Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-07
Boy Willing to Shine Shoes to
Raise Money.
PLEA FOR PERMIT
Wants to Place Stand in Park
Fronting His Home.
DENIED BY COMMISSIONERS
Ambition of Youngster to Enter the
High School Baked by
Regulation.

David Turner. jr.. OF 1919 Wisconsin
avenue is anxious To get high school
education-is SO ambitious. In fact, that
he is willing TO shine shoes during his
summer vacation so he can earn money
enough to pay his way next winter.
But the Commissioners apparently will
thwart his plans through the enforce
ment of police regulation prohibiting
the location OF a bootblack stand on pub
lie space.
Young David told the Commissioners Of
his desire for an education and asked
to be allowed to put up a shoe-shining
chair on the parking in front of his
home during the summer.
Il am very anxious to have one while
on my vacation from school, he says In
letter TO the District officials. 1T is
very wrong for me to waste this time
that I am having for nothing
Davd's first letter to the Commission
ers was written shortly after the public
schools closed for the summer vacation.
Pleads for Permit.
Il would like very much to make some
arrangements with you as to stand to
shine Shoes he wrote. Il have fine
reference as to character and behavior. I
have customers which / would like to
accommodate Ia seat to sit DOWN. 1 am
out of school trying to make money
enough to carry me through my four
years In high school. Please give me a
chance and see what i can do.
Il have not been arrested in my life.
l will keep things around me quiet. and
would give the police not bit of trou-
BILE on account of the behavior"
The reply to David's letter was brief
and to the point. stating that the po-
lice regulations prohibit the location OF
bootblack stands in public space, and
that the permission requested cannot be
granted.
The young man of Georgetown. how
ever, was still persistent. He thought
of the high school ahead of him. of the
entering of which he had been dream
ing all his life. He just would not be
denied because Of a little police regula-
ton.
Second Appeal Written.
So he wrote another letter to the DIS.
trict building.
II received your letter. which was not
what 1 wanted" he said. but suppose
it was all I could get from you.
Does the police regulation grant per.
mission to have a stand In the doorway
of any place which is not used for
passing?
Il am very anxious to have one while
on my vacation from school any way
can get it. 1t Is very wrong for me to
waste this time that l am having for
nothing.
please write and let me know what
I can do to secure stand which will
not go against the police regulations"
Adds a Postscript.
In little postscript the boy says:
do you grant permission to have q
stand in front of building IL 1T has
not a bay window to take up the six
feet which is given to them? If you
don't. 1 know a pan that is going to
have three stands put up. He has all
ready one now. and he says he has
permit.
Now, If you are going to grant one
person the permission l don't see the
reason why I can't have one"
The Commissioners have decided to
write the ambitious youngster that the
police regulations prohibit the location
Of bootblack stands on public space, and
that no permit is required to locate
stand inside private premises.