Chicago Tribune November 28, 1895
It was a happy scene last night and a tearful one at I. Woolf & Co.’s clothing store, Halsted and West Madison streets, when upward of 10,000 of the city’s poor sat down to a regular old-fashioned Thanksgiving dinner, and with full hearts and fuller stomachs expressed their gratitude to providence and Mr. Woolf for the spread.
It was the thirteenth of the so-called newsboys’ dinner given by the house, but this year it was not strictly a newsboys’ affair, nor was it an event limited to the waifs. A general invitation was issued to all the poor of Chicago, irrespective of age, race, or color, and the gathering was a notable one, not merely from its size, but from the strange assemblage of unique characters. Dirty-faced little urchins of the alleys, who talked slang and ate with their fingers, sat side by side with impoverished men of culture, who said “please” and “thank you” and fed themselves with a fork. Haggard and sickly mothers were there with their mere tots of children. Gray-haired men and women came and brokenly offered a half apology for their presence. Guests who spoke English in passing pie and celery were thanked in German, and over the way some one asked “Have a banan?” and got the answer, “Bet yer life, Cully.”
Crowds Are Thick.
By 6 o’clock—the hour set for the meal—fully 5,000 people surged about the doors of the clothing house. A dozen policemen kept order as well as they could, and wondered where all the people came from. After several “shifts” have been admitted at the side door and passed, fully satisfied—some called themselves cold-storage houses—out at the front, there seemed little diminution in the host of would-be banqueters. It was fully 11 o’clock when all were fed and sent away happy.
A tempting repast it was, too, to which they were admitted. The goods had been stored away, and the counters removed from the central part of the main floor. In their place was a triple row of specially constructed tables, neatly covered with marbled oilcloth. In each if the three front windows was a similar table. All were decorated with vases of flowers, and in addition there were pyramids of cakes and festoons of fruit. Plates were laid for 1,000, and they were laid with as much precision and with as much artistic effect as in a first-class hotel. Turkeys ready for the knife, were placed at intervals down the tables, and—this was a point specially commended by the guests—everything was within reach. One hundred and two clerks, with white aprons and jackets, did the bidding of the motley crowd.
That crowd was a crowd of epicures—for a day. It was their feast and they made it known. All Mr. Woolf had to do was to furnish the food and service and foot the bills. Of course the tables in the windows were the posts of honor and the elite of the newsboys’ circle aspired for the seats. Turkey, they thought, would taste better if they could eat it while making faces at the throng who watched with hungry eyes and watering mouths without.
Has a Monster Menu.
The menu was one of heroic size. One had to see the outlay to grasp its proportions. From the following all the et ceteras are eliminated:
- MENU
400 Turkeys
8 Barrels Mashed Potatoes. 20 Barrels Apples.
1,000 Gallons Milk.
6 Barrels Cranberry Sauce. 100 Bunches Celery.
100 Bunches Bananas. 25 Boxes Grapes.
800 Dozen Cakes. 1,000 Pies.
4 Barrels Lemonade.
In local waifdom Mr. Woolf was the most popular man in Chicago last night. An informal meeting of representative waifs and newsboys was held in the big hours of the night, and “Swipes” Brown moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Woolf. The vote was unanimous, but will not be engrossed.
“Kids,” said a local celebrity, “dat was a great blow-out,” holding his sides. “Almost a bust-out. Criticisms not in order. It won’t be ‘lowed. It was a feast fit fer de gods—who, who said anything about galleries? Niothin’s too good for us kids of de street, and”—the police sang out, “Move on.”
Woolf’s Clothing Advertisement
Menu for the 18th Annual Newsboys’ Dinner
November 28, 1900
Der Westen — January 27, 1901
Remarkable Career Isaac Woolf’s Life Shows How an Energetic Man Can Prosper
Among the many remarkable merchants of State Street, Chicago’s famous business center, there are few who can point to a greater and more successful accomplishment than Isaac Woolf, founder of the large clothing house of the same name, and who rose from newsboy to merchant prince.
Proud as he is of his achievement, Mr. Woolf is a bit too modest to talk about himself, and it was only after considerable entreaty that a reporter of the Staats-Zeitung was able to gather a few facts about his life.
