CHAPTER XXXIV.How many prayers have been offered for the salvation of the slums; how many sighs and expressions of regret and sympathy have been given, by well-meaning people, for the “poor and unhealthy boys of the slums.”Those who are familiar, and it is to be regretted that they are so few, with the real conditions of these, supposed, unhealthy and certainly unpleasant districts, will substantiate the declaration that the boys who live there, in these ill-favored spots, and who have followed the vocation of selling papers or shining shoes, until they arrived at that age when it was necessary to seek other and more lucrative employment, are ninety per cent. healthier and stronger and better able to fight disease than boys raised in the most sanitary districts and in wealthy families. The slums of Whitechapel and Westminster, in London, inhabitated by a squalid and criminal population, as well as the slums in New York and other American cities, maintain a healthier condition among the inhabitants.In a period of six years, with an enrollment of two hundred and fifty newsboys, who belonged to the sellers auxiliary; a majority of them living in what is called “the worst part of the city, the most unhealthy; the most degraded; the most undesirable,” and boys who from necessity were compelled to sell papers or shine shoes, thus requiring an almost daily appearance upon the streets in all kinds of weather, there were but three cases of sickness, and but one death, and this death was caused by an explosion at a Fourth of July celebration.Little Barney Frank, one of the brightest and most promising members of the association died January 28, 1903, having been injured by a toy cannon.The president attended the funeral of this little boy and being asked to say something touching the life of his friend, he said:“Barney was an exceptionally bright and happy boy, loved by his companions, and almost worshiped by his heart-broken parents. His happy disposition, his smiles and great interest in his fellow newsboys will live forever in the hearts of those who knew him. It is often asked why are the young and innocent taken from us?Some of us believe that the road to heaven opens wide to welcome little boys.“One of the most pleasing remembrances of Barney’s life was shown in the following incident. It was a cold November evening, with a heavy fall of rain and sleet. I was standing in the street looking for a car to take me home, when little Barney came running to me and said: ‘You go in the store, in a dry place, I’ll watch for the car and I’ll call you,’ and in spite of protestations, he stood in the rain until the car passed. So it was always with Barney, ever looking after the happiness of his friends.”They took the remains to another town, and buried him in a village graveyard. There he rests in peace. In summer the grass grows green and the daisies and violets keep watch; and in a tree, whose branches shade the unmarked grave, there comes a robin red-breast, and every morning at the rising of the sun, and every evening just as the sun is sinking behind the hills, he sings his song of love.Who knows but that it is an angel who comes to the grave of that little newsboy?“BILLY BUTCHER, WE MUST HAVE AN UNDERSTANDIN’, WHICH CORNER OB DE STREET WILL YOU TAKE?”
CHAPTER XXXIV.How many prayers have been offered for the salvation of the slums; how many sighs and expressions of regret and sympathy have been given, by well-meaning people, for the “poor and unhealthy boys of the slums.”Those who are familiar, and it is to be regretted that they are so few, with the real conditions of these, supposed, unhealthy and certainly unpleasant districts, will substantiate the declaration that the boys who live there, in these ill-favored spots, and who have followed the vocation of selling papers or shining shoes, until they arrived at that age when it was necessary to seek other and more lucrative employment, are ninety per cent. healthier and stronger and better able to fight disease than boys raised in the most sanitary districts and in wealthy families. The slums of Whitechapel and Westminster, in London, inhabitated by a squalid and criminal population, as well as the slums in New York and other American cities, maintain a healthier condition among the inhabitants.In a period of six years, with an enrollment of two hundred and fifty newsboys, who belonged to the sellers auxiliary; a majority of them living in what is called “the worst part of the city, the most unhealthy; the most degraded; the most undesirable,” and boys who from necessity were compelled to sell papers or shine shoes, thus requiring an almost daily appearance upon the streets in all kinds of weather, there were but three cases of sickness, and but one death, and this death was caused by an explosion at a Fourth of July celebration.Little Barney Frank, one of the brightest and most promising members of the association died January 28, 1903, having been injured by a toy cannon.The president attended the funeral of this little boy and being asked to say something touching the life of his friend, he said:“Barney was an exceptionally bright and happy boy, loved by his companions, and almost worshiped by his heart-broken parents. His happy disposition, his smiles and great interest in his fellow newsboys will live forever in the hearts of those who knew him. It is often asked why are the young and innocent taken from us?Some of us believe that the road to heaven opens wide to welcome little boys.“One of the most pleasing remembrances of Barney’s life was shown in the following incident. It was a cold November evening, with a heavy fall of rain and sleet. I was standing in the street looking for a car to take me home, when little Barney came running to me and said: ‘You go in the store, in a dry place, I’ll watch for the car and I’ll call you,’ and in spite of protestations, he stood in the rain until the car passed. So it was always with Barney, ever looking after the happiness of his friends.”They took the remains to another town, and buried him in a village graveyard. There he rests in peace. In summer the grass grows green and the daisies and violets keep watch; and in a tree, whose branches shade the unmarked grave, there comes a robin red-breast, and every morning at the rising of the sun, and every evening just as the sun is sinking behind the hills, he sings his song of love.Who knows but that it is an angel who comes to the grave of that little newsboy?“BILLY BUTCHER, WE MUST HAVE AN UNDERSTANDIN’, WHICH CORNER OB DE STREET WILL YOU TAKE?”
