New-York tribune., 1896-05-03
MESSENGER BOYS TO RIDE WHEELS.
THIS MORE THAN COMPENSATES FOR THEIR DIS
COMFITURE OVER THE DETESTED
HOOK AND EYE.

Strange TO saw there were no signs of imme-
date revolution down at the Western Union leie-
graph Building yesterday afternoon, and strange
still tie management are not anticipating any stern
uprising on the part of the hundreds OF youthtui
employees of the American District Messenger ser
vice Not one of the youngsters has been found IN
the immediate vicinity of dynamite factory al any
time unless on business connected WIN the coHi-
pany This wel-ngh passes belief. considering the
reform that the officials announced must go INTO
effect this morning.
In addition to their other clothing of the regula-
tion make and pattern, silver buttons and all the
boys must wear the throat an old-fasnioned nook
and eye Again the former cap badges. with their
black enamel faces. must be changed TO one Oh
larger design and of more elaborate trimmings DIT
Infinitely more comfortable because made OF alumi-
mum. This innovation of the hook and eye was the
rock on which the friendly relations hitherto exist
ing between the boys and their employers threat
ened TO split wide open for who heard OF boy
who did not detest the very mention OF the Things,
whether they wear hump or not. IL smacKs oi
girls and dresses and other articles Of apparel ABOUT
which a boy knows little nothing and cares
mill site" less. Yet 1t is a very simple matter.
The coat is butoned the collar. and then to keep
It from spreading apart and looking slovenly, the
nook anl eye enter. drawing the cOlidr cIose "
rether and making the wearer look ieat ana trim
But the thought Of the apparent degradation over
the hook and eye is swallowed up In a distinct VIC
tory over the inauguration OF a new plan me com- n
pany h about to place In service lot Of bicycles as
an cxperiment and not one boy Of the army en-
ploycl would think for a moment OF Kicking apout
so small a thing as hook and eye Twenty blcycles
are TO be put on at once as a ''nyer, ana II they
work well under the guidance OF the youngsters. the
number Will be increased These bicycles are fur-
nsh.d. of cour ;e. by the company.
SuDernenden Shelton was asked yesterday
whore the boys learned 10 ride. lie said az d
matter OF fact he believed that good many OF tnein
have been attending the riding academies Ihen at
various times messengers have been called by
business men who had ridden downtown 10 take
their wheels home. II IL dollars TO dimes as A
wager that II a wheel were intrusted 10 any active
boy to be taken uptown ne would experiment win
II more less the way. II he could ride already,
why so much the better Tho wheels which nave
been secured already arranged for equltab'e
distribution. Some will he retained at twenty
sixth-st and Broadway for service generally among
the Offices In that locality and others at flfty-
elghth-si. and Flfth-avc. Another station VIII be
a: Sevcnty-second-st. and columhus-aVe Tor serE-
Ice north and south in that district OF asphalt streets
and avenues. II has been decided that the service
south OF Fourtcenth-st. shall be confined to the
trains OF the elevated roads as tho boys can make
better time. the thOroughfares being so crowded
with vehicles render progress slow.
Tomorrow morning a preliminary outing VIII he
he'd The boys will meet Ar Fity-cighth-st. AT
o'clock and wheel down to No. West Twenty
ihird-st. where they Will be photographed in
group. As a stimulus 10 good service the lads VIII
be paid one third Of all that they make with the
machines. by this means the officers hope TO secure
rapid transit for messages. Is IL any wonder that
with this sport In view the boys are not kicking
about the offensive hook and eye?