THE PRESIDENT TALKING TO THE NEWSBOYS.

BOYVILLE

A HISTORY OF FIFTEEN YEARS’ WORK
AMONG NEWSBOYS

BY

JOHN E. GUNCKEL

ILLUSTRATED

PUBLISHED BY

The Toledo Newsboys’ Association
Toledo, Ohio

Copyrighted 1905
By JOHN E. GUNCKEL
All rights reserved

To the Newsboys of America, and their Friends
this book is respectfully dedicated

PRESS OF
THE FRANKLIN COMPANY
TOLEDO, OHIO

CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

“IF you are going to do anything permanent for the average man you have got to begin before he is a man. The chance of success lies in working with the boy and not with the man. That applies peculiarly to those boys who tend to drift off into courses which mean that unless they are checked they will be formidable additions to the criminal population when they grow older.

“No Nation is safe unless in the average family there are healthy, happy children.

“If these children are not brought up well they are not merely a curse to themselves and their parents, but they mean the ruin of the State in the future.”

President Theodore Roosevelt.

PART FIRST

CHAPTER I.

On the corner of one of the principal thoroughfares, in a very large city, there was located, fifteen years ago, a small grocery store. In front of the building the enterprising owner displayed fruits, vegetables and other goods; articles that were particularly tempting to boys.

In a near-by cottage there lived a very bright boy, twelve years of age, and familiarly known to every one in the neighborhood, as Jimmy, the newsboy. And that meant a bad boy.

On the disappearance of an occasional apple, an orange, or if one of the fruit-stands was upset, it was declared that Jimmy did it. All fights around the corner originated from Jimmy.

So bad was this boy’s reputation that every one in the ward, including several Sunday-school teachers, was kept busy looking for a favorable opportunity to give Jimmy, what they thought he deserved, “a good licking.”

The groceryman was not slow in letting his customers know how bad Jimmy was.

He was kicked, lectured, preached to, and a dozen times a day was pushed off the corner.

He was abused because he annoyed men and women by his misbehavior.

No one ever stopped to ask this boy where he lived; what about his parents, his home life, or to see if there was really any good in him worth trying to develop. The bad was visible, and the people seemed to delight in their vain efforts to correct him by censures and kicks.

There was no question about Jimmy being bad, about as bad as any street-boy would become who had his own way, and, whose parents permitted him to go and come when he pleased, and to associate with bad company, particularly boys older than he was.

Jimmy was a leader of a gang of little toughs who always met at the corner, in the evenings, and delighted in making it unpleasant for those who lived within hearing distance. He was strong, quick, and could throw to the ground any boy of his size, and never hesitated trying a much larger boy. He was the terror of the corners.

Yet with all his bad reputation, no one ever caught him doing anything for which he could be punished under the state laws.

Circumstantial evidence was all the groceryman could produce at any time he was accused. The boy who “squealed” to the groceryman about Jimmy had to remain away from the corner until he thought that Jimmy had forgotten it.

Jimmy was a typical newsboy.

He was not happy in fine clothes. He did not use the many slang phrases which so frequently become a part of a street-boy’s life and enjoyment, but he had everything else.

He had a small route, perhaps thirty customers, for morning and evening papers, and when he had delivered his papers, he would hasten down town, get a new supply of the latest editions, and join the boys in selling on the streets.

He was an early riser, like all carriers, and long before the neighbors thought of getting up he was out on the street, and in all kinds of weather.

The station agent from whom he procured his morning papers said: “There is not a more faithful boy in the city, from a business view. But he has to be served first. He has a way of his own in pushing ahead of the crowd and is always among the first on his route. He pays cash for what he gets, but still, he is a bad boy.”

A gentleman who lived in the neighborhood, and frequently called at the grocery store, became interested in Jimmy. There was something naturally attractive about the boy. There was a twinkle of his black eyes that was really fascinating.

“I would like to see what is back of that activity,” said the gentleman, one day to the groceryman.

One afternoon, late in the fall, the gentleman was standing on the corner waiting for a car when the groceryman called him.

“You said you would like to see what Jimmy, the newsboy, was made of. He is up to some mischief now. He just bought a sack of hickory-nuts, and I’ll bet a cooky he is making some one unhappy.”

Two blocks away was a large lot, with a high fence around it. Scattered about the lot were a dozen or more hickory trees. The gentleman saw Jimmy climb the fence, walk to the farther side of the lot, and when under a heavy foliaged tree he stood for some moments looking in every direction. Finally he began to scatter hickory-nuts under the tree. Very carefully seeing that they were dropped all around this particular tree. Sometimes he would take a handful of leaves and cover over a lot of nuts. To the gentleman this was an unusual transaction, so he walked around to the big gate and followed a path across the heavy grass, and went to Jimmy.

“I have a curiosity to know what you are doing,” said the gentleman, “and if you have no objections I would like to have you tell me.”

Jimmy took him by the hand, that he might hasten towards the sidewalk, and when away from the tree, he said.