How many prayers have been offered for the salvation of the slums; how many sighs and expressions of regret and sympathy have been given, by well-meaning people, for the “poor and unhealthy boys of the slums.”
Those who are familiar, and it is to be regretted that they are so few, with the real conditions of these, supposed, unhealthy and certainly unpleasant districts, will substantiate the declaration that the boys who live there, in these ill-favored spots, and who have followed the vocation of selling papers or shining shoes, until they arrived at that age when it was necessary to seek other and more lucrative employment, are ninety per cent. healthier and stronger and better able to fight disease than boys raised in the most sanitary districts and in wealthy families. The slums of Whitechapel and Westminster, in London, inhabitated by a squalid and criminal population, as well as the slums in New York and other American cities, maintain a healthier condition among the inhabitants.
In a period of six years, with an enrollment of two hundred and fifty newsboys, who belonged to the sellers auxiliary; a majority of them living in what is called “the worst part of the city, the most unhealthy; the most degraded; the most undesirable,” and boys who from necessity were compelled to sell papers or shine shoes, thus requiring an almost daily appearance upon the streets in all kinds of weather, there were but three cases of sickness, and but one death, and this death was caused by an explosion at a Fourth of July celebration.
Little Barney Frank, one of the brightest and most promising members of the association died January 28, 1903, having been injured by a toy cannon.
The president attended the funeral of this little boy and being asked to say something touching the life of his friend, he said:
“Barney was an exceptionally bright and happy boy, loved by his companions, and almost worshiped by his heart-broken parents. His happy disposition, his smiles and great interest in his fellow newsboys will live forever in the hearts of those who knew him. It is often asked why are the young and innocent taken from us?Some of us believe that the road to heaven opens wide to welcome little boys.
“One of the most pleasing remembrances of Barney’s life was shown in the following incident. It was a cold November evening, with a heavy fall of rain and sleet. I was standing in the street looking for a car to take me home, when little Barney came running to me and said: ‘You go in the store, in a dry place, I’ll watch for the car and I’ll call you,’ and in spite of protestations, he stood in the rain until the car passed. So it was always with Barney, ever looking after the happiness of his friends.”
They took the remains to another town, and buried him in a village graveyard. There he rests in peace. In summer the grass grows green and the daisies and violets keep watch; and in a tree, whose branches shade the unmarked grave, there comes a robin red-breast, and every morning at the rising of the sun, and every evening just as the sun is sinking behind the hills, he sings his song of love.
Who knows but that it is an angel who comes to the grave of that little newsboy?
“BILLY BUTCHER, WE MUST HAVE AN UNDERSTANDIN’, WHICH CORNER OB DE STREET WILL YOU TAKE?”
“BILLY BUTCHER, WE MUST HAVE AN UNDERSTANDIN’, WHICH CORNER OB DE STREET WILL YOU TAKE?”
“BILLY BUTCHER, WE MUST HAVE AN UNDERSTANDIN’, WHICH CORNER OB DE STREET WILL YOU TAKE?”