New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-27

ton had sought in the right direction they might
have foand material for DER true tale In The lives
Of many OF the boys who once were crowned kings
Of Ncw-York They were the lads who sod the
great daily papers in the days of the war and when
the draft riots made Of the metropolis hotoed OF
revolution But they were not boys In the generic
sense OF the term. Many OF them were men grown.
and prided themselves on reputation Tor tough
ness and their ability TO hold their own In scrm-
mage. Some of these boys emerged from the com
monplaceness Of their positions into better things
and few OF them attained to fortune and posts
of honor They reclaimed by fire. too. and
not In the fashion set up by the romance writer's
THEY ARE REALLY BOYS NOW
Believe it or not there IL mighty little romance in
the life OF the modern newsboy. He Is generally
little chap, the average in at the present time
running under fourteen years for the army OF
youngsters who stand between the newsletter and
the paper-buying public He is wise beyond ms
day and generation, tlreess and assertive to de-
gree combativc and relentless toward his foes and
withal sympathetic as a girl for a comrade in
distress and ready to chip in" on collection Tor
a sick fellow whether he knows him or not 1t Is
not so LONG ago that OF the lads in the News
boys Home just off Park Row was seized with
fatal illness The boys themselves assumed the re-
sponsibiy OF the funeral and its attendant expense
There is a touch OF the romantic in this but the
boys who originated and carried the idea out did
not view 1t in that poetic light. with them II was
practical matter The lad had been member OF
their family in the big building. They had all
bunkad in the same dormitory. they had rol.icked
together I'm the airy gymnasium the top floor
and many the time they had skylarked In the
big shower room over their frequent bath. He had
who cared for him living. and much less were
they likely to for him dead. Simply he had
been one Of them. and that was enough. So he
sleeps his long sleep in the narrow chamber whose
he'd az Is
boys benefacton
1t is the knowledge of such deeds as this that
brings these arabs of the street much closer TO the
heart OF the wayfar.ng man. To the ordinary push
Ing business character. however to the bobby"
on his beat to the s;reecar conductor to the truck
men and-well. TO humanity in general-the newsboy
is a monumental nuisance He is always, TO make
it brief. just where he DO the most good IN
booking traffic This is not an altogether baseless
accusation for 1t be conceded that the little
chaps take chances. In that they not far
from the broadc.oih coated gentleman who takes
his chance on the floor Of the Stock Exchange.
Their persistence is Que Of their pecuartles only
the other evening man who is rather inclined 10
distinctions walking down Park Place toward
the elevated road station. newsboy approached
and shouted in his dull "Extry' Ere's yer extry
evening blank. blank. blank" naming his stock in
trade and ending up with shrill cry on the
last paper. There response The man
still advanced his chin buried in his coat collar,
for the evening chilly. The youngster gave II
up and as he retreated another VINO from mixed
motives Of deicacy and possible regard for ethics
had hung back, sprang to the side OF the pedes-
TRAN He intruded himself In front OF the moving
figure and waved his papers val!anty under the
very OF his intended victim. while he yelled
and howled for attention. When that boy opened
his mouth his face disappeared and IT was no
wonder that he broke the spell that wrapped the
man about in a mantle. He paused. looked down
| =.
into his own and said. Eth. what Is that you say?
Extra all about what? The Armenians? TN. give
me the papers
After the bargain had been concluded the embryo
merchant went pattering mp the sidewalk and as
he went this his triumphant acclaim to his
disappointed partner: HI Jimmy. youse weak! I
woke I'm up and sold i'm al me fuat editions
His conscience not in the least disturbed the
transparent fraud he had committed. for as the
baseball season was over. the first as good as
the last in his estimation and Independent OF that
he was overstockcd with ''hrsts."
DOWNTOWN HEADQUARTERS
As one sees them. the newsboys OF to-day are In
the main made up OF bright young Americans and
irish boys. Co.ored boys rarity. and the Ital-
ans have not yet made any particular advance in
this line Of trade They mostly concerned with
the cheap afternoon papers. ard they supplied
by the newsdea ers In various parts OF the city.
| The downtown ads assemble every afternoon In
Frankfort-st. and there proceed TO make life bur
den II at least two stalwart policemen and as many
! private watchmen. They eat and play and fight In
the street with delightful disregard OF municipal
regulations but Il Is that they are caught In
| this heighborhood paying any OF their favor.te
games Once H. "A while II half-dczen will he noted
grouped closely about and then 1t Is that the officers
assume an aert air. for the tendency 10 gamble ~
| rigidy dscountenanced. thanks to the guarda an
care oil the Chlldren'a Aid Society.
AT the homes IL. newsboys. which are rei-iy Tor