Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-22

were the only papers that Roxie ever
sold A man high I'm the business world.
Roxie might have been. but his passing
would have been attended by the demon
stration OF no wider OF deeper grief
At 3 O'Clock the funeral ceremony was
held. Sunday afternoon. at H G. Poole's
chapel on Hunter street The chapel was
crowded clear to the street doors AND
overlooked out upon the sidewalk TO the
cJirbing Rev. II. ]. Williams. pastor OF
the Georgia Avenue Presbyterian church.
preached the funeral sermon. The pail
bearers, selected by the family from
among the old friends or the deceased.
were A. j.. Galloway. ". II. Small. VIII
liam Strauss. L. L. Pinion, Charles E.
Kean and Fred H. wingard.
II was Atlanta's first newsboy-funeral
1t was the funeral, too. OF Atlanta's first
real newsboy, for since 1916, when he was
years old. Roxie had been selling papers
on the streets OF the city. II may be the
first last and only newsboy-funeral that
Atlanta viii ever know. for men like
Roxie are rare in all walks OF life.
BOYS GO TO CEMETERY.
Crowding the chapel and the sidewalk
outside were the newsboys who had re-
sponded to The Journals invitation to
pay the last tribute to their departed
chief. After the services they boarded
the special trolley car that The Journal
had provided for them, and were taken
out to Westview. arriving at the gates OF
the cemetery simultaneously with the
procession Of carriages that was follow
ing Roxie TO his grave. The newsies.
forming In column. preceded the process
sion under the arch where the big bell
was tolling. and marched slowly ahead Of
Il down the gravsled rOadways 10 the
greensward slope where Roxie was to
rest Their caps were of and their heads
were bowed In respect while Reverend
Williams read the burial verses and pro-
nounced the final prayer.
Among the newsies were all ages Of
boys and all types OF the streets. Two or
three were among them of the age that
Roxte was when he cried his first paper
on the streets OF Atlanta Some wore
leather caps too dig for them. or caps with
advertising garishly displayed around
their crown Some OF the urchins were
''out at elbows" Others were neatly
dressed. Of that type whose mothers never
surrender them TO abandon But none OF
them was lacking In respect for the oc-
casion-an attitude that fits strangely on
their kind. Children in yards Of homes
cheered them as they rode past. but they
made no response. They sat quiet and
dately In the cemetery. They felt for the
first tine the bond OF brotherhood. One
OF their fraternity lay dead
At the grave. when the procession arriv-
ed. were gathered at least three times as
many people as were IN the procession tt
self. The throng around the grave Of
Roxie. the humble newsie. covered al
most every foot OF the little slope.
DR. JACOBS TRIBUTE.
DR.. Joe Jacobs. the druggist. paid a
parting tribute TO Roxie. who in life had
returned his constant friendship with the
staunchest loyalty.
Twenty years ago." said DR.. Jacobs.
Il took Roxie into my store and started
TO training him in the office. But at the
end OF three months he came to me. He
wanted my permission 10 go back 10 sell
ing papers He couldn't be satisfied at
any other work. he said. The call Of the
street had summoned him back.
About that time there was a pretty
bitter drug war raging here in the city.
I was mixed up in It. I put Roxie over
on Keely's corner, at Whitehall and Hun
ter, with an armload OF circulars to dis
tribute. A rival OF mine, in business on
the opposite corner. had Roxie arrested
within an hour. The policeman, Of
course. was a friend OF Roxie's. He came
20 me and told me Roxie had been arrest
ed went down TO police station and
bonded him out. He went back to the
my circulars. He was arrested again
forthwith. Again bonded him out
-Four times that day Roxie was arrest
ed on that corner. with my circulars under
his arm When got him out the fourth
time. he said: How about II, Doc
Don't you went me TO go backT But l
thought both OF US had had enough for
one day.
Loyal? He was the s5ul OF loyalty.
He had no reason for disIiking that bust
ness rival OF mine. yet he could never
see any good in him or in anything that
came out Of his store-simply because the
man was my business enemy. and Roxie
was my friend"