Some twenty years ago Woolf started his career as a newsboy. Insignificant as this beginning may seem, Woolf’s strong will enabled him to start the Woolf Clothing Company on the corner of Halsted and Madison streets. True, it was a modest beginning, – no indication whatsoever of future development. Yet, a keen observer, had there been one around, would have noticed in that modest beginning the seed of a large enterprise of the future.
Woolf was a firm believer in the policy that a customer is always right, and he spared no effort to prove it. He was always present and enjoyed a bit of conversation with his customers, a habit which made him many a friend. It is doubtful whether a man can be found in Chicago today, who has more friends than Woolf among all classes of the city’s population.
For seventeen years, since he established his business, Woolf has never failed to give an annual Thanksgiving dinner to the newsboys, and this one act alone may have a great deal to do with his popularity among those who know him. This dinner, one might say, is an integral part of his business and grows with it, becoming increasingly important to the ever spreading army of homeless, hungry newsboys. Every Thanksgiving day. Mr. Woolf takes great delight in seeing to it that none leave his store without having partaken from a large brown turkey and other delicacies.
For the newsboy, Woolf’s day, as this day is called, is the most important event of the year. And rightly so, if we consider the fact that Woolf’s latest Thanksgiving dinner was a huge affair in which 12,000 people ate. Just imagine a man who shares what he has with 12,000 youngsters, and it will dawn upon you why “Ikey” Woolf, the newsboy, became the towering merchant prince.
Two years ago Woolf moved his store to State Street, and this change gave rise to considerable confusion among his old customers and friends, who mistook Sol Woolf’s place at Jackson and State for his store due to the similarity in the names. The Woolf-Clothing Company overcame this difficulty by buying Sol Woolf’s stock at a 50% reduction and offering it to the public at purchase price. This, of course, was a business transaction that made the Woolf Clothing Company very popular among State Street shoppers, a popularity which it enjoys to this day.
Woolf’s Clothing House
State and Monroe
About 1903
Chicago Tribune November 29, 1906
An army of newsboys, vith the voracious appetites that newsboys alone have, attacked 500 turkeys and chickens, to say nothing of other good things, in Brooke’s Casino last night and won a glorious victory. The charge began promptly at least 6 o’clock and the retreat was sounded at 9, but the contest waged in Utose three hours will remain one of the bright spots in the memories of all who engaged in it.
This was the twenty-fifth annual Thanksgiving dinner given by Woolf’s Clothing company to Chicago’s newsboys and fully 8,000 were fed. Time and again they filled the Casino floor, where four long tables bad been placed, to accommodate them. There were big boys and little lean boys and fat boys, ragged boys and neat boys, clean boys and dirty boys, and doubtless good boys and bad boys.
When the word was given at 6 o’clock that everything was in readiness the rear doors of the Casino were thrown back and in they rushed. When the thousand seats which the tables afforded were filled the doors were closed again, yet the line still extended down Peck court as far as Michigan avenue and every second recruits filled up the ranks.
Bill of Fare in Bulk.
The bill of fare looks like a page from a regimental Commissary department. In bulk it was as follows:
- Two hundred and fifty turkeys
250 chickens
1,500 loaves of bread
1,500 dozen cakes
150 bunches of bananas
2 barrels off cranberry sauce
25 ten gallon cans of mashed potatoes
1,500 pies
25 boxes or oranges
25 of apples
25 boxes of celery; figs, dates, raisins, anch nuts unscheduled, besides 10 barrels of lemonade.
It took fifty men to serve the dinner and twenty-five women to wash the dishes. The Rev. D. F. Fox of the Caliornia Avenue Congregational church pronounced the invocation and he is declared by Benjamin Woolf to be the only man who has ever been able to retain a semblance of order among the guests. This Is accounted for by the fact of his reference to the charity of Isaac Woolf, who inaugurated the annual dinner and whose death, a few weeks ago was known to every boy in the hall.
The boys were not the only feature of the dinner, for while 8,000 were fed, fully that many grown people went to the Casino to look on. The balcony was crowded during the entire evening and thousands lined the walls Of the hall watching the boys clean their plates. That they did their duty manfully was evidenced by a pile of bones and refuse which would fill a wagon.
