St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-26
CHILDREN IN DANCER.
Some Startling Results of In
vestigating, the Child La
Dor in st. Paul.
Vice and Temptations Con-
stantly Kept Before the
Messenger Boys.
Cunning Kids Who Keep Their
Ages Back From the La
Dor Officials.
Food for Thought for the Nor
aiists and Philanthropists
Of This City.

country and all European nations are
endeavOring to solve to-day is the one
relating to the cause of crime and vice,
and the best methods of stamping ont
these twin demons which menace the
future generations as well as the pres
ent. Volumes by the thousands have
been written by the greatest politicians
and educators of the century. hundreds
of laws have been passed, all tending to
one common end, fitting the rising gem
Grafton TO cope with the evils and
temptations which will surround
them as they reach manhood.
Following the example set by the great
powers OF Europe, the United States
adopted the system of public education,
and our schools to-day are kept up at an
enormous expense, so that every child,
be he the offspring of pauper or mill
ionaire, may have the equal advantages
of coed education, which will enable
him to go out in the world we'll
equipped for the fight. The state of
Minnesota possesses a school system
second to none in the cOuntrt, and the
city of st. Paul points with pride to the
magnificent educational establishments
which are scattered over the city. But
what will the public of this great city
think when they learn that thousands
of young children are not only not at
tending the schools. but are engaged in
emplOyments where they meet vice and
crime i'll their most horrible shapes.
What answer can our lawmakers give
when they are asked the question, ''Whv
do you allow children OF tender years
to be employed in a calling which de-
mands of them that they shall visit
houses Of ill-fame, sale Ons, gambling
houses, and every plague spot which
our social system allows to flourish in
our midst?"
are these children likely to grow up
law-abiding citizens, or are they des-
tined to fill the prisons and jails
This question is one of most vital i'm
pOrtance, for it strikes at the fOunds,-
ton of society and menaces not only
the future of the few. but also that of
every inhabitant of this vast country.
The writer of this article, one even
ing last week, was called on matter of
business to the central police station.
A gang of hardened rutfianS had been
gathered in from various parts of the
city. and had been placed by the police
officials safely under lock and key. They
shouted to one another from the cells,
and filled the place with their blaSphe-
nous language. SO horrible were the
OathS that the police officers were COM
PEELED TO close the door of the office to
keep out the terrible sounds which came
from the prison. Suddenly the street
door opened. and in walked pae-faced
lad about thirteen years old. The night
was bitterly cold, and the poor child was
clothed in most insufficient manner.
had hi 81,
his feet, and wore knickerbocker suit
Of thin serge. His face and hands were
numbed and blue with cold.
Was he poor OutcaSt and vagrant,
seeking the shelter of the tramp room
for the night?
No, he was the servant Of rich mas
tiers, who had sent the poor lad OH
Most Horrible Service,
placing his mind, soul and body in
jeopardy, in order that they might reap
the benefit of cheap labor.
He was messenger boy.
The lad evidently had been on SIM
liar business before, for he said to the
officer in charge of the station, "What
numbers" He was inquiring the num-
Der of the cell in which was confined a
most hardened Scoundrel, who was de-
S!rOuS of communicating with friend.
The boy opened the door leading to the
prison. and walked uD to the cell he had
been directed to. He was assailed by
oaths and blasphemy from the occu-
pants of the cells he passed. The man
who had called the messenger boy,
through the aid of the police telephone,
directed the lad to go to most notorl-
Gus house of ill-fame to inquire for
one of the inmates whose name
was given, and to inform the
cyprian that he desired some supper
and cigars The lad proceeded on his
mission. and faithfully executed his
work. The writer followed him. and
saw him enter the bagnio. A police
officer saw him pass the portals of sin,
but took no notice. The lad remained
in the house about ten minutes and then
departed, proceeding to a restaurant
and purchasing the supplies he had
been instructed to obtain. He went once
more to the Jail, delivered his purchases.
and received so cents in payment. This
lad may, and it is to be hoped he will,
grow up to be respectable citizen, but
if ne lapSeS into crime, what will he the
cause? The total absence of any fair
education, due to our laws which permit
child of thirteen to remain away from
school and earn $3.50 per week as the
servant of men who, for the paltry sum
of 30 cents, send him on an errand peril
Gus enough to wreck a man of years.
This is not an isolated case: it is oc-
curing nightly in this city. and in The
large cities of the state. The GLOBE
| representative WHO witnessed the above
case determined, if possible. to find out
what was the extent of child labor in
the city, and the results of the investi.
CATION speak for themselves. The com.
aicci of h.,c of l.trru Of toJ,
| and the secretary of the board of cor
rection and charities were consulted,
and they furnished very valuable infor-
nation on the subject. The GLoRE
representative also personally was Ell,
| abled to discover very serious state OF
| affairs as to the educational condition OF
many boys and girls employed in the
city, and the temptations by which
they are daily menaced, and the
statistics he gathered have been
| furnished to the state bureau
of labor. The first place OF
business visited was the Office of the St
Paul Messenger Telephone company.
| The young man who said he was the
manager was reluctant to give any in.
| formation, but finally consented to dc
so. He said that his company at the
present time employed ten boys, eight
in the daytime and two at night. The
boys changed the hours OF duty, so that
| each one got his share of day and night
watch. Their average pay was Sl2 to
| SIS per month. and for this they worked
ten and eleven hours per day. Their
ages ranged from thirteen to seventeen
years, the majority of the boys being
about thirteen and half years old.
| Two lads were in the Office at the time,
| and the GLOBE representative asked
them number of questions. One OF
the boys named Thomas Davies said he
was thirteen years old, his father was a
tailor. having five children. The boy
| had not been to school since early in
| September, he could
With Difficulty Read
a paragraph of the GLOBE, stumbling al
words OF two Syllables. His writing
was very bad.
Louis Shell, a boy of thirteen years
presented case of terrible ignorance
| He had not been to school since the
spring of 1889: he did not know wha
his father worked at, did not know if he
worked at all, but his father paid FOL
the household expenses. His mother
| did not work. He could bo