“You see, mister, termorrow is Saturday. There’s no school. Across the street lives a whole lot of little boys and girls, and some of the boys don’t like me very well, but that doesn’t cut any figure with me. They comes over here every day after school and particularly on Saturday and hunt for hickory-nuts; but these old trees don’t bear any more; they’s dead. But that one over there, with the leaves, sometimes has hickory-nuts, but this year nary a nut is on the old tree. So I bought these here nuts an’ scattered ’em all around the ground, an’ termorrow I’ll sneak around the fence and watch the girls an’ boys gather them. Won’t they be happy?”

“I should think they would,” replied the man.

“They are real hickory-nuts, too,” added Jimmy, “I blowed in fifteen cents at our grocery store. If you want to you may come termorrow an’ I will guarantee you will see the happiest bunch ever gathered under a hickory-nut tree. Will you come?”

“Well, I should be delighted to come; and I will be there before you will,” replied the gentleman kindly.

“You see,” said Jimmy, “I cannot come until I deliver all my papers, an’ that’ll be about eight o’clock. If you get there before I do, don’t you ever tell who put the nuts under the tree, will you?”

“I promise you, Jimmy, I will not only keep it to myself, but I will not even go on the lot, until you come.”

A few words about Jimmy and his home, and they parted as friends.

“Under the hickory-nut tree termorrow there’ll be a dozen happy girls an’ boys, an’ some of the boys don’t like me,” rang in the ears of the gentleman all during the evening and frequently in the night.

What a sermon, sowing and reaping.

“I AM SCATTERING HICKORY-NUTS UNDER THIS OLD TREE FOR THE CHILDREN TO FIND TERMORROW.”

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CHAPTER II.

Saturday morning was an ideal autumn day; a day children delighted to go into the woods after hickory-nuts.

A few moments before eight o’clock the gentleman was slowly walking around the great lot when he saw Jimmy running at full speed down the street towards him.

Under the great trees were a dozen little boys and girls, and the air was filled with their merry laughter as they excitedly gathered into their baskets the hickory-nuts that Jimmy had so kindly dropped for their pleasure and happiness.

“They tell me, Jimmy, you’re a bad boy,” said the gentleman as they sat on a stump of a tree, in sight of the children.

Jimmy made no reply.

“Well, I don’t care what any one says,” added the gentleman, “I don’t believe it. Your little act with the hickory-nuts has taught me a lesson I never learned in books. No boy would do that unless he has some good qualities in him. I feel honored to have this privilege of seeing those children so happy this morning, and to think who did all this. Jimmy,” and he took his little hand in his, “I want you to make me a promise—I want you always to be my friend. What do you say?”

This was something Jimmy never heard of before. He was accustomed to being kicked, and censured, and for a man to ask him to be a friend was, what he afterwards called, “a new deal.”

“Sure thing, I will,” he said frankly.

“Now I want you to come down to my office, Monday after school, and we will talk over something that I want you to do for me.”

“I’ll be there,” replied Jimmy, and after a moments thought he asked.

“And can I bring some of my friends with me?”

“Certainly, that is exactly what I want you to do. Bring your gang, all your friends, particularly the little toughs, and when you come into my office don’t let any one stop you from seeing me.”

“Oh, don’t be afeared o’that, we knows as how to get there.”

A few other things were talked about and they separated for the day.

As the gentleman rode down town he thought of the events of the morning, of the life of a newsboy. These little wiry, nervous street boys, alert of eye, and lithe of limb, who flock the principal thoroughfares of our great cities at almost all hours of the day.

Newsboys and bootblacks, boys whom the world seems to have forgotten. By peculiar conditions these boys are used to being at odds with the world. It need not be told that our newsboys, as a general rule, as people know them, are regarded as a swearing, stealing, lying, dishonest lot of young criminals, and these qualifications are recognized adjuncts to their business. With these conditions is it not a wonder that any of them ever succeed in working their way into the ranks of respectibility? People who curse and kick them, as they did Jimmy, never stop to think that these neglected newsboys, of today, sharp, shrewd and keen, may be the thieves, the burglars, the highwaymen; or the successful patriotic citizens of tomorrow.

No one will dispute the fact that, the street-boy is surrounded on every hand by degraded and vicious men, with drunkenness regarded as a desirable condition, and the indulgence in drink only limited by the ability to procure it.

Among many, robbery is regarded as a fine art, and the tribute of praise bestowed upon rascality. If christian people do not find time, amid the rush and roar of the city, in their mighty struggle for wealth, to lend a hand to lead him out on the highway of honest success, what is to become of the street-boy?

Is it not true that many a boy is bad because the best part of him was never developed?

It is not that a newsboy is so much worse than other boys, but simply that the other half of him didn’t get a chance.

If you, dear reader, will take time to get into the real life of a boy, as the gentleman did with Jimmy, you will be surprised, as he was, at what you will discover. How quick he is to see an opportunity to do something bad, and when discovered, his conscience brings the blush of shame to his cheeks. Take boys like Jimmy, the leader of a gang of toughs, his acts on the public highway, his language, his ragged clothes all indicating neglect and evil designs, yet get his friendship, his confidence, and he will prove, as did Jimmy, the best and most faithful friend you ever had, not only in his youth, in his teens, but long after you have forgotten him.

