The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-01
DINED WITH SHAW
PRINCELY THOMAS TAKES CARE OF
BOOTBLAOKS AND NEWSBOYS.
Over One Hundred Of Them Marched After
Thar Bsnefactor to the Banquet Hall,
Where They Found Thanks
giving Ell Dorado.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and with
it came the day on which il has been the
custom of Mr. Thomas Shaw to give a
dinner to the newsboys and bootblacks OF
the city. 1t is a custum much honored in
its observance.
In accordance with his plan he an
nounced week ago that all boys follow
ing these OCCUPATIONS must call at his
place of business, leave their names and
receive numbers. This announcement
brought one hundred and nine boys and
two girls to be registered. They were of all
sorts and sizes, and they came without re-
gard to ''race. color or previous condition
of servitude." There were black boys and
white boys, and big boys and little boys,
and bright boys aud dull boys, and saucy
boys and modest boys. and noisy boys and
quiet boys.
By l o'clock yesterday the boys had
shifted the scent of turkey in the air, and
began to congregate at the business place
of their benefactor, and bedlam would
have been a very quiet aud dignified place
in which to dwell beside this noisy place.
At 2:30 Mr.. Shaw formed the column, in
two ranks, the two little girls in the lead,
and the smallest boys in front. the column
gradually slanting upward till it reached
the apex, which was the crown of a large
colored boys head. The brass band took
the lead, the column started, and going
south from the music store to Douglas
avenue east on Douglas to Lawrence,
counter march on Douglas to Main, north
on Main to the Woman's Exchange, where
the dinner was served.
The plates had been filled before the
boys arrived. and each one stood behind
his chair in a very orderly manner
till all was ready, and at sig
nal given by Mr.. Shaw they all sat down.
They fell too with an appetite that appalled,
the stoutest heart. Perhaps never before
in the annals of time, did food disappear
from view so rapidly. Plates that held a
goodly quantity of turkey and cranberry
sauce, roast beef, mashed potatoes, sweet
potatoes, beans and jelly, when the boys
sat down, were in five minutes, or less
time, licked clean as platter. They were
soon reflled and the process repeated until
the boy was filed. and then it ceased.
1t was typical gathering. When boy
wanted piece of bread which he could
not reach, the youngster who could
reach it picked it up and sailed it over
like one throws a card. When fellow
| wanted coffee he would give whistle that
would freeze the marrow in ones bones,
and rap on his cup. Il say, Cholly, how S
this?" But they were all happy, and that
was the end sought, the object to he COM
| passed.
| After the boys had eaten quantum
| Snit Mr nr.}a
introduced Professor J. NJ. Naylor, presi-
dent of the faculty of Lewis academy. who
made a few very choice and happy re-
marks, commencing the boys for their
manly barring and reminding them that
the future was before them and full of
possibilities: that Numbers of noted men
had been bootblacks or newsboys, and
that they had but to pursue the right and
all would be we'll.
| Mr. Otto Ecksteiu was then introduced
and he assured the boys that although he
had made many speeches in'the past few
years, he had never spoken before to boys.
He told them that the scene before him re-
minded him of the time when he used to
eat chicken and pie, and thought it was
very nice, and how he thought then that
was all there was to do in life. But be
had found out different, and he warned
them that they would find life rugged
road, but that if they would but b. true to
themselves, be kind, be truthful, be
honest, they would grow up to be
good mon and live happy lives. He
especially asked them to be kind to
the two little girls who were present, and
whenever one of them was trying to sell a
paper and one Of these little girls came up
lie ought to step back and allow her the
| first chance.
Both speeches were loudly applauded
! The little girls attracted most of the at
tention. They are sisters, and their names
are Augusta and Pearl Schrier. aged and
9 years respectively. They are bright and
intelligent, and answered questions mod
estly and quickly.
1t was Mr. Shaw's fifth banquet to the
boys, and some of them were veterans, AS
they wore badges dating as far back as so.
showing that they had partaken OF all.
Each boy and girl wore badge Of yellow
ribbon, on which was printed: "Shaw's
Thanksgiving Banquet to the Newsboys
and Bootblacks of Wichita: 1893"
Professor Blume and Mrs Sanford dis
coursed sweet music during the hour the
meal lasted. After all was over, the boys
filed out in an orderly manner, but once
on the street they turned themselves loose
and made Rome howl.