The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-24
STREET URCHINS AT HOME.
Newsboys and Bootblacks Entertain
Their Friends in Their headquarters.
Formal Opening Last Evening of the Conn.,
Portable Home Provided for the City's
Unsheltered and Unprotected Boys.

No. % West Ohio street. with its glowing CRATE
last night as large company began to gather at
the first entertainment, the house-warming of
Newsboys' and Boot blacks Home. There were
l25 persons in the parlor, besides about fifty of
the boys, and the entertainment opened with
the boys, led by Johr 6. Blake, singing Hold
the Fort for am Coming which was followed
with prayer byitev. j. A. Rondthaler.
Miss Mollie Hay spoke briefly, saying that on
the l5tE of March last the home had opened in
tps basement on North Pennsylvania street.
The third week in September the new house was
moved into, and it was not possible to nave a
formal opening until now. This had been
brought about by the kindness of friends who
had helped to furnish the house, where she was
glad to welcome all to see the home and the
boys.
The ''Snowdrift Quartet Messrs. Butler,
Blake, DeWolf and Hoover, then sung, after
which Capt Eli Ritter spoke. He said that
several years ago he saw picture in Harpers
Weekly representing a large orchard with a
high board fence. There was one board of,
and coming out through the opening was boy
who had his pockets filled. Coming toward him
was the proprietor Of the orchard with a
switch held behind his back, saying, "Come
here, sonny; want to tell you something and
the boys reply was, "My mother says there are
some things little boys ought not to know"
The speaker went on to say the boys mother
boy ought not to know. The misfortune about
boys is they will learn too much about things
they ought not TO know. Some boys and men
spend their lives learning such things.
You boys" Captain Ritter continued, have
homenow. Business is better with you. No
body kick newsbov bootblack on the
street now without come reason for it. You
have friends. Nc boy can be taken to the sta
tion-house now without somebody inquiring
about it, which was not the case before this
home was started. One of the things you
ought nc to know is the trick of shooting oontz.
Some system ought to be adopted here, after
while, for lectures on history other subjects.
once a week. This is good place. and you
must make the most of your opportunities.
The Snowdrift Quartet sung Bow .wow-wow
and the Big Dog" which was greatly applauded.
Hilton U. Brown, of the dian8po!is News,
gave the boys short talk which was we'll
ceived. He impressed upon the boys that the
opportunity was before them, not to be Presi-
dents of the United States, but of being good
and useful men.
BERTHE Feibleman recited in an admirable
manner the pieces Guilty or Not Guilty" and
THE Bad Boy" The Gum Arabic Group"
VI 6hWUUSt DkOLueIS, as qudENeG VI young
sters call themselves, sung two negro melodies,
and were deservedly applauded, and Miss Julia
Cobb sung with fine effect. "Sleey, Baby Sleep"
John g. Blake said many persons had asked
the object Of the home. 1t is to help the boys.
Their labor is dignified by being licensed, and
they are given the protection of the law Boys
cannot be driven off the sidewalks now, and
tramp boys are kept out of the city. There are
nearly 500 pootblacks and newsboys in Indian
apolis. Prior to this ordinance nothing was
done to help them to better life or to restrain
them. There was better restraint
than the Jail and the work house. They have
place to eat and place to sleep They pay for
it, and it is home. One boy. as he
Strengthened himself in bed, when this place
was opened, gave sigh of satisfaction and said.
Il tell you this beats Hotel de Boxcar." Anoth-
said de cops can't git rs hore.' Some peo
pie make the mistake of supposing this institu-
ton gives everything to the boys. 1t does moth
ing Of the kind. They pay sufficient to cover
cost They pay cents for bed. They are
made self-snpportiDg and sef.reliant The su-
perintendent now has nearly a hundred dollars
deposited with her by the boys for safekeeping.
Miss Mollie Hay said the people of the home
would request persons buying papers or patron
izing boot-black to see that they wore license
badges. 1t would help to enforce this ordinance
which had done so much good.
The visitors then shown all over the
house. from the kitchen and Mushroom to the
dormitory. Everything was in admirable order,
the beds calling for special praise. The manage
ment wished it understood that this was not
dress parade occasion, but that callers at any
time would find things in quite as good order and
as cleanly.