No matter how bad the boy is, how miserable his environment, that great spark of good, that something, no one can explain its power, its influence, is still there. To get into touch with that life, to draw out the goodness of heart and make it a tangible blessing to the boys of our land, is the work every man and woman ought to try to do. It was this object the gentleman had in asking Jimmy and his friends to meet at his office. He felt that opportunities of this nature come but once in a life time.

George Eliot wrote: “The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand. The angels come to visit us and we only know them when they are gone. How shall we live so as at the end to have done the most for others and make the most of ourselves.” We become good ourselves only in the measure that we do good to some other soul. In Jimmy, the newsboy, no one stopped to see what was sleeping under the cover of extreme mischievousness. They were always looking for bad and they found it. Neglect is the mother of more calamities than any other sin, and who are neglected more than the newsboys?

CHAPTER III.

On the following Monday morning, at the appointed, hour, Jimmy, with eight other boys, was at the office of his newly-made friend.

It was an interesting picture, an exciting scene.

Noisy, loud talking, several answering questions at the same time, some turning over books, papers, investigating everything in sight. Sharp, shrewd, busy at every moment, quick to answer any question and the replies always satisfactory, and to the point.

“Don’t you know anything,” said Jimmy to a friend, who was trying to investigate how a typewriter was made, “let that meechine alone.”

It was soon in evidence that Jimmy’s word meant something, for each boy obeyed him without saying a word, except a little grunt of dissatisfaction, to show he hated to obey. Not one of the eight boys had clean hands. Not one a coat with a button. Three safety-pins held holding positions in some of their coats. Not one used a handkerchief, and the slang would puzzle many a lawyer.

As one of the boys lost his cap he said: “Some kid five-fingered it.—took it with his hand.” It was an interesting crowd.

“Well, you are on time, Jimmy, and I see you have brought some of your friends with you,” said the gentleman.

“These is part of de gang,” said Jimmy.

“Do you boys all want to be my friends, just the same as Jimmy is?”

They replied, “Sure thing; cert. Yes’m.”

These friendly words brought the gang closer to the gentleman’s desk. And more papers were disturbed. The ink was investigated and one of the boys wanted to know why it wasn’t red ink. Another poked his finger in the ink stand and made black streaks down the smallest boy’s face. The gentleman was shown quite a number of articles they had in their pockets. Nails, buttons, marbles, pieces of slate-pencils, etc., all of which had to be admired.

“Say, you, mister,” said a nine-year-old dirty-faced, bright-eyed boy, “I had trouble gittin’ here. De con. wus onto me an’ I had to take two lines ’fore I rode into de office wid out blowin’ in a cent.”

“Well, quit your wasting words,” said Jimmy.

The boys gathered around the gentleman, and he said:

“My! what good you boys can do in this world with all of your push, and energy, your hustling, your good health, you boys can turn up something, and I’m going to help you do it. How would you like to help me make all the men and women who buy papers of you learn to love you. Learn to speak kindly to you?”

“Aw, de peoples don’t care fur us.” said a boy Jimmy called “Indian.”

“Well, I don’t know about that. There is one thing certain there can be no harm in trying. The trouble is, people don’t know you, and you won’t let them get acquainted with you. Let’s make a start. First, I want to know if every one of you wants to be a friend of mine? You do, that’s a good start. And whenever you see me on the street, it doesn’t make any difference what I am doing, or who I am talking to, will you come to me and say, good morning or good evening?” They all agreed.

“And another thing, when you boys are down town and should you hurt yourself, or get into some trouble, lose your papers, your money, or some one frightens you, I want you to call on me, and I will try to help you. Notice, I say when you are in trouble, because when you are doing well and everything comes your way, you need no assistance. You can take care of yourselves. What do you say, boys, to this?”

THE ORIGINAL CHARTER MEMBERS.

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They all promised and were glad of the opportunity.

This was the first intimate talk with the gang.

Two days later, while the gentleman was very busy in his office, into the room came one of the little visitors followed by some of the gang, he was limping and crying as if his heart would break. He paid no attention to any one in the office but made directly for the gentleman, who seeing him, excused himself from his business friends and said to the boy,

“Well, now, what has happened to you?”

“A man shoved me off de sidewalk into de gutter and me foot struck a piece of glass,” he replied, between sobs. His foot was bloody, and the more blood he saw the louder became his cries. He was taken into a near-by hotel, his foot carefully washed, a handkerchief tied over the wound, his tears wiped away, and when back into the office he said:

“I thank you, sir.”

He picked up his bundle of papers, all pain had disappeared, the smiles again came to his pretty face, and with his friends, left the office, singing a popular air.

The result of this little act of duty added fifty new friends.

CHAPTER IV.

A week later, a little colored boy entered the office crying. He was known on the street as Midnight.