Chicago Examiner, December 31, 1908
One of Chicago’s oldest firms, Woolf’s Clothing Company, State and Monroe streets, was forced into bankruptcy yesterday when three creditors filed an involuntary petition In bankruptcy in the
United States District Court. The liabilities of the company are said to be slightly in excess of $200,000, while the assets are declared m the petition to be less than the $100,000.
The business was founded by the late Isaac Woolf. former newsboy, who later in life gained the title of the “Newsie’s friend” by his philanthropy. It took Woolf thirty years to build the concern into a prosperous corporation occupying a five story building in the heart of the shopping district and a large branch store at Madison and Halsted streets. Isaac Woolf died two years ago nnd his friends say that the loss of his master mind in directing the firm’s business, combined with general business depression, has led to the firm’s insolvency.
Judge K. M. Dandis appointed the American Trust & Savings Bank as receivers late yesterday afternoon and representatives of the bank will take charge of the buslness to-day.
Branch Store Sold.
It was stated last night that Benjamin Woolf, who has been president of the clothing company since the death of his brother Isaac, still had hopes that the firm could got back on its feet and thattwo weeks ago he had sold the store at Madison and Halsted streets for a reported price of $70,000, which money had been liattered among the creditors without
The bankruptcy petition was filed by Alfred Benjamin & Co. of New York, Samuel W. Peck & Co. of New York and Rosenwald & Weil of Chicago. All three firms scheduled merely nominal amounts owed them by the Woolf company.
It was set up m the petition that the Woolf company, while Insolvent, had paid $30,000 to tbe Commercial National Bank, thus giving the bank preference over all other creditors. R. L. McDonald, who was paid. $600 in September, is mentioned as another favored creditor. It is stated that it is essential to carry on the business for the benefit of the creditors and that the rental of the clothing company’s building in State street is $65,000 a year and the lease is a valuable asset
The majority of Woolf’s Clothing Company stock is to be held by the heirs of Isaac Woolf. The principal beneficiaries finder his will were his children.
Shock to the Employes.
The news of the receivership and the thought that the new year would see them without positions caused consternation nmong the seventy-five employes of the establishment. Some of the clerks and department managers have grown gray in the service of the company. They had no intimation that a receiver was in charge of the store until they read the newspapers.
Attorney Isaacs of the firm of Wheeler, Silber & Isaacs, who is attorney for the creditors, said last night:
- The liabilities are probability a little more than the last $200,000. I believe that the stock in the store is worth about $150,000, although It may not run that high. The failure, I believe, is due to the loss of Isaac Woolf as head of the company and the financial depression. There have been repeated conferences between Benjamin Woolf and the editors, but it was finally decided to have a receiver appointed.
Isaac Woolf. founder of the company, was a newsboy in Chicago many years ago, and for years after he became wealthy he gave an annual Thanksgiving dinner to the newsboys. These dinners cost him several thousand dollars annually. The custom was discontinued after his death.
Woolf first started m business at Madison and Halsted streets in a small clothing store with a stock valued at a few hundred dollars. His business continued to grow and he enlarged his store until it was one of the largest clothing houses on the West Side. Seventeen years ago he entered the downtown district.
Chicago Tribune November 20, 2011
Three cheers for newsboys’ friend on Thanksgiving
By Stephan Benzkofer
As Thanksgiving approaches, government agencies, religious groups and social service organizations make an extra effort to make sure everybody has a good meal on the holiday. Businesses pitch in too, providing much-needed services and rallying their employees to the cause.
In the early 1800s, it was a lone clothier, Isaac Woolf, who answered the call. The beneficiary of his amazing generosity was the army of street urchins who hawked newspapers and shined shoes. Woolf was born in London but immigrated to the U.S. and grew up in Lafayette, Ind., where he helped his parents by working as a newsboy.
The city streets teemed with newsboys and girls, ragpickers and bootblacks, as the shoeshiners were called. Some of these children, who could be as young as 4 or 5, were orphans but many came from poor families who needed every penny they could earn.
Woolf served 100 children at his first dinner in 1883 at his store’s original location at Madison Avenue and Halsted Street. (In 1895, he opened a downtown store at the southwest corner of State and Monroe streets, where it was famous for a huge horseshoe arching over the door.) In 1888, he fed 2,500 children. In 1892, he served 4,000. The store was cleared out to make room for tables, which could seat 400 at a time. A special police detail handled the crowd and managed shift changes. In 1895, under the headline, “He Feeds Them All,” the Tribune related how Woolf opened up the dinner to the general public, and “upward of 10,000” were served. The paper reported that 400 turkeys were eaten, along with eight barrels of mashed potatoes and 1,000 gallons of milk.
