The Washington times., 1901-09-09
THE NEWSBOYS' HARVEST.
Frequent Extras Afford Rich Oppor-
tunity for large Earnings.

harvest during this period when extra
editions are coming fresh from the press
every hour or two. Since the first tidings
of the attempted assassination were re-
ceived on Friday some of the little vend-
ers of news have scarcely slept. To them
extra editions are always source of con-
siderable profit. Not alone is the cry of
'extry'' enough to create ready custo-
mers, but the price paid is always
nickel-or rather five cents is the mini
mum figure. Sometimes dimes and less
frequently quarters are. tossed to the
newsboys in exchange for their wares.
The papers are sold to the boys at the
usual wholesale rate. Their profits are,
therefore, increased three and four-fold.
There are any number of hustling news
boys with leather lungs and non-tiring
legs who have made from So to $40 a day
ever since the President was shot. They
seldom accept less than cents for their
papers. In the case of The Times they
clear at this rate a profit of $3.50 per
hundred
Often the boys call for three and four
hundred papers on an extra edition and
dispose of their stock in an hour
One very back boy. known to his con-
freres as "Gawge." took out several hun
dred papers on an extra edition Saturday
afternoon and sold them ALL
He appeared yesterday morning in a
new suit of shrieking design. His trous-
ers. rolled hign at the bottom, however,
disclosed the most startling part of his
costume. The socks that covered his gen.
erous ankles were in pattern fantasy
on the brightest sunsets and rainbows.
There We're few of the color shades not
represented. Every time he turned the
hosiery shimmered in the sunlight and
made him the most envied newsboy on
the row.
1t has been no uncommon sight during
the last day or so to little chaps
staggering along with bundles of papers
almost as large as themselves They al
ways have enough energy left, however.
to Justify proclaim their papers.
The business acumen of the little mer-
chants is something remarkable. As
rule, they do not hesitate to invest all
their cash in papers at the wholesale
rate. knowing that the anxiety of the
general public and the eagerness for news
of any kind from the bedside of the Pres
ident will make ready sale.
Faster even than the news of the Presi-
dents wounding spread from mouth to
mouth on Friday does the news spread
extra is about to come out. From out
alleys and from prominent street corners
where the gamins are wont to congregate
there is at such times race to the office
from which an extra is to be issued
Black and white. all sizes and ages,
they crowd about the doors of the circu-
lation department. Bluecoated policemen
have difficulty in keeping the sidewalks
clear. The prospect of good-sized profits
often attracts fulI-grown men These are
generally looked upon as interlopers by
the vociferous youngsters, who paradox
ically are ''old sta gers at the business
Many are the tricks and subterfuges re-
sorted to in order to hinder these persons
from getting their papers as early as the
legitimate ''newsboys-"
When the rumble of the presses starts
and is heard on the outside of the build
ing there is an increase of the tufnult
among the waiting boys. Tightly clasped
in the hand of each newsboy is the money,
the exact change usually, which he in
tends to invest in papers
Finally the extras are ready to be
placed on sale The crowd OF youngsters
one fellow. Fifty" yells another.
Others who are feeling themselves capa-
BILE of larger business call for hundred
pers. hot from the cylinders and still
smelling of the ink are counted out with
almost incredible rapidity.
/ With papers tucked snugly under his
arm, the little purchaser darts through
the door on TO tn street. Seldom is II
that he hesitates which way he shall go
or where to lind market for his papers
Bawling the paper at the top OF MS voice,
he races along the sidewalk If 1t is near
" time for the departments to close he
rushes by persons who would purchase
without stopping, knowing that MS larg-
est profits depend on being first al the
door of the Government buildings when
the clerks come out.
Some of the boys who come out with
several hundred papers in their arms
stop on the curb and lay down their bur
den They quickly distribute some of the
papers to other boys for whom they have
been purchased and in turn these boys
dart away.
Some of the older chaps have in a man
ner graduated the business and are
in a small way wholesale newsdealers.-
They have smaller boys working for them
on commission or salary, or else they ad-
vance to the poorer ones the money with
which TO buy stock of papers. charging
for this a commission and relentlessly
demanding payment at the end of the
selling period.
when the crowds throng the spaces before
the bulletins, the newsboys are on their
tiptoes with expectation. They hope
every minute for an extra, knowing well
that the crowds standing intent on the
bulletin boards and eager for news will
prove ready patrons In out-ot-the-way
corners some of them seek a short nap.
The Italians who keep fruit stands on
the corners patrOniZed better during
this season of prosperity by the news
boys than ever before. Money is plen-
tiful with the youngsters. and a rule
they are inclined to spend their earnings
freely.