“Tree boys trowed me down in de alley, an’ swiped me papers.”

Four boys came with him. They wondered what would be done. While talking with him, Jimmy dropped in. Not quietly but made everybody get out of the way.

“I know the three kids,” said Jimmy, “and I’ll go after them.”

So Jimmy left on his own accord. In fifteen minutes he returned bringing two boys.

“There, you kids,” he said, “give Midnight back his money fur de papers you stole.”

It was done. Midnight’s eyes resumed their natural brightness, and he left happy, thankful to Jimmy for his interest.

To the gentleman this was a revelation. The power one boy can have over a gang of boys ought to be used for good. Such vital energy, such quick action, such nerve and endurance, all this must be used for doing good, for helping each other. My! what a boy who has influence among his fellow companions, can do. If each boy could be placed on his honor, each boy aiming to do the best he can to uplift his associate, trying to correct the little evils from which spring so many crimes, how much happiness, how many useful lives would result. If men would try to instill into the young hearts of our boys, our newsboys, because they are tempted more than any other class, a spirit of trust and love, instead of a spirit of fear and hate and revenge, what a happy unselfish world we would have. Suppose these newsboys, the boys who are so often accused of being bad, would be treated as Christ treated wrong-doers, not as criminals, but as misdirected and misguided boys, putting everything in their way to encourage them to do right. Suppose they were warned of danger, were propped up when about to fall, and personal efforts were made to find the good in each boy and to cultivate it as a husbandman would his garden—pulling out and destroying the weeds, removing the germs of disorder, and keeping a watchful eye over all even until the ripening of the fruit. What would be the result? The gentleman gave the subject considerable thought and concluded to try the experiment.

From the material at command it was surprising how many little good things sprung up where least expected and from soil considered as absolutely worthless. Like some products of the garden, good came from unexpected places.

Taking advantage of conditions and circumstances, the number of friends increased so rapidly that when cold weather set in, over a hundred little hustling friends of the street were added to the list.

Winter came with snow and ice and cold winds, making it hard for the carriers to deliver their papers before the breakfast hour. The little sellers were heard only a short time after the newspaper editions were out, and they were compelled to seek warm places. It was noticeable that the saloons of the city were the only places open to these boys seeking shelter and warmth.

There were several gentlemen in the city heartily in sympathy with the new movement among the newsboys, and among them was a generous clothier who presented, through the gentleman, fifty overcoats to be given to the poorest newsboys.

To select fifty of the most deserving, for the entire hundred were in want, was a very difficult task, especially as those interested had but little experience with boys of the street.

But Jimmy came to the rescue and he and the gentleman began to deliver the coats. When forty-five coats were given there remained twenty boys who were equally as needy as the others and there were but five coats left. How to select five boys from this number was the question.

Jimmy accomplished it.

The next day the gentleman was asked to go into the alley in the rear of the post-office where he met about sixty boys. Twenty of the poorest, those whose names were booked for coats, were asked to “stand in line against the building.” Jimmy asked them to name five of their number who were very poor.

“You see, Kids,” said Jimmy, “we have only five coats and if you select the five boys needing them it is all right.”

The boys quickly named the lucky sellers.

Midnight, Peanuts, Bluster, Swipsey and Bundle were unanimously chosen and the orders were given to them.

This was a great surprise to the gentleman, for what he had imagined would be a difficult problem was satisfactorily settled in a very few moments by the boys.

“Boys, come close to me,” said the gentleman. It was difficult for him to stand as they crowded so closely around him.

“I am surprised at your way of doing business. This is one of the greatest things I ever saw. It shows you boys can take care of yourselves and I believe you could manage worse things than dividing up a lot of coats. For this nice little act of yours I am going to give you a first-class Christmas dinner—”

Not another word could be heard. That quiet, listening bunch of boys was quickly changed to a turbulent, noisy crowd.

Several policeman came into the alley to see the cause of the noise. It wasn’t common everyday cheering, but yelling. The invitation was accepted—it seemed by a thousand voices.

“All right, boys, get your little friends and meet me at the post-office steps Christmas morning at eleven o’clock.”

“Say, Mister,” said Swipsey, a bootblack, “only sellers and bootblacks in this deal?”

“Yes, only sellers and bootblacks this time, and I don’t want a good boy in the crowd. I want only boys who are bad. I want all the gang and their friends. I want poor boys, but they must all be newsboys. That is, they must sell papers or shine shoes, and not a boy must come in dress suit.”

READY TO START FOR THE FIRST CHRISTMAS DINNER.

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CHAPTER V.

Christmas morning came without a cloud in sight. The sun was warm. It was an ideal Christmas day. The boys were to meet at eleven o’clock, but fifty newsies were playing around the corners of the post-office as early as seven o’clock and at ten o’clock they came in groups of five and ten from every direction. When the gentleman appeared he was considerably embarrassed at the noisy reception. The boys formed in line by twos and as the hundred and fifty marched down the street yelling at the tops of their voices the good people of the city stood on the sidewalks wondering what had broken loose. The boys when near their destination, arriving at the top of a hill, without warning made a break for the bottom, like a flock of sheep scattering down a hill. They ran screaming as only boys can. At the door of the building, where they were to have their Christmas dinner, they were met by six policemen, who held them at bay, requiring them to go up stairs single file.