Then tragedy struck. In October 1906, Woolf died unexpectedly. He was 54. His brother, Benjamin, managed to pull off the 25th anniversary newsboys’ dinner the next month, and even the 26th annual in 1907, but that was it. Woolf’s Clothiers went bankrupt in 1908.
Each of those waifs, urchins and newsies considered Isaac Woolf their personal friend, the Tribune reported. It was common for the kids to offer up “three cheers” for him at the end of the meals, and one year, this call and response:
“What’s the matter with Woolf?”
“O, he’s all right!”
Woolf’s Clothing House
166 S. State Street
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1906
CHICAGO NEWSBOY STORIES
Chicago Tribune, June 12, 1881
THE NEWSBOYS’ HOME
To the Editor of The Chicago Tribune.
CHICAGO, June 10.—An article appeared in your paper last week signed “Pedestrian.” making strong complaints against certain newsboys from the Newsboys’ Home, who annoy people on the streets and follow them into stores begging them to buy “some kind of a paper,” and complaining that they have not had anything to eat.
I have no desire to defend the newsboys who pursue such a course. I am sorry to learn that any boys from the Home should give cause for the complaint that they make themselves a public “nuisance.” But I woild ask our citizens to give a kind and patient hearing to the cause of the newsboys. In vindication of the Home I would say that most liberal provision is made for the comfort of the boys. They all have enough good, plain food to eat. One of the kindest and most benevolent women of our city—a member of the Board of Directors—makes the purchases of provisions, and keeps the pantry supplied. And the boys are looked after with a motherly interest by faithful women who have for their co- workers some of tbe best business-men in Chicago, who have given liberally, not only of their time, but their money, to make the Newsboys’ Home one of the most useful institutions of Chicago.
We are trying to rouse a spirit in the minds of the boys under our charge. We encourge them to be active and enterprising in selling their Papers, but we also counsel them to be polite, that their good conduct may gain for them friends. If any of our boys whine or tell a pitiful story rebuke them. There is not one of them who would not count it a great privation to be turned away from the Home. We shall use all our influence to prevent the boys from annoying citizens in selling the Appeal, and hope to hear a better report about them. But We would say to our citizens that the monthly Appeal is edited by some of our good women for the special benefit of the newsboys to enable them to pay for their board and lodging. And a lady in Scotland well known to the literary, world has very kindly offered to write a story for the Appeal, the first number of which will shortly appear. We ask the public to have patience with the boys. and to join their efforts with ours to make them better and moore manly. Buy the Appeal: drop some good, kind words into the hearts of these boys. And we cordially invite all who believe that the prevention of evil is better than the efforts to cure it to come round to the Newsboys’ Home any Sunday at 4 to our service, or to our Monday evening concerts, through which we try to exert some healthful home influence which shall tell on the boys’ characters and lives.
—A FRIEND OF THE BOYS.
Chicago Tribune August 24, 1884
Hotel Square is the new name given the vacant lot on Quincy street, between Franklin street and Fifth avenue and opposite the Newsboys’ Home. It is now the encampment of the newsboys who rebelled against the matron of the home and left in a body last Tuesday night. The boys have constructed a series of rude huts built from the lumber lying about and and there they have slept since last Tuesday night in view of the brightly lighted windows of their old home.
A Tribune reporter paid a visit to the settlement last night at about 8 o’clock. Most of the boys had gone to see the Logan procession, but a few were hanging about.
“You’re a reporter, I guess,” said one boy of about 15, “an’ if you’d like to see the hotels just come over this way.” Leading the way across the street the boy crossed the fence and descended cautiously by means of logs to the regions below. The other boys followed, and after a good deal of scrambling over piles of logs, the whole party came to one of the shanties.
“Now what d’ya think of the Palmer House?” said the spokesman. “Fifteen boys slept in there last night.”
The “Palmer House” was somewhere about seven feet by four and about 2½ feet high, constructed of logs compactly put together, and entered by a door as large as the gate of a rabbit-hutch. How fifteen boys could pack themselves into such a hole was difficult to understand.
