The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-10
ny ALICE VI. ROYAL,

tiOn.
tTUE TOAD was barely ten
years old when the whirlpool
i first gripped him. There are
many such whirlpools in the
teeuiig tenement districts Of New York
city. but the particular whirlpool which
engulfed the Toad Is located over
toward North River in that unsavory
region Familiarity known to the police
and newspaper reporters as Helfs
Kitchen. Worthy people live there:
boys and girls are born there who be-
come worthy men and women. as good
citizens as any. But Hell's Kitchens
human speciality is the material Of
which thugs, thieves and gunner are
made. 1t brews their broth Of life, its
smells are sweet in their nostris.
They called him Toad because his
figure was squat and ungainly and be-
cause of his odd. hopping gait IA he ran
on neighborhood errands for the PEN
MES which made him welcome among
the older, already more vicious boys en-
gagged in their favorite employment
playing craps on the sidewalk. and
always on the a:ert for the cop on the
beat. The Toad had an honest. hard
working longshoreman for a father and
nc was still fairly good boy. but
craps hhd him fascinated. Yet 1t was
his well meaning father who pushed
him fairly into the whirlpool, and In
that fact lies the moral of this tale.
Here Is where a few words are not
amiss regarding the city's greatest
charity. The Parks and Fairgrounds AS
ISOLATION is working out virtual sal
walton for the poor children. The Toad
did not go to any of these places for the
simple reason that in the neighborhood
where he lived none was In evidence.
II Is for the establishment of these
clean and healthy surroundings that
boys like the Toad grow up in an at
mosphere of normal environment. 1t Is
for the benefit Of these city health spots
that the famous bandmaster Lieut..
Henry Lift has volunteered his mag
nihcent band OF 100 musicians for the
series of novel band concerts. week of
MAY II, at the Twelfth Regiment
Armory.
On one Of the narrow. dirty side
streets with their rows of dilapidated
teuements three boys. one of them the
Toad. with his sunken cheeks on which
the pallor of the tenements hung, are
engaged in a game of craps. The other
t,vo older, stronger larger scott at the
little fellow when he accuses them OF
fixing" the 'cofne 7-come IL" dice so
tina, they won his four coppers from him.
but he Is not afraid Of them. He is not
going to have his pennies filched from
him without a protest. He's willing ~
take a chance" he tells them. but It's
got to he an honest chance. They only
laugh Mt him. but the Toad will not be
at 10 riv N
he calls them Cheats" The older boys
rise to their feet and threaten the little
fellow. One of them doubles his fist
and makes a pass at him. and knowing
we'll he Is not their equal he leaves the
disputed pennies on the sidewalk. and In
the parlance of Helrs Kitchen region
beats it, down the street. The other
two gather up the pennies. but it is only
a second before they are racing after
him, hurting such epithets as coward
"liar." after his retreating form. They
gained on him at every step too. and no
doubt they would have given the Toad
good beating. but at that moment
rough looking hulk Of a man turned the
corner and swung into the street The
Toad ran up to him and seized him by
the legs. begging for his protection.
They're tryin' 10 lick me. dad" he
whimpered. and the big fellow scowied al
the boys, who stopped at the sight of
him, thus bringing the impromptu mar
athon to an end
I'VE WIS only playin', We wasn't goin'
to hurt youse." said the older of the two
boys.
"Youse cheated me outer my pennies
and youse call, me a coward" retorted
the little lad. gaining courage now that
ne chung to the leg of his father.
"Aw, we was only foolin'," persisted
the other two. Quaking under the scowl
Of the big. loose jointed man. who had
n reputation" in the neighborhood for