The tables presented a sight that even grown people considered, “one of the most attractive layouts ever seen in the city.”

Flowers, fruit of all kinds, with “a mountain of turkey” and candy “to burn,” greeted the boys. In just five minutes after the newsies were seated there was not an orange, an apple, a banana or a piece of candy in sight. All disappeared as if by magic. Ice cream and pie were first to receive attention. Turkey and chicken were later in demand. In half an hour the tables were cleared of everything that looked good to eat. Not only were the pockets of the boys filled with oranges and apples but their shirt-waists and pant-legs were bulged out with the things that pleased them most. Only six fights were recorded worthy of notice.

An entertainment followed the dinner. It was the kind and character they could understand and appreciate. Interesting and earnest talks by newspaper representatives, were sandwiched between acts. The object of the gathering was well defined by the members of the press. Their gentleman friend wanted the sellers and bootblacks to start a Newsboys’ Association. This was received with the usual noisy approval. He wanted an association which the boys themselves would run; make their own laws, elect from their own numbers the officers, and everything connected with the running of the association to be under their supervision. On that Christmas day one hundred and two boys were enrolled in the new association, and their gentleman friend elected president, with Jimmy as vice-president.

The president was requested “to get busy,” and, “prepare rules an’ such things as we can work by.”

After this meeting, Jimmy’s friend was known as “Mr. President.”

PART SECOND

CHAPTER VI.

A dozen or more newsboys can be seen at almost any hour of the day, dodging here and there around the corners, down alleys, or playing in the rear of the circulating offices of the great dailies. In all kinds of weather they will be found at their posts, prompt in delivering their papers to subscribers, or upon the streets crying the most important of the many head lines of the transactions of a day. Would it be possible to get this noisy, hustling crowd of boys together and gradually to bring this great power, this great force, into a channel for doing good? To form an association where the boy would be “de whole thing” with only the hand of man to guide where it was necessary? To simply push the button? In short, would it result in doing good among the class of boys who are neglected in more ways than men and women imagine? Reflection resulted in adopting a name that would imply everything—

“Boyville.”

It means work with and among newsboys by the boys themselves.

The Boyville Newsboys’ Association.

It was at once organized, and in its preamble of incorporation was written the Golden Rule. In the formation of Boyville it must not be understood that its mission was to draw good boys from good homes; but rather to give help to bad boys, come from where they may, when they appear on the streets—away from home influences. Whether they come from the most palatial residences on the shaded avenues, or from the crowded hovels of alleys, from poorly kept tenements, or even those who are compelled to sleep in public stairways, barns, or wherever a boy can creep under shelter without being noticed.

With one hundred and fifty-two newsboys, sellers and bootblacks, enrolled as active members for life; with an unwritten constitution and laws that were made to suit conditions, and that were subject to change at every meeting; with meeting places in alleys, in vacant store-rooms, theatres or wherever boys could meet on short notice, Boyville was started. Trustees were chosen from newspaper representatives, and leading citizens, but the detail work, the real work among the boys, was placed in the hands of the president—to make a success or failure of the project. It was first found necessary that the president should keep in personal daily touch with every boy, not in bunches but each boy, sellers and bootblacks. A membership card was issued. This card simply let the public know the bearer was a member of Boyville, Newsboys’ Association. For this, and all benefits of the association, the boy paid nothing in money. No assessments of any kind. Nothing that would permit even a donation. He was simply required to obey the rules—not to swear, to steal, to play craps, a game so common among sellers, or smoke cirgarettes.

WHERE THE BOYVILLE NEWSBOYS’ ASSOCIATION WAS ORGANIZED, DECEMBER 25, 1892.

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There were but three officers, the president, vice-president and secretary. The two latter, newsboys. Jimmy the newsboy, and Johnny the bootblack, both leaders of gangs. These two boys were told that the success of the association depended entirely on their work. They had charge of the one hundred and fifty-two members. Their first orders were: “that each boy must watch the other boys and correct a fellow member for doing anything that would disgrace the association. They must not wait to see an officer to punish a member for stealing, swearing or playin’ o’craps. They must not depend on what they heard, but on what they saw. Take the law into their own hands, and punish on the spot.”

The end of the first month found twenty-eight membership cards taken from boys who had violated the rule, “you must not steal,” and nine taken from boys who smoked cigarettes. The fines were from five to fifteen days. When the fines numbered fifty membership cards, the president made arrangements with a theatre to admit the members, permitting no boy to enter unless he showed his membership card. The boys who were fined, and did not have their cards, were dealt a pretty heavy blow, for boys. A little banquet was given and again no boy admitted to the hall without showing his card. This occasional hit had its effect in reducing the cards in the hands of the president to an average of about ten a month.

