The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-13
LUCK OF NEWSBOYS.
There Are Possibilities i'm the Calling
Even Now.

Even NOW.
New York Sun.
Here are three stories of ragged news
boys who made their way in real life just
as well as if they had been in novels, and
that through the very qualities that give
newsboys their start i'm books The man.
ager of big hotel in Western city walked
one day into the Office. leading two dirty.
ragged and altogether disreputable looking
youngsters by the hand. He marched his
charges up to the desk, at which the pro-
prietor writing.
Jones'" began the manager. al found
these two youngsters lighting on the street.
They're newsboys and every morning for
the last six months as I've walked down.
town I've noticed them selling papers and
fighting between times. To-Day as L was
walking along and had just caught sight or
them in daily battle the thought mashed
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- of the street. What dc you Think
would you boys like TO go TO work for
me?" he asked. And at s. a week." he
added
Gee" was their astonished response
'All right, start 'em 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 maxi
ing comments about them to the clerks
and often 10 the manager and proprietor
themselves.
Pretty nice chaps you've had on the ele-
vator lately said chronic kicker. Al
ways accommodating and not fresh
THAT day elevator boys bright chap,
was another guests remark Hes been
telling me how / can get over the town.
He's a regular human signboard'
The year-in-and-year-ou boarders also
sang their praises. Then one of them was
promoted 10 the cigar stand. He did as
they made him a clerk. His companion was
put in his place at the cigar stand. This
happened five years ago. To-day the two
boys are still in the hotel-the one head
clerk and the other next in charge at the
desk. One OF the buyers for a department
store in New York city got his opportunity
in the regulation dime novel way. This
particular man, fifteen years ago, sold
papers morning and evening along Fifth
avenue. He was there crying his wares
one winters day when a finely dressed
woman emerged from shop and started
for her carnage, which was standing at
the curb. when she was half way TO IL
she slipped and fell on the icy pavement
and the newsboy, seeing her predicament,
threw down his papers and rushed to her
aid. BY the time ne got to her side she
| had regained her feet, but he gathered up
her purse and few scattered belongings
which he handed TO her with Chesterheld-
| ian grace and permit me, lady NOW
| il happened that The boy had rushed up
| while men hesitated and the woman was
| know this until years after. The next day
| a man stopped HIM on the street and asked
| him to come with him That man was the
| woman's husband, the proprietor OF the
store in which he was set to work as
bundle boy. I'm TACT 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 post, and at
| the same time the merchant made IL clear
| TO his new buyer that the latterS proved
ability had caused his rise; his chivalric
| deed that winters morning ten years
ago had merely given MIN the cnance 10
| prove himself.
Then there is the case of certain as
| sistant superintendent in one OF the Dig
! gest steel mills of America. lie is the
youngest man to fill the position-he
| is not yet twenty-three-and less than a
| decade ago he was earning living by SELL
| ing papers and backing shoes on the streets
| of Pittsburg. 1t was his ability TO do these
| two things at once successfully that got him
| his opening He was shining shoes and sell
| ing papers in front of the Duquesne Club
one day, when a man, stepping out or the
club, beheld him, and, after studying MIN
a moment, walked up to him.
| at Once?" he asked the boy.
The reply was ready:
Il keeps me eyes open ana me nahds
| goin'.'
Very WE'LL" said the man, IF that's the
| way you do 1t / find use for you, ana
| with that he bore the yOungster on with MIN
to steel mill. The boy was started IN at
| wheeling iron; later he was put inside and
| became helper TO this man and tnat; SUI,
| later on he had helpers of his own, and all
| the time he kept his eyes open ana MS nands
/ going Moreover. he studied at night 10 I'M
| nroye his store of knowledge, so that when
| he was summoned into the superintendent
| office and informed he was to be that OH
| GERS assistant he knew the business from
| the ground UP. He is to-day recognized as
| one of the most promising of the coming
| men in the steel industry around Pittsburg.