The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-23

w said the orator, who was address,
ing the towns newsboys. "let me say
that golden opportunity awaits each
and all of you. Keep working diligent-
". practice frugality, be guided intel
ligently by your keen wits, and some
day you will be leading men of the
ommunity-merchants, city officials,
bankers, directors Of affairs"
"Rot!" whispered the eminent citi-
zens seated next to the host of the
boys. Pleasant words for the kids,
but rot-rot!
The host pricked up his ears.
Rot, eh?" he said mo Ragged
Dicks in real life, Ell? Smith, you're
mistaken; and I'll prove it. too, after
the meeting"
And the host proved it with stories
of risen newsboys that he knew of;
and here are some of them:
The Rise of Two Raggid Dicks.
The manager of a big hotel in a
Western city one day walked into the
hoste1ry leading two dirty, ragged and
altogether disreputable looking young
sters by either hand. He marched his
charges up to the desk at which the
proprietor was writing
Jones'" began the manager, II found
these two youngsters fighting on the
street. They're newsboys, and every
morning for the last six months, as I've
walked downtown, I've noticed them
selling papers and fighting between
times. To-day, as 1 was walking along,
and had just caught sight of them in
daily battle, the thought flashed sthroug
my mind that we needed two new
elevator boys, and maybe we could
make use of them. 1t would be a bless
ing to get 'ern off the street. What
do you think%'
The big man at the desk studied the
urchinS for a moment.
Would you boys like to go to work
for me?' he asked. "And at IS a week?"
he added.
"Geel" was their astonished re-
spouse.
CAN 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 making comments about them
to the clerks, and often to the manager
and proprietor themselves.
Pretty nice chaps you've had on
the elevator lately" said a chronic
kicker, travelling man from the East.
Always accommodating and not
fresh
That day elevator boys a bright
chap" was another guests remark,
He's been telling me how / can get
over the town. He's a regular human.
signboard."
The year-in-and-year-out boarders
also sang their praises, and one old
woman in particular, worth a million
fyyfa IN 6nTs NO 49,
enough about them. "Why, do you
know" she would begin every time she
met the manager. "the elevator boys
actually ruin the elevator slowly when
l ask them to. for / 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 over year transients and reg
uIars sang the saga of the newsboys,
who seemed to make friends of every
one in and about the hotel by their
quiet, pleasant and accommodating
ways. And then one day the proprie-
tor called the day boy before him.
We'll, Tommy" he said ST fear I'll
not need you on the elevator any
more"
The boys face dropped.
No." went on the proprietor, af-
AcCtIlS not 10 nOLlCe the ldO look OF
disappointment, I'm afraid l can't
use you there any more; and I regret
1t, too, for III lose a good elevator
boy. But 1 can't help it. I've got to
have good boy at the cigar stand,
too. The present clerk quits to-day,
and you're to begin there at once, at
double your present wages"
The boy began his new work with
a will, and from the start his innate
re ctr to .oI. esfa ad
that the sales of the stand increased
steadily. A year after his going there
they had almost doubled, and then a
desk clerk left, and the proprietor
again called the boy to him.
You're to take Rodman's place in
the Office" he said. Then he sent for
the other former newsboy, who was
still on the elevator.
I'm sorry, Jimmy but we won't
need you on the elevator any longer"
he said.
Jimmy's face fell woefully. But 1t
frightened wonderfully few minutes
later as his employer led him over to
the cigar and news stand and installed
him in charge.
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.
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 absolute confidence in
the risen Ragged Dicks" and he
trusts them where he would keep a
Judicious eye on others. The boys
nave proved themselves to be of the
right sort Of stuff; and they are
scarcely more than past their ma
jority.
Deed That Brought Good Fortune.
One of the buyers for big depart
ment store in New York city is also
result of a Ragged Dick" who got
MS opportunity to make his way in
the world and diligently grasped it.
This particular man, fifteen years
ago, sold papers, morning and even
ing, along Fifth avenue in the ex-
elusive residential section. He was
there crying his wares one winters
DAY when a finely dressed woman
emerged from a shop and started for
her carriage. which was standing at
the curb. When she was half way
To It she slipped and fell on the icy
pavement, and the newsboy, seeing
her predicament, threw down his pa :
pers 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 a few scattered belong
lngs,. which he handed to her with
Chesterfieldian grace and a Permit
me, LADY,
Naxu