CHAPTER VII.

The membership increased so rapidly and the detail work became so extended, that it was found necessary to increase the number of officers, from two boys to eleven. The constitution and by-laws provided a Central Association, which was officered by boys who had experience upon the streets, as sellers and carriers. The vice-president gradually became familiar with the objects of the association, and the work among the boys. He was a typical newsboy, a good street-seller and his power was felt among the boys, especially those who were inclined to be bad. A secretary was elected from the ranks of the carriers. He was a good worker. The treasurer was a boy who received the unanimous vote of the association. The money he received was small donations, from benevolently-inclined friends. This was used for purchasing flowers for sick boys, etc. The real work of the association depended upon the executive committee of five members. Like most organizations, the committee-work centered in the chairman. The chairman of this committee proved to be one of the most active and faithful boys of the association. He left nothing undone in his efforts to unravel a difficulty or in correcting and building up a boy who had done wrong. The four boys on his committee were untiring in their efforts for the success of the association. This committee was in constant touch with the president.

The membership committee of three boys looked after old as well as new members. Each applicant had to be submitted to them for approval.

With these eleven officers, all boys under fourteen, the association began life. The constitution and by-laws embraced in its power and force simply one aim, one object, to do good among the boys. To do it effectively, and make the results lasting. To build up, never pull down; to encourage honesty, to watch and warn a boy.

The work among the street boys became more interesting as the months rolled on, and, at the end of a year the membership of Boyville had increased to two hundred and fifty sellers and bootblacks. This number not only included boys who sold papers every day, but those who sold extras, and on Saturdays, and special occasions, and boys who sold magazines or other periodicals. The association began to grow and become recognized by the boys generally, and new sellers appeared upon the streets daily, all anxious to join. The working officers remained the same—but two boys doing the detail work.

Two years passed under the new officers and rules. The Boyville Newsboys’ Association began to be felt in the community. Compliments were frequent concerning the good work. The association had increased its membership to fifteen hundred and twenty boys. A little army, and all working harmoniously together for each others good, and in trying to assist and build up the association. Doubting men and women, and the world is full of them, were perfectly satisfied of the success of the boys governing themselves, as was shown almost daily in the work. The boys solved a problem never thought of being tried by men and women who had long experience in working among boys.

The success of Boyville increased in proportion to the work done by the young officers.

People began to look upon a newsboy with some consideration, and as a necessary adjunct to the growth of a city. His politeness, his honesty, his general deportment attracted special notice, and the boys received many kind words and increased attention.

The association began to assume such magnitude that it was found necessary to divide it into auxiliaries, to get a suitable badge, and a membership card defining more explicitly certain rules.

Boyville was therefore divided into five auxiliaries—the sellers, north, south, east and west branches, with the constitution of the Central. Each auxiliary had eleven officers, making a total of sixty-six officers—all boys. In the annual election of officers great interest was taken by the boys, many displaying political “wire pulling” qualifications that would equal the work done by great political bodies.

These sixty-six officers were scattered in all parts of the city, making it almost impossible for a boy whom they wanted for violating a rule of the association, to escape their notice.

The membership card told the story of what was expected of a member. It is herewith given for that purpose.

No.—————

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT

——————————is an active member for life of The Boyville Newsboys’ Association. He does not approve of swearing, lying, stealing, gambling, drinking intoxicating liquors, or smoking cigarettes, and is entitled to all the benefits of said association, and the respect and esteem of the public.

Signed by the officers.

With these rules, and simple pledge, if pledge it can be called, in the hands of each newsboy, the reader can imagine the good that must result.

It does not say the holder is guilty of any of these evils, neither does it imply that he must not swear, etc., but it does say, and each boy is strongly impressed with the fact, that he does not approve of these things, and will not permit a fellow member to violate a single rule.

A boy who says I do not believe in swearing, while he may swear himself, will take great pleasure in checking some one else, and often bumps up against a strong proposition when he finds some other boy, probably of greater strength, watching him, and waiting anxiously for an opportunity to correct him. If not corrected with a simple warning it may end in a fight.

A boy makes an application for membership. He is recommended by a friend. He is approved by the membership committee. In case there is something wrong with the applicant, particularly if he steals, or swears, or smokes cigarettes, he is sent with a note to the president, or as is more frequently done, one of the officers reports in person giving the president a history of the applicant and the failing he has.

The new member knows nothing of this, in fact he gives expression to his thoughts and says, after he receives his credentials, “It’s dead easy.” It is, as far as the business he has with the president, but the moment he leaves the president’s office, the officers living in his district are notified of the trouble this boy gives, or bad habit he delights in keeping up.

Even the boys with whom he associates become familiar, through methods of their own, with his failings, and go after him with all the authority of an official.

With all the interest taken by the boys to correct a member for violating one of the rules, and the severe methods adopted by them to correct a known evil, it is seldom a boy will appear against one of his associates as a witness.

A BUNCH OF SELLERS.

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A gentleman whose sympathy was with the work, brought a boy to the president whom he accused of using language, “unbecoming a criminal.” As witnesses he brought with him four newsboy companions.

