The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-29

II .,,e newssoys of the city have anything
IN saw in the matter tand they have as
,nuch as any one eisel, the Richmond OF
the mex. generation VIII have most won
de,.eul population. Honest lawyers, STORE
keepers whose main object Will be to sell
as eheay, as possible with profit a secondary
consideration. rich men who give their
money 10 the poor, landlords who Won I
collecs rent from starving, tenan;s--all these
things and more these boys want to be
or 10 do When they reach manhood.
They view with scorn Inc prese'it-day
methods Of exchange, and have worked out
whole systems of their own, based on their
Insight into the errors Of the men of this
generation. The rosy-hued glasses through
which youth views the world nave not
yet been knocked from their hands, ana
They are Lot aware that the sea on "hlch
sails the ship of life is not without preahefS
md hidden rocks.
Each and every one of these boys has
an ideal. Each has already selected the
V,at. he would like 10 tread when he gets
to DE a man. But 10 persuade him to tell
you what this path is is another matter.
Convinced that had what is vulsariy
called a ''cinc.." IN interviewing a dozen
or more ncwSbors their AMBITION,
cncomgassed the five flights of stairs nee
essary to bring me down 10 their level
at bound, and smiled confidently as l
wcrded my way towards them Arrived
on the scene. however, The aspect chansed
quite materially. In the first place. when
should be choscn-the Srincy, diriy-faced
individual. or the c.ean-faced one with the
scent Of soap-suds about his ears and the
tell-tale water-rnark? After a careful con-
sheraton of this question the latter was
chosen as an experiment
Thus was the first E1ove made. The
clean-faced boys attention was attracted
and he was cordially invited to give an
account Of himself. TO proclaim to the
world what il should expect from HIM IL,
days to come. i:ut he fatty refused to
be interviewed. He didn't know what he
was going to be, or what he wanted TO
be, or, in fact. anything, pertaining TO him
self He was perfectly willing to tell
what his Girty-faced friend going to
te but he didn't know q thing about him
self
The next attempt was mado on the
youngster who loved dirt He was rather
small and an attempt was made TO over
awe him, but with sad results. The little
fellow managed to say, though very tim
idly that he hadn't the slightest idea of
being anything, and then be backed Off
a few steps. He couldn't, however, be
allowed, 10 escape thus easily. and was fol-
lowed. But the climax came when he
was asked most respectfully to give his
name The younsSter had gotten il
into his head that he was going to be
arrested. glanced furtiyely at the imposing
figure OF a policeman looming up the street.
then hurriedly over his shoulders, then at
me, and-fed.
Verify, matters were beginning to look
serious Was it necessary 10 take my
hat off wheIs I approached them and call
them Mister? 1t looked so. Decidedly
some decisive action must be taken. or the
day would be ANONYMOUSLY lost. So
changed my tactics ana approached the
enemy from another side l managed to
get one boy Into a corner where he couldn't
run, and after much sl>irmishing. man
aged to extract the all-mportant fact that
his name was Herbert Pallet. l thereupon
dropped the venture Johnnie and called
him Herbert, and he looked at me less
shyly. and. as l had fast hold on him
snd he couldn't possibly get away, he
decided. after much consideration of the
matter. that he wanted to keep q, dry
goods store. Herbert will be 4 great man
when. he gets big. He looks to be about
ten years cid now He has determined
to keep a drv-goods store the counterpart