Boyville; a history of fifteen years' work among newsboys

Front matter

John E.Gunckel

Book

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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 ofT 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.

n

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 io BOYVILLE.

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."

'Til 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

BOYVILLE. ii

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, schrewd, 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 dirtyfaced, 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 ^aid :

"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

THE ORIGINAL CHARTER MEMBERS.

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 ?"

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 watchfull 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 givt 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."

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 thekind 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."

TART 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

Ill,' I II

iff 1 1 1

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

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.