Imagine the gentleman’s surprise to hear the boys say: “Mister, you’re dreaming through a pipe. He didn’t swear.” The boys did not even show signs of embarrassment but faced the charge with perfect ease. No argument could get the boys to testify against their friend.

The gentleman left disgusted with newsboys.

“I will let you boys settle this among yourselves,” said the president.

They went upon the street, into the alley. Half an hour later the newsboy accused of swearing returned. Timidly he approached the president and said.

“I swore but I will never do it again, and I mean it, I am sorry.”

At the door the president saw four little faces peeping through the window. They were watching their friend.

“Where is your badge?” asked the president.

“The boys took it from me, they’re out there,” he replied.

They were beckoned to come in.

“Did you do the right thing?” one of the boys asked the accused.

“Yes, didn’t I Mr. President?” he answered, looking for sympathy.

“Yes, boys, he is all right. I understand everything,” said the president.

The badge was returned to the boy and they left the office talking and laughing.

CHAPTER VIII.

The first public appearance of the boys, aside from auxiliary meetings, annual Christmas dinners, attending theatres, entertainments, base-ball games, picnics, etc., and where the boys made a favorable impression upon the public, was the Sunday afternoon meetings held in suitable halls, during the winter season. These were carried on successfully and profitably for several years, until the available halls were too small to accommodate the increasing membership.

The idea of Sunday afternoon meetings suggested itself from what the boys said.

“If we had meetings of our own we would not attend Sunday afternoon theatres.” Three boys, newsboys, were seen coming out of the back door of a saloon on Sunday afternoon, and to the question asked by the president, why they spent their time in the saloon, they replied they had no other place to go to get warm.

“Why not go home?”

“We are not wanted at home.”

At the Sunday afternoon meetings the entertainments were given by the different Sunday schools of the city, and occasionally by some society, all kindly volunteering their valuable services. Splendid music, interesting talkers, little girls and boys in recitations or songs who always made a hit among the newsies. In time the newsboys became so interested in the work that many of them concluded that they could “do a stunt or two,” and the program was divided in two parts. First, the Sunday-school or society, followed by the newsboys who introduced their best speakers, singers, etc.

“These Sunday afternoon gatherings,” to copy from an editorial in one of the daily newspapers, “have improved the tastes, aroused the better natures, stimulated the ambitions, revealed new and nobler ideals and altogether, have opened a new world of more sober and serious plans for future success of the bright little business men.”

One of the most trying incidents that ever came to the attention of the president was at one of the Sunday afternoon meetings held in a theatre, when was brought to the rear of the stage two newsboys so drunk that a policeman had to hold them from falling.

They had a bottle of whiskey between them. In broken sentences they told where a keeper had sold them the liquor, Sunday morning, and how the men in the saloon dared them to drink all the whiskey in the bottle. It wasn’t necessary to drink all, a few swallows made them dizzy. “We got funny and noisy, an’ the man pitched us out.” They staggered towards the opera house to attend the newsboys’ meeting, when a policeman assisted them in the house. Immediately upon their entrance their friends hustled them out of sight behind the stage. The president at once called the association officers and turned the two boys over to them. Quickly the officers removed their badges. It was difficult to restrain some of them from “giving the boys a thorough thrashing.” Through the influence of the boy, Jimmy, the sympathy of the newsboys’ turned quickly to the two boys and a determination for revenge on the saloon keeper followed. The newsboy officers took the two little fellows to their homes. In a few days they reported to the president that the boys received such a severe punishment from their parents that they would be laid up for a month. The saloonman was visited by two of the oldest experienced officers. They were received with kindness, and after talking over the matter for some time it was mutually agreed that the boys were to notify all members that they must keep out of the saloon, as the proprieter promised not to sell liquor of any kind to newsboys and to refuse to sell liquor to any of the fathers of the newsboys—“when he thought they had enough.”

For a month the boys watched that saloon, and if a newsboy entered, his badge was taken from him. The saloonman took greater interest than the boys, for he absolutely refused to sell liquor to any one whom he thought had “all he could carry.”

Today this saloonman is respected by the newsboys and many good deeds are credited to him.

“He is simply trying to lift up a man instead of pulling him down,” said an officer.

