The Savannah morning news., 1900-11-18
MESSENGER RoYs' Queer DUTIES.
Contract with All sides OF Life-rak-
Ing Cnre OF a roper.

AMh ' WFE VI
From the New York Evening Post.
The boy who has 20 shift for himself n
large city deserves great credit II he
grows up to be IAN ornament OF society"
and this applies with particular force in
the case Of the uniformed messenger lad.
lie sees service by day and by night, and
there Is scarcely any place. from the
palaces Of the rich 60 the tenements OF
the poor, from churches to the lowest
haunts OF vice. 10 which sooner or later
hls duty-.or his uecesslty-does not take
him. 40 Tor the thing be has to DO. they
are bcwildering IN the multiplicity. and
as for the characters with which he comes
ia contact they are as diverse as human
nature. Not even the Newspaper reporter
sees as many sides Of life as does tho
meascuFer-hoy. The former. moreover. IL
seldom more than a recorder. but fire.
quently the ngcr-hoy IS a participant
and agent in what goes forward
Sometimes he Is a benefactor IN queer
rulse Under such headings would come
that boy whom an aged and inveterate
topcr periodically employed to accompany
him when he started out to enjoy the
delights OF tipping without becoming
hopcessly lnobriated. The sole business
q the boy was 20 watch for the moment
when q should become evident that his
patron was going when Il became his
function ruecly TO strike down the next
glass that was raised. The shattering OF
the wine-cup proved almost invariably an
effective signal. the old man consenting
20 DC LED home and compensating the boy
with heartfelt thanks. Very similar. but
more depressing. was the case OF the wo-
man who WIS a victim OF drinks. and
was accustomed to rent room IN
hotel-"not so FAR from here said the
down town superintendent who related
the story-whcre locking herself In. she
would pour down liquor until intoxicated
As "a guard while in that condition. she
always employed "a mesEenger-boy who
watched the whole process OF incbratiou
and remained until the woman had slept
on her stupor This was dull pastime
for the boy, and the same one never want
ga tho job twice
Not seldom Ia the discharge or offensive
n issi0ns the lad comes TO grief. One was
recently employed 60 obtain evidence for
divorce suit. aud being suspected. was
badly beaten. Another was engaged 20
follow on his bicycle the carriage OF
newly married pair whose destination
rudeiy sportlYe friends desired TO know
The object of the trailing cyclist was
somehow OWNED. aud the indignant bride
groom. assisted los the coachman, dcmol-
ished the wheel and bruised the rider,
MesscnNars have been summoned TO take
pampcrcd pct dogs out Tor an airing. This
Is regarded as delightful occupation bur
il Is otherwise when a baby Sc committed
20 their charge. which has happened But
tho lads prefer even this to the task ~
leading a blind person about the park. As
general guides about the city they are
not seldom employed. and some women
hire them as escorts and guardians while
On shopping tours There Is an authentic
incident Of a woman who. having pressing
need for cash-te.ug visitor whose ere
rnlttaucc had failcd"-gavc a messenger
boy whom she met on the street dia-
mond ring 20 PAWN Tor her. lie turned up
az the hotel with the money.
In the commercial and financial world
the messenger Is a factor. A iirm in keen
competition with another desired 90 know
- whom and On what quantities It's rivals
wares went. aud hit upon the plan % trac-
ina deliveries in the city by means Of
messenger boys Ahout Il dozen lads were
eueaged who loafcd IN tho nelghbor hood
watched the loading OF the trucks, made
memoranda 81 the goods, followed the
wagons TO their destinations. and brought
back full data The representatives of the
enterprisiur firm called Immediately upon
fts CONNIE tltor's customers. Al the Stock
Exchange there has been need Of 30 boys
ever since election day. but tho company
can supply only 100 II cannot get tho
right material To be OF value in Wall
street the boy must know the region
thoroughly. be acquainted with its Jargon.