The herald., 1894-12-25
BY CLARA VAUGHN.

|
A couple of years ago, one frosty
winter, morning, when All the Com
forts of Home was on the boards in New
York. on overturned empty cement
barrel was lying at the foot of the steDs
leading to an I. road station. The barrel
Raudy theatrical posters bearing the
title OF the play. and held the sleeping
form OF a little newsboy; he had
crowded in. head first, and had drawn
his legs in after him as far ss might be
he had no covering except his scanty
clothing. and there he lay in the streets
OF great city alone and uncared for,
with All the Comforts of Home in blez-
ing letters above him.
The irony OF the situation was appar-
ent TO tho most casual observer, snd if
he ever woke up, he probably left his
nights lodging with little realization of
the part be had unconscously played in
the tragedy of life that morning in Lit
tie Old New York"
1t is not only in New York, unfortu-
nately, that there are news boys who
have no homes, or what is worse, homes
that are made wretched by cruelty and
want.
Los Angeles has her complement of
these little uniortunates, and because
they don't have to endure the cold of ice
and sleet and snow, they can't be said
to be living in the lap of luxury. Rain
and damp fogs, hunger and fatigue, are
all to be found here among them, as we'll
as cruel or neglectful parents, aud the
misery that comes from dirt and lack OF
clothing
For some weeks past between 20
and 80 newsboys OF this city
have been sleeping on the cement floor
OF the cellar in the Times building.
There has been scramble every night
to sea who could sell out HIS evening
papers soonest, because those who were
| frat to gain the shelter thus afforded
could crawl nearest the pipes warmed
| by the steam that runs the printing
presses there. the late comers being
obliged to use for protection against the
cold, gunny sacks, old newspapers or
empty canvas mail pouches, which they
stepped into and drew up as far as they
could reach, tying them securely about
the body.
! The morning after the last rain, two
OF these poor atoms OF humanity were
found asleep on the floor at the foot of
the ateps in pool OF water that had
poured in from the outside.
The reasons thess boys give for need
| ing aucn shelter are as various as the boys
| themselves. A woman entered this
lodging house one night looking Tor her
son. and upon finding him among the
little throng she was asked why she had
not come before, since the boy in uues-
hod ,ioh Co.. l.
| Of weeks, Nhereupon the answer that
she had other work to do besides look
ing for boya."
Such sample OF maternal solcitude
speaks volumes in explaining why the
| children OF such mothers prefer to take
advantage OF the cold comfort of a CO.
ment floor. with the congenial compan-
ionship of their comrades, and it ia
! wonder that they are not found in
worse surroundings and more evil COM
pany.
| OF course such life, while it may not
be distinctly Ungodly ia its tendencies,
ia not actively conducive to the cleanl-
ness that comes next to godlIness: and
it is not strange that these little chaps
are frequently infested with vermin,
whereupon they are avoided acorned,
scoffsd at until they resort to the only
remedy known to them, which Is Ito
take a boil," rite performed after the
following fashion: An empty coal oil
can ia found, taken to the river and
filled with water; fire built under the
can and the clothes plunged into the
water and boiled until they are thor
oughly cleanssd, then spread ont to dry,
the unfortunate lad or lads meanwhile
sitting near by covered with anything
that is available.
The ethics of the lives of newsboys
cannot be entered upon here, that is
another story" and must be looked
into and alter by the many societies
who make it their business or pleasure
to attend to such things; but the press-
ing physical need of the little fellows
who are homeless in any of the many
senses of the word. must at least be
made known.
The average citizen who is approached
on the subject Gays, "Why. what's
the matter with our newsboys? Think
of the poor little wretches in the east
they are the ones that suffer; our boys
in comparison have very easy times"
all of which ia true SO far as it goes, but
the facts related remain, and OF the
200 to 25O boys employed in selling
daily papers in Los Angeles, very
large per cent are in bad way as far as
homes are concerned.
One little chap, about years old,
was out with his bundle OF papers ves-
terday he had bright, shrewd face,
and keen eyes ever on the alert for q
possible customer; he was clad in mot.
ley array, and when asked if he lived at
the newsboy's home, the expression of
good nature kindled by his interest in
his work vanished, sorrowful, dogged
look came into his face, and he made
answer. "Naw, wisht did," The re-.
mark, why, l should think if You have
q home OF your own, you are in bigger
luck than good many OF the news.
boys" brought the engmatical re.
sponse, "Mebbe l am and mebbe
ain't," which reply, accompanied by
the change of facial expression, sug-
gssted many things that were perhaps
better left unsaid; at all events that
seemed to be his feeling, for hs refused
to talk more.
For those boys who stay away from
such homes as they are supposed to
have. for any reason, and for those who
absolutely have No homes to 60 to,
newsboys' home was stsrted here some
time ago. 1t is a large, roomy frame
building on Ducommun street. once the
home of G. Ducommun and his family;
and if Santa Claus will only give it
coat Of paint on the outside and
whiten the walls within it would be
eminently satisfactory as home, for