Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-26
Plenty of Them to Be Found
in Everyday Life.
WINNING BY ABILITY
STORIES OF BOYS WHO HAVE AT
TANNED HIGH CAREERS.
Rising From the Gutter by an Act Of
Chivalry-An Ex-
si ample.

Written for The Evening Star by Allen v. GIL
lesoie.
And now in conclusion" pompously said
the orator. who was addressing the towns
newsboys. let me say that golden Oppor-
tunity awaits each and all of you. Keep
working diligently. practice frugality. be
guided intelligently by your keen wits. and
some day you will be leading men Of the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. city officials. bank
ers. directors of affairs
ROT whispered the eminent citizen
seated next to the host Of the boys. Pleas
ant woyds for the kids. but rot-rot"'
The host pricked up his ears.
Rot, chr he said. NO Ragged Dicks
In real life. Ell? Smith. you're mistaken;
and I'll prove 1t. too. after the meeting"
And the host proved it with stories of
risen newsboys that he knew Of: and here
some OF them:
The Rise Of Two Ragged Dicks
The manager of a big hotel In a western
city one day walked into the hostelry lead
ing two dirty. ragged and altogether dis
reputable looking youngsters by either
hand. He marched his charges up to the
desk at which the proprietor was writing.
jones' began the manager, Il found
these two youngsters fighting on the street.
They're newsboys. and every morning for
the last six months I've walked down
town I've noticed them selling papers and
fighting between times. Today. as l was
walking along. and had just caught sight
of them In daily battle. the thought flashed
through my mind that we needed two new
elevator boys, and maybe We could make
use of them. 1t would be a blessing to get
EN- Off the street. What do you Think"
The big man at the desk studied the
ufchinS for moment.
Would you boys like to go to work for
me- he asked. And at So week." he
added
"Gee,' was their astonished response.
All right; start EN- right in." said the
proprietor to the manager
About two weeks after the boys had been
literally bathed and scrubbed and dressed
in hotel uniforms the patrons began max
ing comments about them to the clerks, and
often to the manager and proprietor them
selves
Pretty nice chaps you've had on the
elevator lately" said a chronic kicker.
travelling man from the east. Always &C
commodating and not fresh
THAT day elevator boys a bright chap
was another guests remark. Hes been
telling me how l can get over the town.
He's regular human signboard."
The year-in-and- year out boarders also
sang their praises. and one old woman in
particular worth a millior. or two in her
own name. could not say enough about
them. Why, do you know" she would
begin every time she met the manager 1.-The
elevator boys actually run the elevator
slowly when I ask them to, for 1 get so
upset at times at the speed. And they're
the first boys that would ever do it for me-
really
Winning Promotion.
For ever year transients and regulars
sang the saga of the newsboys, who
seemed to make friends of everyone in and
about the hotel by their quiet. pleasant
and accommodating ways. And then one day
the proprietor called the day boy before
him.
We'll. Tommy" he said. Il fear I'll not
need you on the elevator any more
The boys face dropped
No" went on the proprietor. affecting
not to notice the lads look of disappoint-
ment. I'm afraid can't you there
any more: and / regret It. too. for III lose
a good elevator boy. But l can't help 1t.
I've got to have a good boy at the cigar
stand, qtoo. The present clerk quits today
and your to begin there at once, at double
your present wages
The boy began his new work with will.
and from the start his mate traits stood
him In such good stead that the sales of
the stand increased steadily. year after
his going there they had almost doubled
and then desk clerk left and the proprie-
tor again called the boy to him
You're to take Rodman's place in the
former newsboy. who was still on the ele-
vator
I'm sorry. Jimmy. but we won't need
you on the elevator any longer" he said.
Jimmy's face fell woefully. But it
frightened wonderfully a few minutes la
ter as his employer led him over to the
cigar and news stand and installed him in
charge.
two boys still IN the hotel-the one
head clerk. and the other next in charge at
Al desk.
As for the proprietor. he feels that the
manager. when he brought the boys to his
notIce. caused him to make one of the
best investments in years. He has absO-
lutte confidence in the risen Ragged
Dicks" and he trusts them where he would
keep a judicious eye on others The boys
have proved themselves to be of the right
sort of stuff; and they are scarcely more
than past their majority.
A Deed That Brought Good Fortune.
One of the buyers for a big department
store in New York city is also a result Of
a Ragged Dick who got his opportunity
to make his way in the world and diligently
grasped II.
This particular man. fifteen years ago.
sold papers. morning and evening along
9th avenue in the exclusive residential sec
ton. He was there crying his wares one
winters day when a finely dressed woman
emerged from shop and started for her
carriage which was standing at the curb.
When she half way to 1t she slipped
and fell on the Icy pavement. and the
Rewsboy. seeing her predicament. threw
down his papers and rushed to her aid. BY
the time he got to her side she had re-
gained her feet. but he gathered up her
purse and few scattered belongings
which he handed to her with Chesterfield
ian grace and Permit me- lady"
Now. 1t happened that the boy had rushed
up while men hesitated. and the woman
lmnrpSS26 " fha fanf
did not know this until years after Next
day a man stopped him on the street and
asked him to come with him. The man was
the woman's husband. the proprietor of the
store in which he was set to work as a
bundle boy. In fact. the boy never knew
what led to his good fortune until five years
ago. Then his employer told him. when he
was advanced to his present position; and
at the same time the merchant made IT
clear to his new buyer that the latter s
proven ability had caused his rise; his
chivalric deed on that winters morning
ten years ago had merely given him the
chance to prove himself.
A Steel Mans Romance
Then there is the case OF n certain as
sistant superintendent in one of the big
gest steel mills of America. He is the
youngest man ever TO MI the position-he
Is not yet twenty-three years old-and less