watch
men Awake Clever Detec.
tive Work.

Kansas City Times.
No f.ures are more familiar upon
the streets than those of the messen-
ger Boys, or as they are styled in the
local vernacular, messenger kids"
Comparatively few persons are proba-
bly, aware, however, of the multifari-
Gus duties which tnese boys perform,
and of the strange uses to which they
are frequently put. A superficial ex-
animation into the system of the local
signal office and message boy service,
brings to light some interesting facts
not generally recognized, even by
those who are constantly availing
themselves of the advantage of the
service.
Before boy Can become a messen-
ger he mas to secure the written guar
antee of some responsible citizen,
owing to the fact that the signal COM
pany is liable to the extent of 500
for any damage which may happen to
goods left i'll their care. There are at
present in Kansas City only twenty
eight messenger boys, eleven of whom
are OH nj hit duty, and the remainder
on day service. The age of the
youngest is thirteen and oDe-half,
and tuat of the eldest eighteen years,
and they are paid from sl2 TO SIS
per month.
In attempting to describe the duties
of the messenger boys. the difficulty
is TO find for what purpose they ere
not employed. The calls ard de-
nands made upon the boys are OF
every possible extent and variety, and
those employed ON the night service
frequently have opportunities for o.
serving many strange scenes in the
drama of life.
KEEPING WATCHMEN AWAKE
One of the most important duties
which the messenger boy is called
upon to perform, and for which he
receives little, and no outside credit
is acting iD the capacity of auxiliary
Waterman 10 he large business hous-
es, and packing houses. Atstated H.
tervais the Waterman on duty at these
establishments turns in signal to the
Kansas City Office, showing that he il
on duty, ana guarding the building.
Fifteen minutes grace is allowed the
watchman III case of accident, or other
unlocked for occurrence. In case,
however. one signal is not received
thin the prescribed fifteen minu
messenger boy is dispatched with or
ders TO hunt for the Waterman and as
certain the cause of delays. The boy
takes with him printed form of ex-|
cuse, which the watchman fills cut,
stating his version of the cause of de-
lay in turning the signal, The boy
takes the excuse to the home Office,
aud it is forwarded TO the merchant
or packer, in the morning with the
regular daily report.
GUIDES FOR THE VISITOR.
Another duty which the messenger
boys frequently erfo m is that IF
showing strangers round the city.
An instance of this kind occurred only
a few days ago when a country gentle
man called at the signal Office, and
asked TO have boy detailed for hi.
use during the day. The first pace |
visited was pool salon, where the
frisky old gentleman played pool with
the messenger boy for a couple of
hours, payin all the bills. and buying
the boy as many cigars as he could
smoke. From the pool saloon they
took hack and drove all over the
city, the messenger pointing out the
various places of local interest. The
visitor took his guide to one of the
best hotels in the city, where they had
their meals, and in the evening the
theaters were visited, the days tour
terminating in the stereotyped pur-
suit of pleasure later On in the even
ing.
JUVENILE DETECTIVES.
Inc messenger boys DOtn on night |
and day service are frequently requir-
ed to do private detective business to
'atisfy the jealous suspicious of some
tyranDical lover. Il want a boy for
an hour or two" said a young lady |
the otber day, to the clerk at the
office desk, and when the boy was
ready she added. "follow that gentle
man, and come to this address to-
night and tell ME every place he
went TO, and as nearly as you can
what he did," Some of the boys are
unusually cunning at this amateur
detective business, and will follow
their quarry in the most artful, but
apparently aimless manner, until the
desired end is attained
Il Il I