Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-11-07
rAe OFFICE eoY,s DISGUISE,
a Grotesose Figure That ssrprfseS
the Might City Editor. -loN'

. - 1 W. Nh.
n crotesa-e Figure That s.rprasss
the Might City Editor. 1913
Always treat the ofscs, boy with
due consideration" remarked the old
reporter TO the young scribe who had
Just come on the paper. because you
can't tell when he may be made man
aging editor" Irs aiser. b..
Men come and go on the great metro
politan dailies, and there Is always 3
chance for the right kind OF an ofsce
boy to rise. One OF the boys who are
bound TO get ahead now holds forth In
one Of the Park row newspaper Of
fees he draws a modest stipend
weekly. and when his duties are over,
instead Of shooting craps he hustles
about TO earn few extra dollars
In the gray dawn one day last week,
as the night city editor got of a
Broadway car on his way home. he
was assailed with the familiar cry Of
a newsboy selling his wares.
"You don't know me. do you. Mr..
Nj" said the boy.
mo, my lad, 1 don't" replied the
editor. "Who are your
why, 1 am Charley" answered the
boy.
Charley exclaimed the editor, as
he closely scrutinized the small figure
before him. clad In the most dilapidat-
ed and ragged garments imaginable.
why. what have you been doing with
yourselfF"
why, this is my disguise. These
are the toys I sell papers in" replied
the urchin.
YES" continued the editor, but is
1t necessary for you to wear such
clothes TO sell papers?"
Sure thing, it is" replied the lad.
cor wouldn't do IL. l can sell twice
as many papers in these things as I
could In my office clothes"
Just then n party of clubmen who
had evidently been making a night OF
1t passed by.
'Papersl Morning papers. All the
news about the big firer' shouted the
boy. Have a paper, sir?" he continu-
ed as he got in front OF the unsteady
group.
mo; get outr' exclaimed one Of the
men.
What yer gOtT asked another OF the
party, as he stopped to gaze at the
grotesque figure before him. The boy
was certainly a sight. A crownless
derby hat surmounted his shock OF
hair, while the shoes which he wore
were never stable mates. 4 tattered
and torn pair OF trousers incascd his
legs, while the rest of his diminutive
figure was covered by a mans old
frock coat. the tails OF which nearly
reached the ground. The sleeves Of
the coat were turned up. so he could
get his chubby fists through them. and
the lapels tapped around him like the
sails Of a schooner suddenly becalmed.
The picture was too much for the
inebriated clubman, and he laughed
uproariOusly. The other men also join
ed In the amusement at the poor boys
expense. They poked fun at his
strange appearance, asked him Ques-
lions about his family affairs and took
other liberties with him, all Of which
the urchin bore with surprising forti-
tude.
"HOws many (hic) papers yer got?"
finally asked the first man.
''Twenty-one. sir" promptly replied
the boy.
"Zash all right-take 'em ALL" said
the man. "S'muchT"
Sixty cents. sir"
The clubman handed the boy 81, and,
without waiting for his change, re
sumed his zigZag course up the thor
oughfare with the papers under his
arm.
Upon further investigation the next
day the editor learned that the boy not
only supported himself. but also con-
tributed largely TO the support OF lit
tie cripple sister.-New York Tribune.