“Now, mister, mind your feet, here’s McCoy’s European Hotel,” and the reporter was introduced to a structure barely bigger than a dog kennel. Here six boys had slept the night previous. “You bet we are in a pretty tight fix, but we’d rather lie out here than go back to the home till Mrs. Price and ‘Old Chunkout’ get bounced.”
“Who’s ‘Old Chunkout?'”
“Why, that old cuss the matron married last February,” said a bioy of 16. “He’s dine his level best to break up the home ever since he came. He was one o’ them book canvassin’ chaps, an’ ye know how they can jaw. Since ‘Chunkout’ came to boss the home, Mrs. Price’s been telling some o’ you newspaper chaps that it was the big boys that was bulldozin’ the little ones and keepin’ them from goin’ back to the home, but that’s all lies, as every boy could prove.”
“Where are the rest of your hotels?”
“There’s the Grand Pacific an’ a mighty tough lookin’ shanty you’ll think it, with the roof all broken down. That;s how the workmen serve us every day—they tear down every hotel we build, an’ then we have them all to fix at night again. An’ you bet yer life we need to keep mighty quiet here, for if Mrs. Price heard us makin’ any noise she would ring up the patrol an’ have us uo before Justice Foote. But hold on before you go. There’s Muldoon’s Hotel, bossed by Martin Smith, it’ll be a pretty lively spot later on if the cops don’t drop on us.” This was another of the same pattern which a number of the boys were setting forth the companions when they should return from Logan’s reception.
Hotel Square
Robinson’s Fire Atlas, 1886
Volume 1, Plate 1
By this time quite a number of the boys began to gather, and the older of them spoke very quietly and sensibly of the situation. They disclaimed altogether the charge that they had bulldozed the younger boys, and in this they were fully backed up by every boy present. Far from bulldozing, they claim to have shown the greatest kindness to the younger members of their craft and to have paid for lodgings for every little boy who could not stand the cold and discomfort of the new dwellings on Hotel Square. They are very indignant with the matron for having the boy Maxwell sent up for forty-three days for swearing at the janitor Sunday night.
“‘Old Chunkout,'” said one of the younger boys, “is not straight with our money. As sure as we ask it out the bank he always tries to palm off some Canadian quarters or dimes on us, an’ then what a fine thing he an’ the matron must make out o’ the clothes that’s sent for the boys. We respect all the board. You couldn’t find finer gentlemen in Chicago, and you bet yer boots when Mr. Rnd gets back he’ll fire Mrs. Price and ‘Old Clunkout.'”
“We’ll go to Sunday-school tomorrow,” said another boy, “just to please Mr. Silaby, an’ may be we’ll get a chance o’ puttin’ in a word for ourselves. Good night. Come back an’ see us again. We’ll hold out here till we get our rights.”
“The Newsboys’ Christmas Dinner”
Words & music by Theo. H. Northrup
Chicago, 1893
The newsboys all had gather’d near a rest’raunt’s welcome door,
The day had been quite dull and bleak, and they were tired and sore,
When gruffly cried a man in blue, ’twas one of the police,
For them to move or else he’d take them in to keep the peace.
The boys were very quiet, some dress’d poorly, others neat,
And all had worked industriously, were hungry and could eat.
The man in blue then made a dash to put them all to rout,
But they were jolly newsboys and began to laugh and shout.
Just then from out the rest’raunt’s door a portly man came out,
To see what this uncalled for fuss and cry could be about,
Then taking in the situation at a single glance,
He told the boys some joyous news that put them in a trance.
Hurrah! they cried in unison, and through the door they went,
And never was a Christmas dinner half so hap’ly spent,
For everything they could get to tempt the newsboys gay,
Was placed before the newsboys on this merry Christmas day.
Chicago paper boys using carts.
Lake and Laramie Streets, 1934.
Chicago Examiner March 19, 1908
Police ot the Central Detail ond Harrison street stations and employes of the Chicago City Railway Company yesterday were involved in a melee with forty newsboys who attempted to board the pay-as-you-enter cars at Madison street and Wabash avenue shortly after S o’clock yesterday afternoon.
Clubs and flsts were freely used to eject the boys from the cars.
Thousands of spectators thronged the sidewalks and elevated railroad structure and watched the boys, who continued their efforts to enter the cars until after 7 o’clock.
