The Washington critic., 1888-03-10
BOYS WHO SELL PAPERS.
a Plea in Their Behalf by an Old
Member of the Craft.

paper, sirP
"Yes, give me THE CRITIC"
The paper and the change were passed
over with "thaHk you, sir"
The writer of these lines was acCosted as
above by manly little fellow on the cor
ner of Ninth and + streets, Monday even
ing, who, with large bundle of papers
under his arm, was striving manfully to
keep his stock in trade moving, and at
the same time save them from being
damaged by the whirling snow as it blew
around the corner in fitful gusts.
Engaging him in conversation at time
when there was little lull in his bust
ness, | learned the following.
To the query Of how many papers he
sold, he answered:
81 sell thirty-fiye CRITICS and twenty
five Stdrs.n
"Why, thought the star was the lead
ing evening paper" said your scribe.
"Well, it did use to be, said the boy,
"but now everybody is asking for The
CmTIC, sir, and can't understand it. l
sells more CRITGcs now"
At this iuncture the conversation was
suddenly cut short by my discovering
that l was addressing any further re-
marks to the air, and my newsboy enter
tainer was flying across the street with
his eye on q prospective customer, and
was soon lost in the crowd of Uncle Sans
clerks, who are always so numerous
around Ninth and + streets when the
great buildings of the Government close
their doors for the day.
Taking my seat in the street car soon af.
ter, on my way home, | fell into train OF
thought, and my mind reverted to the
days when, as a newsboy | too had often
had hard struggle with my papers, and
many day it was n pitched battle be-
tween myself and the storm. But, then,
whoever knew the genuine newsboy to
give up to circumstances or the surround,
ing elements.
NEwsBoYs HOME.
Since the charitable ladies of Washing
ton have shown an interest in the matter
of Newsboys' Home, and seem willing
to help the boys up the rugged hill tha
lies before them, l hope my remark!
won't 20 amiss.
First Of all, as a superintendent you
| want manly man, one who has claspet
| hands with adversity, a man who viii
meet the timid boy with a smile and {
| hearty invitation to come in, and let hin
understand that everything is for his com
| fort; man who never forgets that he il
a man when rebuking a boy for miscon
| duct and will say, Jack, my boy, that i
against the rules of the home; don t do i
| again, lad" Such one will win th'
boys admiration and at the same time
| gain his obedience.
Too often these institutions are pre-
sided over by a dyspeptic individual
with high choker and still higher voice
| who will greet the boy with, Come IN
| you brat, what are you standing there
| for" and, turning to his assistant, vii
say "take him back and scrub him
Such people only work for gain and have
| no desire to elevate the boys, not they
life is too short. Result Newsboy take
the first opportunity in the morning t
escape, never to be coaXed back, and tn,
lady who invited him to the Home will
see him no more.
Give the newsboy fair show and ther
is nobody who will appreciate it NOR
than he. Certainly, boy who shows hi
willingness to earn his living by selling
papers or in any similar calling deserve
to be encouraged.
In an institution where he could hav
kind treatment accorded him, and ;
pleasant room to read in or amuse him
self as he chose, the newsboy would b.
content. Many boy could be trained tC
become q useful man, and there are hun
dreds of men to-day who have risen t
fame in the commercial world who begal
| life as newsboys. The surroundings of
| growing boy are the great factors for gooC
or evil, as the case may be. Cheerful ant
pleasant surroundings beget the sam
traits in those that come under their in
fluences.
Then, too, fund might be placed il
the school to which boy could have &C
cess to when he had no capital to max
his purchase of papers, giving his note o
parole of honor to return the same out o
the proceeds of the days business.
That he would return the money ther
need be no doubt, for one who will wOrl
will not steal Give him your conlidenc
and you will not find it often misplaced
This plan works to a charm in the Ney
York Newsboys' Home,
A PLEA roR THE CROSSING SWEEPER.
Another waif of the street who deserve
encouragement is the boy who sweeps tn
street. crossings,
As the writer passed over one of on
street crossings lately he was accoSted b
small bit of humanity industriousl
plying q broom, with the words, "WiI
you please give me penny, sir, to hel
me buy a pair of shoes"
His request was granted, and as tn
writer watched him he saw many peopl
pass him by with irown, and say, "littl
beggar' or make some similar remark
yet he was trying to give the public a
equivalent in work for the pennies bC
slowed on him.
On the next block above was met tn
tout of work man" who was neye
known to work, and the coniiding put
lie bestowed their aims on him and sale
poor man, he is in hard luck" He di
nothing to earn the money, but he SO
more than the boy below.