New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-26
THE CARRIERS MESSAGE.
MANY OLD MEN WILL REMEMBER THIS

CUSTOM. WHICH is NOW DYING.
From The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
There are thousands who have been born and
reared within The walls Of city who have never
heard or carriers message" The words
signify nothing to them; in fact in many Of the
smaller towns the carriers message is a thing
Of the pass. But there thou sands Of bust
ness men in middle life who well remember the
message to go with the New-iear's edition q
the paper. 1t was supposed to be the perQusiti
OF the carrier Of the country weekly. In many
cases he was the ''devir' of the office and his
small wages were made to assume respect
able size when he was through with the de-
livery OF his paper on Newly Day.
He stopped at every home. and woe betide tn,
selfish subscriber who refused to buy a copy
Of the message. The next time the carrier
came that way in a beating storm he took no
pains to put the weekly in dry place. 1t had
TO take its chances In the rain. and when the
subscriber got his paper it was in a damp bad
condition.
or course. the price to be paid the carrie
rested with the generosity Of the subscriber
The rich people Of the town gave 81, and some.
times even more. The enterprising merchants
gave 30 cents, and the average gave a quarter
while the poor gave nickel a dime Some.
times good. motherly old woman would thinA
Of the hard 10; Of the poor little carrier boy
and to protect him against icy days would kn
him pair Of mittens and a good. long, warm
muller. Sometimes a pair OF Shoes was his por.
ton. and occasionally an Overcnat made oven
In fact. anything and every thing was right and
appropriate.
The amount that carrier would get from
a paper with Il circulation Of thousand in {
prosperous town varied. but a gentleman wht
at one time ran country paper says his carrier
boy would occasionally get as muah as $lou
putting everything on a cash basis There ma!
have been times when money was plentifut
when .he carrier boy would reap reward eyed
greater than the amount here given.
But what did the message consist or? Al
most everything. in fict. but in the great ma.
jority OF cases 1t was poem dwelling on locat
49,. st. no nd Kxsin n "
good hopes for the future and CHEEKY wishes for
every subscriber to The Buge.'
Most generally 1t was printed on single sheet
OF paper about twelve by eighteen inches. and
In some cases very much larger handsomely
bordered with scrollwork. the pride OF the
foreman OF the Office. Sometimes there was
border OF advertisements and sometimes 1t was
gotten out in four-page shape. occasionally
the carrier would be very ambitious 10 outshine
every hing that had gone before. and he would
get out quite a pamphlet with several con-
tributions by local poets. prominent minister's
and lawyers. In fact the poem was generally
the product OF some one who could rhyme aptly
and touch off the happenings Of the year In
good natured and laughabe way. even con.
graduating a young mother on the advent OF
her first boy.
As a type Of the poetry. here is a verse that
Is recalled upon the spur Of the moment:
The carrier boy hopes next year will bring US
plenty that's good to eat
And that high school football team VIII
quit from getting beat,
And that all the children will learn their les
sons and babies never cry
And the town have plenty Of fireworks on tho
next Fourth Of July.
or course the carrier boy had to have few
verses that set out In graphic way all the
woes and troubles that beset him on his route
Especially would there be verse that would
run thus
Through rain and hail and seet and snow.
The Buge's carrier boy most faithfully has
worked,
Oft-time when freezing. on and on he'd so,
Rather than have 1t said his hard work he
had shirked."
At the close there would be verse OF
pleading nature. to let you know that he expect.
ed something more than your blessing or good
wishes 1t might run thus
Reward him we'll all those who have been
served
And from your door turn him not empty away.
Each week he II come to brighten up the home
And leave behind more than passing ray
Perhaps the custom is still observed In SONS
Of the smaller towns. but in the minor cities it