Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-09

| Sincerely yofes,
I. HARRIS, Newsboy.
key and his confreres in the newspaper
business filed past the doornan in the
gallery of the Bijou good quarter OF an
hour before the curtain went up last
night, the fifty OF them prepared TO en-
joy every line and every note in Lost.
Straycd or Stolen
During the brief conference with MI.
Mckee over the exact location in the gal
lery for the t'newsies," it developed that
the first row could not be secured for
love or money.
1.-THE main objection would come, said
Mr. Mckee. from the people downstairs.
1t would be an impossible feat to keep
the boys from dangling their legs over
the rail, tossing programmes at heads
below and splitting peanut shells Those
boys are certainly welcome, but boys are
bows and newsboys are the livest kind
of boys
AN AMATEUR POLICEMAN.
ooh, it's all right said 1key. throw
ing in an oar gratuitously. IF any OF
'em gets gay I'll knock his top off.
Except mine," said a chunky, thick
necked youth of Is years.
key had suffered words and blows with
that youth before and he shut up.
'I'll give 'em the second row." said Mr.
Mckee. "and hope they'll have the time
Of their lives The only condition is that
they do not fight inside the theatre
The fifty boys showed no desire for
fighting. They were eager 10 get their
places in Row 3D." and start to whoop
things up for their favorites In their Ia
vorite company. They had all seen the
company many a time before, but from
the extreme rear Of the gallery and not
from z5-cent seats in the second row, as
they enjoyed tonight.
The three district managers OF the
News circulation staff endeavored TO
pass the boys in quietly and prevent a
stampede, but, as the top of the column
reached the gallery, bright eyes began to
seek the best seats in the row and there
was a lunge, concerted and powerful. to
get to the center of the semi-crcle, and
the district managers were swept aside
like chaff before the wind.
Ikey, who is about three feet long and
a foot thick both ways, showed smil-
ing and fairly clean face shining In the
second row. where the best view OF the
stage was to be had.
IF you don't quit that gouging with
yer elbow I'll push yer heak in he re-
marked to wiry young gentleman on his
right.
Say, we's de guests of de house an
de News" suggested one little fellow.
Lets don't rough it, fellers: be gents: be
gents for once; this amt no crap game or
dog fight"
About half the boys had neglected to
secure progra mines.
Hi, there" yelled one to an usher.
push progra n1me over here. will you!
The usher gave the boy a cold look.
one Of the district managers scrambled
back and got enough programmes to
avert a riot
THE FUN BEGINS.
The orchestra had dribhIed in, during
this and much more in the way of COM
ment and confusion. It began hitting up
a popular and patriotic air. and fifty
pairs of lips puckered up instantly ard
began to whistle the air If there is
anything a newsy is he Is patriotic and
musical. The march stirred and thrilled
the youngsters as it tioated up from far
below. where the hei aristoi sat in easy
chairs and rubhered at each other with
icy, disinterested looks.
There was a tapping of feet along with
the whstling, and the fifty boys who
hustle in rain or in sunshine to get your
News to you ho1 off the press. had begun
to revel in the enjoyment of the show
The audience soon discovered that there
was something unusual going on In the
gallery Tor the whistlins was not of the
cool and calm kind that grown folks in
dulge in when the band plays their ia
vorite airs. It was sharp and crisp and
shrill and in tune, some OF the kids
whistIing alto. while others just syn
copated along with short. choppy side
ticks at the tune.
JOY COMPLETE.
The curtain went up on the florist shop
scene. a plentiful supply of trim girls
amid the flowers. real and painted.
Eva Burnham tripped in and the young
sters could just barely hold themselves
down to their seats for they knew Eva
and liked her.
"she's mine; saw her first" said Ikey,
inspired.
"Ah, she wouldn't let you carry her
valise to the depot" said the imperti-
merit. wiry one
But it wasn't until Little Chip walked
on the stage that the breasts of these
youngsters really heaved with delight.
There was one wloop OF Chip and a
unanimous slamming Of feet against the
floor Of the gallery.
Little Chip is to the newsboys what
George Washington was to his great
grandparents. Everything he does is per-
lection. They delight In just looking at
him. His songs hold the fun that they
appreciate. His burlesques are divine.
Little Chip is the big star in the theatri-
cal armament Of the newsy
And they greeted Tony Hart and Otis
Harlan, and when big John Early came
on they again struggled to hold down
their enthusiasm.
NEW TUNES TO WHISTLE.
How they did enjoy the Hoffman music!
1t is the whistling kind. and the kind tina
cheers them when the sleet falls thick
and fine and piercing. and there are pa
pers to sba delivered from one end OF the
town to the other. He makes them tunes
for hard weather. which are also tunes
for bright. sunshiny days. To-morrov
they will be Whaling the ones heard last
night for the FIRST time. for the bows
are quick To- pick up anything from i
spinning penny To a new slang word
rh4 6oyasweresiy en the theatre party