The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-26
Chimmie McFadden, King O
NewsbOys, Gives Advice.
Compares Life in New York
and Good Old Topeka.
SMALL and STUFFY ROOMS
Gods Out of Doors Is Source
of All Happiness.
New York Has Crooks and
Greenhorns, Says Chimmie.

Chimmie McFadden, the king Of the
newsboys of America, now in Topeka
and scheduled for talks at many
churches and at the Auditorium, has
written about life in the big cities. He
says:
You see a lot in the papers nova
days about the greenhorn from the
country. 1 will start of on a new topic
as this article will be the greenhorn
from the city.
Being a member and leader of one
of the most notorious gangs in the
city Of New York for the better part
of my life has given me experience;
and If were to tell you that I believe
there are more greenhorns to the
square mile in the city of New York.
probably you would laugh. The rea-
son 1 say that there are more green
horns in the city of New York is for
the following reasons:
"First-New York has a population
of about four and one-half million, put
into an area of about one and a half
times as big as Topeka. 1t is a pretty
small plat of ground in which to plant
four and one-half million souls
"Second-There are two and one-half
million people in the city of New York
earning on the average of SIS per week,
is $3.50 per week. with board at about
s. per week. Then there is car fare
of 20 cents a week, then there Is a
lodge or society which will cost you all
the way from so cents to 81 per month.
Then there are your clothes and enter
tainment. When say SIS week on
the average, do not mean the million
girls who are working for s. and 81
a week in department stores and fac
tories, and those are the ones who
must suffer.
I'm the days that I was on the West
and East side of New York and out at
Coney Island with my best girl (goiD
1t was a great treat, especially II I
had Is or 20 cents to spend. And 1t
used to be a great treat for five other
boys and myself to sleep in one room
which we could call our own. The av-
to a family In two rooms; the average
in the city Of Topeka, should lima gine,
about six or seven to six or seven
rooms.
Case OF Bluff There.
New York city is the greatest case
of bluff that was ever put on earth.
There are more bluffs in New York
than any other place that 1 have ever
been. A New York salesman brags
about its subways and it's tall Office
buildings and always keeps harping
that I am from New York A cheap
ham actor Will say that he has played
on Broadway, New York. as If that
would make him great. The magazines
lots Of time put in the pictures of
Brooklyn bridge. or other big engineer
ing construction. thinking that it is
great. But here is my explanation for
all of these big constructions. Manhat-
tan Island is long; the subways were
put there for quicker transportation.
not for beauty marks; the tall build
ings were put up for accommodation of
thousands of office seekers, and were
not put there for beauty marks,
either; those tenements twelve or f1f-
teen stories high were put there be-
cause q man could not make enough
profit out of four or five story tene-
ment on high priced property; there
fore he had to put up the high tene-
ment.
New York is great in some things,
and I will not take away from that
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