The times., 1901-03-17
MBRCURYS or THE PRESS
Boys Who Make the Welkin Ring
When the Paper Comes Ont.
An Army That the Public Could Not
Afford to Dispense with-Condact
More Emphatic Than Elegant. qua
But Not Devoid of Appreciation

More Emphatic Than Elegant. 3us
But Not Devoid of Appreciation
Always round the corner is the
newsboy-that is. when he is not Obtru-
sively close at hand. Like the press
which ne represents he makes his exist
ence felt or rather heard: for il. like the
former. he does not thunder ne makes up
for the limitations of his vocal organs
by extreme shrillness of utterance. and
by being as quick as lightning.
He Is the latest edition of Mercury. the
messenger OF that popular and orcsn ter
Tible deity, the printing press. not fool
ing about on mountain tops. but omui-
present in the busy marts OF men. He
assumes as many shapes as PrOteus him
self. now appearing as a cherubic. bright
haired little feIoIw with traces OF some
sticky substance about his lips, indicat-
ing that part of his earnings go to the
candy store. Strange contrast to see this
urchin under cross examination by an
other juvenile whose countenance is OF
that deep sable characteristic of EthiO-
plans of the purest type NewsbOys. il
must be understood form ciiques. and
when any new member joins their body
they are naturally desirous OF finding
out all about him. and determining as To
whether he is worthy of the honor To
which he aspires.
rs dis de fust time yo' ever tried to
sell papers? was the opening query OF
the catechist on the occasion in question.
a timfd Yes" was the response.
''Whar does 80 lib? How ole is yer?''
and other interrOgatories followed All
having received apparently satisfactory
replies, though in a tone OF voice so low
as to be almost inaudibe ne Of the dusky
hue assumed the role OF patron and in
troduced the other among the fraternity,
evidently relying on his own weil-assured
and influential position as a-Eecommen-
da ton.
An acquaintance with the newsboy in his
social capacity. and apart from his ardu-
Gus public duties, shows him TO be re-
markable person, gifted generally with
those qualities Of happy repartee which
make him most engaging companion
He Is, however, a strange mixture of bold
ness and timidity, credulity and cynicism.
simplicity and cunning true gamin, in
deed.
Rustic and inexperienced persons of ma
ture years, when in quest of information
concerning the theatres. the races, the
weather and other general information,
have been from time immemoriaI in the
publicans. who have been. and are, looked
upon as being encyclopedias of all such
matters. Never has a grOSSeF error been
StereOJyped in the mind of a delUded pub
lie. Beer, boards, and gravy are about the
only subjects upon which the class of in
dtvidudlS alluded to can discourse with
any authoritative weight, and naturally
enough Tor II IS only such matters that
come under their continued and daily OBJ
servation. Let the amusement seeker.
however consult a smart neWsbOy upon
h.. OF F~aa. Ter.Haas -
and he Will be supplied with a graphic
description thereof. accompanied with
correct limitations of the more eminent
performers as they appear in their respec-
tive roles.
Ii may. indeed. be said generally that
anything in the line of popular interest
not contained in the journal which the
neWsboy sells, IS posse eSSed by that indi-
vidual himself in his busy brain. But it
must be acknowledged that veracity is
with MN an uuCuitiVdJed virtue He
has doubtless heard that truth lies hidden
at the bottom of a well. and deems the
search for it much too troublesome in
these dOys of progressive prevaricatiOn.
His imaginative faculties are largely de-
VelOped and a slight Skirmish to him as
sumes the Importance of a great battle.
where thousands are wounded and slain
SOrnethimeS he even goes so far as to
picture murder. suicide, or scandal in
lurid cOl0rs, rendered more terrible by "A
kind of limited mystery, sort of worse
remains behind air, which causes the
startled pedestrian to tumble nervOuSty
Tor the necessary pennies. ana perhaps. IN
his disordered mental state, to substitute
q nickel or silver instead.
Though not realizing generally in his
personal appearance, the poet cOnCep-
tuiou of Hope. he nevertheless possesses
that IueStimabls quality in an eminent
degree. But be has small conscientious
ness. 1t is needless to deScant on his
lung power. which has been known TO
almost dedfen persons of delicate hear
ing. He is essentially a noisy creature.
and the sound of a flock of newSDOyS en-
gagged in an animated discussion reminds
one of that produced by a lot of English
sparrOwS increased in volume many thou
sands Of times Like the sparrow, TOO,
he is frequently qUarrelSOme. and Il sci
entfhc fist fight in which much fancy
SparTiug is noticeable, is of no rare Oc-
currence when many are thrown together
waiting for the paper to go 10 press.
In every newSboy clique there Is "A lead
er whose views and 1pinloas are locked
up to- Whether this adulatiOn 'ses from
q respect for physical or IntellectuaI
qualities it would be difficult. perhaps to
determine. But the fact remains that
the ueWsb0y is very devoted, Almost Il
blind follower of his chief. 1t Is merely
the old story of the sheep of Panurse.
One leads, and the rest follow. each be-
cause the other does. Thus countess
schemes have been gotten up for the
proposed benefit of the newsb0y, by phi
lanthTOpic persons who may either be
earnest in their Intentions or the reverse
But does the newsbOy believe in the rep
reservations Of such persons? Not at all
He turns 10 the leader of his Own get. dnd
waits for his decision. II the latter ap-
proves of the plan. well and gOOd-har-
mony and accord prevail; if he disap-
proves the plan falls. The ease may be
by rival leaders among the
neWSboys. but when unity of purpose IS
not. failure is generally, in fact always,
the result
Thus have perished the oft-repelted
OjeCtS for newSbOyS home, banks, etc