The good that has been accomplished from the Sunday afternoon meetings, commonly called “The Popular Sunday School,” cannot be estimated. Thousands of people attend these meetings. They are pleased because the newsboys do the entertaining. There isn’t a great deal of preaching, but there is enough. “The object is not to give so much of that sort of thing,” says an editorial in one of the great dailies, “but what preaching they get is wholesome. The boys get a chance to laugh and clap their hands. They are permitted to be boys on Sunday just as on week days. There is good music, too. It is apt to be a patriotic air, or a popular song. A sweet little girl sang ‘The Good Old Summer Time,’ and the newsies joined in the chorus. It wasn’t classical, but it was good. Instead of shooting over people’s heads the musicians aim at their hearts. The preaching isn’t a tiresome string of ‘does’ and ‘don’ts,’ ‘musts’ and ‘mustn’ts’. It is mostly plain talks from plain people who know they are talking to boys whose veins are bulging with rich, red human blood. But the boys themselves furnish most of the program. Boys who sell papers, who shine shoes, on the streets, get up before big audiences, make speeches, sing songs, ‘recite pieces’ and do other interesting and instructive stunts. And hundreds of these little newsboys sit in the auditorium, conduct themselves like gentlemen and thoroughly enjoy the entertainment. An interesting fact about this association, is that its membership comprises the rich as well as the poor. If a rich man’s son carries a route he is in the same boat with the poorest lad that peddles papers on the street. There are boys who have rich fathers, boys who have poor fathers, boys who have industrious fathers, boys who have drunken fathers, and boys who have no fathers at all. There are Protestant boys, Catholic boys, Hebrew boys, white boys, black boys—and all are full-fledged, honored members of the same newsboy family, which is run on the principle of equal rights for all and special privileges for none. Rich boys are not debarred. There is a desire to save them from wealth’s temptations and make good citizens of them in spite of their handicap. The poor boys who sell papers to help keep the family from starvation are generous and are willing to let the rich in on the ground floor. So it is a pretty broad and big Sunday-school. And a good one. Every boy who belongs to it is better for his membership. He is taught to travel on his own merits and not lean on his papa. He is taught that he must paddle his own canoe; and that he will be judged by what HE does, not by his father’s success.”

FESTIVAL HALL. WHERE THE NATIONAL NEWSBOYS’ ASSOCIATION WAS ORGANIZED, AUGUST 16, 1904.

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CHAPTER IX.

So great became the interest in the success of the Boyville Newsboys’ Association that many additions were made to add to its prosperity, through which the association became favorably known throughout the United States.

A newsboys’ band of thirty-eight pieces was organized, the sellers being in the majority. The expense of the band was borne entirely by one of the enterprising dailies. The musical talent, discovered by an efficient leader, in the newsboys, was remarkable. In less than a year they were able to play some of the most difficult pieces, and the general deportment of the boys surprised all who saw them.

The organization of the South-end Cadets was an event which proved to be one of the most successful additions to the association. Their fine personal appearance, their remarkable drilling, their good behavior at all times and on all occasions, with the band, made Boyville extensively and favorably known as the home of the best newsboys in the world.

Nothing in the history of the work among the newsboys was as important as the interest taken by the various churches, regardless of sect, through their ministers, in holding special Sunday evening meetings for the members of the association. All through the city the auxiliaries were invited, and particular pains taken in the preparation of a program suitable to all. When the boys were first invited, the expression was frequently heard: “Gee wiz, we gets front rows.” The illustration shows the boys marching to one of these evening entertainments.

The value of these meetings cannot be estimated. The good attendance, the close attention, the good behavior of the boys made them many friends, and people began to look more kindly upon the newsboy.

With these improvements in the street-boy and the success of the association naturally, the president received many letters from men and women all over the land seeking information about the detail work of the association.

With the view that this work may eventually be extended throughout the country, the president conceived the idea that a convention of newsboys and their friends might be held and a National association organized through which much good could be accomplished. He therefore opened correspondence with the managers of the World’s Fair, St. Louis, Mo., with a view of getting their consent and approval to set apart a day to be known as Newsboys’ Day. This met with prompt reply and a most hearty endorsement of the officials, and newspaper representatives generally throughout the United States, and resulted in selecting Tuesday, August 16, 1904, as Newsboys’ Day.

That the convention might prove a success, particularly among men who are familiar with work among newsboys, the aid of the circulating managers of the newspapers was asked. At the annual convention of the National Association of Managers of Newspaper Circulation, held at the World’s Fair June 12, 1904, the president of “Boyville” appeared and explained the methods adopted in this association. He satisfied them that, not only did the association accomplish much good, through its efforts to influence boy’s work, but it also proved to be a great aid to the newspapers in increasing circulation. He therefore asked for endorsement and support of the members of this organization in forming a National Newsboys’ Association.

In recognition of this a resolution was unanimously passed endorsing the movement; and a committee was appointed to co-operate with the trustees of the Boyville association with the view of not only making Newsboys’ Day a success but in organizing a National Newsboys’ Association.

CHAPTER X.

On the afternoon, of Tuesday, August 16, 1904, in the magnificent Festival Hall, at the World’s Fair, where were present hundreds of newsboys, representing nearly every State in the Union; and newspaper representatives from the leading papers of the country, there was organized The National Newsboys’ Association; officers were elected and instructions were given them to perfect the organization and adopt the plan so successfully carried on by the Boyville Newsboys’ Association, and having for its object the extension of the work in every town and city in the land that there may be established fraternal relations among newsboys everywhere in making them an important part in the business world, honored and treated with respect by all good citizens.

While the details of the organization were being worked out, the officers were instructed, by the trustees, to issue membership cards and badges and to organize auxiliaries in cities and towns wherever desired.