The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-01
The Western Unions Service
Has Become indispensable.
MultifariOus Are the Duties
Which Are Performed.
1T is A TRAINING SCHOOL
Many Are the Chances Offered
for Advancement.
Their Earnings Are Based on
the Duties Performed.

Realizing long ago that the mes
senger boy on the street is an impor-
tant cog in their already highly per-
fected machine. the Western Union
Telegraph company set about not only
to improve the boys living conditions
but to educate him along lines which
would bring him closer to realiza-
ton that their interests are mutual
A boy is a complicated piece of ma
chine-y. He sees -hings through
bows eyes and those eyes are sharp,
and the company realized at the be-
ginning they had big contract on
their hands How well they have sue
ceeded, one has but to watch the boy,
who now delivers the yellow envelope
| TO YOUR door and asks ANY reply?"
note his general appearance, and man
/ uers to know. 1t is the proud boast
of many offices that they now have
the best class of boys in the messen-
ger service that it is possible to pro-
| cure, and they are constantly on the
lookout for others.
The big men of the telegraph COM
pany realized, in the beginning, there
was one thing they must never lose
| sight of and that is the fact that the
material hey have to handle is all
boy" They have kept this all impor-
tant fact ever before them and il is to
this they attribute much of their sue
| cess.
i In the beginning, they gave the boy
| to understand if he would bring them
new business a share of that business
was his If he would deliver a mes
sage promptly, that fact was made
note of, and for every message he de-
livered he received so much per mes
sage, so that it is possible fer hus-
tier now to make from s25 to s35 per
month.
Some of Their Duties.
1t would surprise many to know the
various duties they are called on to
perform. Here are some of them tn =
boys here in Topeka may be called
to perform any day: Taking dogs for
exercise, rolling invalid's chair, calling
for laundry in emergencies, eScortinS
strangers to various places in Topeka,
getting tickets at box office, escortins
ladies to and from theaters. deliver
ing auto parts to stranded AUTOMOBILE
, lists. escorting children to and from
school, and dozens of other duties
which a boy can do.
There is one attractive feature in
the life of a messenger boy and that
is there is just enough diversity and
spice not to permit it to become mon
otonous.
Back east they make much greater
use of the messenger service than they
. do here. Messengers have been sent
, to Europe with special messages to de-
liver and to procure answers and re-
turn on the first ship available.
, Charles Frohman was one of the first
, men to recognize the advertising pos
sibilities of such stunt and he used
| it with great effect in sending mes
sage to London by special messenger
Messenger boys have played impor-
tant parts in detecting criminals for
their training makes them close OBJ
servers During the Bette murder case
at Richmond, Va, five years ago, a
messenger boy played an important
, part in the states case. The fact was
, established that Henry Clay Bette
after his marriage, carried on cor
, respondence by special messenger
with Beulah Binford. The boy was
found who carried the messages and
while he never appeared as witness
he gave the authorities many variable
5 clues to follow which enabled them to
! tighten the net about the husband who
: killed his wife and confessed to his
: crime just before his electrocution.
Books Are Provided.
The company furnishes the boys
with their uniforms, quarters in which
to rest and three clean towels each
day. Here in Topeka a bath room is
: fitted UP for the boys well as a
reading room. Good books are pro-
vided such as boys love but it was not
ed that there existed no Dick Dead
L y
: them. Just such books as will interest
any lively boy are provided for them
The fact is being impressed on them
by the local manager, that business
men do not look with favor on cigarei
smokers and it is making an impress
: sior on the local boys, although this
habit is not entirely wiped out, but
; there is an Improvement noted
among them
} There is real chance for advance
/. Inx- rt1o hos To ~
his opportunities in this branch of the
l service. Witness the case of E. H
Johnson. Eight years ago he applied
for a position as a messenger He
r was given employment and started a
} s15 per month Today he holds a re.
sponsible position as an operator anC
makes over 800 per month.
Proud of the Boys.
Walter KerIe, 10 East Seventh
I street is another example of what E
boy may become in this service. Jus
a few years ago he began as a messen
ger. today he is captain of all the mes
e senger boys at salary of $50 PEI
e month and his commissions enabl'
= him to make much more than thi
amount
Not long ago a prominent firm her
e in Topeka received letter written il
4 Spanish They were unable to engag
d the services of an interpreter in tn
S city In despair they called on tn
l Western Union to know if it could he'll
them out. 1t could and did in tn
: shape of a Spanish messenger boy VII
d has worked for them a few months
= He called on the firm, translated shei
y letter for them which turned out to b
i an order for large amount The com
e pany received 25 cents for the servfc
n and the boy received one-haIf of thi
II amount for his work.
L The manager of the Topeka messen