The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-25
HARD KNOCKS THEIR LOT
The Messenger Boys Paths Not
StreWn With Roses.
Experiences in the Telegraph and
Postonice Service In Washiuaten-
h"zinG hs n Fine Art-Wc>t Point
ers Not Up to the Latest Tricks
Often Employed as Detectives.

There goes a youngster who sees more
Of life in one night than most of US see
in week" said Z young man who had re-
Gently been made secretary to a newly
elected member of Congress the other
night. His remark applied to a messen-
ger boy who had just come into the hotel
presumably to deliver a despatch or an
swer a call
Il know what am talking about, be-
cause | served over four years both in the
telegraph and postoffice service. You will
find no meek and quiet lad among hem
The work they have to perform calls for
both hardship and discretion. You must
know how to handle your fists, how to
make money in dealing with cabmon. and
most important of ALL how TO charge pee
pie more for your services than the COM
pany really allows you to. If they kick
you must know how to put on a bold front
and inform them in that emphatic manner
for which messenger boy is famous that
you will not take their message. This
is the secret of becoming a frst-class
messenger
"Hazing also plays its part in the mes
senger boys life. and there is more OF it
done among the Washington messengers
than any other in the United States. The
boys here make money, and they don't
want any fellow who won't ring in with
them. When a new boy arrives it is a
signal for the leaders to get together aud
devise some form of initiation that meets
the requirements of the case. If he be
a big, husky youth, so much the better,
the punishment is more severe, but If he
is small, puny youngster the boys are
more considerate
The initiation ceremonies never take
place until late at night when business has
quieted down. When everything is ready
the clerk having been informed of what is
to take place. leaves his seat and goes
to the front of the Office. The new candi-
date sits by himself on the bench quietly
smoking or reading some of the company s
notices. All at once with a cry like that
of band of Indians he is set upon by five
of the largest and toughest of the force.
Four of his tormentors hold hild. and the
fifth one has in his possession large bag.
If the victim kicks a sixth one belabors
him over the head and shoulders with
a board, but if he makes no resistance the
bag is pulled over his head and then 1t
is tied around his waist. After having
secured another one about his feet the
haZers are ready for the rest OF the pro-
gramme.
The plebe must then carry two of them
around on his back while he tries in vain
10 crawl with the two sacks tied around |
him. If he fails to respond with sufficient |
energy, a hardy youngster plies the board !
with telling effect about his body until /
he is only too willing to roll, If he can
lot crawl, rather than have his body |
)eaten black and blue by the boy with the |
BOARD. This is kept up until the candi
late is completely exhausted. II the |
loise reaches the ears of the chief opera
or. and he comes back, the boys make
| sudden dive to the alley leaving their
-ictim to shift for himself.
But this is not all. The candidate Is
subject to be hazed for a period Of two
weeks; he dares not sleep like the rest for
lis face will be given coat of lamp SCOT
nd then oil rubbed on it, giving him the
of one of the residents Of
arkest Africa. If that material is not
valuable he will be tied to the table, and
yhen hearing his number called he at
empts to get up. but finds that he cannot
move until released by the clerk.
In the special delivery service in the
,ostofice the hazing is more severe, the
Joys upon that force being all large fell
oNs me PIe"e tiitlS l4' ~! N''S va
.lso placed in a bag then four of the
argest messengers carried him upstairs
O the big mail Chutes where the large
,ags OF mail were shot down stairs for
lie was taken 10 the NOUN
II the chute, ana with a nearly one, Two
hree, he was thrown rather than
Topped, and in a second found himself
peeding through the dark recesses OF 4
unnel, until he landed with a thump
pom the desk Of the night clerk. Now
hat individual in my time was big,
trong Irishman, who would not hesitate
0 lick three or four of the boys at one
ime If they tried, as he expressed il,
10 get lippy' with him So when he
spied a cumbersome looking object ly-
ng upon his desk he generally picked it
p and threw il of on the floor, then
ntying the sack, liberated the captive
nd giving him few sound kicks babe
i'm be of.
There are many places around Wash
1gton which are anything but pleasant
o visit about u or l O'Clock at night.
.mong them are Fort Myer Barracks, / {
cross the Aqueduct Bridge, the Arsenal,
nd Catholic University. But OF these
hree places | think that the most dread /
d one is the Arsenal. Many were the !
-eird tales told by the older boys to the {
reenies about the ghost of Mrs. Sur
att appearing every night on the parade {
rounds at that place enyeloped in a
-hite gown. and crying Sic Semper Ty- /
annis' | remember that during the re-
itaI of these horrible tales my hair used
, stand up like pOrcupine quills {
81 shall never forget the night that +
isited that lonely place. It was about l
clock in the morning when I received the {
lessage. and after listening to the words a
advice from a brother messenger. not /
, stop at the gate II man cried halt