The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-29

TRAINED To SAVE MONEY.
LOndon's BootbIaclks Have Their In
terests Carefully Looked After.
Gondon Telegraph)

ferests Carefully Looked Afters
Nondon Telegraph)
Among the established and familiar
sights of the streets of London is the
red -jacketed shoeblack with his box
and brushes. Now, in its jubilee year,
the Central Red Society numbers be-
tween forty and fifty members, with
a permanent home in Great Saffron hill.
under the supervision of Mr.. Bird, and
regulated by a committee of great in
fiuence. Here most of the boys sleep,
receive their education in classes under
the dominance of the education depart
ment, and spend their evenings pleas
antly and healthily. On admission they
are provided with uniforms and imple-
ments free, but any renewal OF either
has to be borne to the extent of one
half the cost by the boys themselves.
Roughly, they go on duty at 1880 a. m
and return at p. m. The metropolis
is divided into stations. One of the
classes consists of regular stations. at
which the shoeblacks are stationed.
The other stations are occupied by the
boys in turn, three days at each being
the maximum stay. Naturally there is
great emulation in order to reach the
regular posts. which are generally the
most profitable, especially In perqui-
sites. 1t is an open secret that Char
ing Cross railway station is the best
post in the whole metropolis, but Lud-
gate station is a close rival. and there,
we are officially informed. is posted
the very best shoeblack in London
a genius in his way, who. be the
weather wet or dry, turns out boot
of glossy brightness with great adroit-
ness. 1t is opposite to mention here
that the harvest time for the shoe
blacks is warm, sunny day after
rain For very shame then the city man
must be brightly shod, and the red
coated lad appeals with almost certain
success.
The earnings of these hardy youths
are by no means contemplate. The
standard price of a polish is, as every
one knows, a penny. But the bestowal
of such a triing sum, especially when
to bootblacking is added the superfine
attention of brushing the trousers,
would provoke a look of blank amaze
ment, if not profound disgust Two
pence is an ordinary sum to pay, but
generosity knows no limits. How does
the boy dispose of his earnings? The
first sixpence he earns he takes for
himself, for outlay upon dinner. The
remainder is then divided into three
pal -, OiiC~Siit SUNS AiAhO hAo OWh
pocket, as wage, one-third going to the
society and one-third being placed by
the society in a bank to his credit.
Thus, If the days earnings amount to
shillings-which is a little over the
average sum always apart from per-
quisites)-he takes 2 shillings for him
self, has l shilling 6 pence placed to
his credit in the bank and hands over
i shilling pence to the society BY
this system he receives sixpence more
than two thirds of his daily earnings
Against his bank account is placed the
cost of the polishes, backing. brushes,
etc, handed out to him. Even with
the Sc deductions the lad may find him
self credited with a small fortune at
the end Of the year. At the present mo-
ment the ledger shows the case of a
boy who, after fifteen months EN-
ployment is entitled to Ell lis Cd ac-
cumulated in this happy fashion.
1t is natural that with such induce
ments a spirit Of loyalty and industry
should grow, which bears fruit in after
life. No boy is encouraged to stay after.
he is II years of age, and of those who
leave by far the larger proportion join
the navy and the army. Some are now
in South Africa, others in India. Not
long ago Lord Kinnaird, one Of the
committee, when in India, heard of
an "old boy" 900 miles away, made a
special trip to see him and discovered
that he was thriving and abundantly
grateful for the early care he had re-
ceived. Another incident indicative of
the progress made by some of the old
members-of whom there are many
housands--happened the other day.
when the superintendent received a
visit from a man who from bootblack-
ing had risen to electric engineering
and was prepared, should occasion
arise, to fit up his old home in Saffron
electric appliances.
One remarkable fact stands out
prominently in this interesting history.
Since the society was started in 1851
the total earnings Of the boys have
been 9117,672.