Charges will be preferred to-day before the police trial board against Policemen Jarvis O’Sbea, Crozier, Harrington, Sul-jllvan anoTWallace. all of the central detail station, who are asserted to have used unnecessary force in ejecting the boys.
Jostle Women and Children.
Women and children who attempted to board the cars were roughly pushed aside and jostled by the struggling contestants, and spectators who crowded tbe sidewalks were roughly handled when the police charged the boys.
Traffic was very nearly at a standstill. For blocks the cars were unable to proceed on account of the congestion. Each car carried two conductors iu addition to the motorman.
Shortly after 6 o’clock the police ordered all newsboys to leave the vicinity of the disturbance until order was restored. An appeal to Inspector Patrick Lavin, newly, appointed chief of the traffic squad, who was present in charge of the men resulted in the rescinding of the order. The order, however, appeared to anger the “newsies,” and until after 7 o’clock the attacks on the boys increased in severity.
Arrest Five Newsboys.
In addition to being severely beaten five newsboys were arrested and charged with
disorderly conduct. They included Morris Kieln, John Burke. Frank Jones. Albert Frank and Meyer Miusky. They were arrested by the men against whom charges will he preferred to-day.
Frank Mullholland, a newsboy, was in the forerank of a crowd of spectators gathered upon the sidewalk between Maaisou and Monroe streets on Wabash avenue when Policeman Crozier ordered the crowd to move on. It is said he seized Mullholland by the throat and clubbed him about the face nnd head. Mullholland fell to the ground wltn blood coming from his mouth, nose and a gash made by Crozier’s club.
Lieutenant Aleock, attracted by the gathering crowd, took charge of the boy and ordered the policeman to another portion of the block. Later bo was ordered to return to his station by Inspector Lavin. Mullholland was carried into the Palmer IHouse, where the wound was sewed up and his other injuries attended to. Later he was removed to his home.
In addition to being made a defenHant before tbe trial board, It is stated that a warrant for Crozier’s arrest will be asked to-day and the policeman will be charged with disorderly conduct, assault and battery and assault with intent to do bodily injury.
Boys Tender Fares.
Policemen Sullivan and Wallace were active in heading off the boys who sought to storm the cars.
Morris Klein and John Burke boarded a car at Monroe street. In their hands they held each a nickel and tendered the conductors their fares. The fares were refused and the conductors attempted lo throw the boys from the car. Klein resisted and was struck by one of the street car company’s men.
“Arrest that man: he’s got a ‘billy,’ shouted the crowd. Instead of doing so Wallace, who was standing at the side of the car, pulled the two newsboys from the car, struck Klein across the shoulders with his club aud placed both boys under arrest.
The boys were placed iD the police patrol and were taken to the Harrison Street Station, where they were locked up.
Policeman O’Shea arrested Albert Frank, a newsboy, whose protestations that he had not been near the cars was borne out by the statements of bystanders. He was locked up.
Meyer Mlnsky was clubbed by Sergeant Jarvis and sent to the Harrison Street station. It is said that charges will be prepared against Jarvis before the trial board.
Frank Jones, a newsboy, was arrested by Policeman Harrington.
Last evening the boys were released on ball.
J. F. Ferguson, a street car conductor, was arrested following an alleged attack on a newsboy at Vau Bureu street and Wabash avenue. The identity of the newsboy could not be ascertained. Ferguson was locked up at the Harrison Street Station.
Inspector Lavin last ulght declared that he would have 200 policemen in Wabash avenue this afternoon to preserve’ order. He also said that street car conductors who laid violent hands on newsboys would be arrested.
Letter From a Newsboy.
The following letter was received yesterday by the Chicago Examiner:
- To the Editor—
I am a newsboy and peddle three limes a day. Since the street car company has made a rule of pay as you enter it is kind of hard on us boys. Now, to-day I read that newsboys were kicked and knocked all around the street. I think Mr. Watson or whatever his name Is ought to be ashamed of himself after kicking our boy in the back.
The boys try to make a living for themselves or for their parents. It Is hard, because I know. I needn’t be kicked around like that. A little soft soap goes a far way. I thank yon.
A NEWSBOY.
Chicago Examiner, September 13, 1910
The science of selling newspapers; the art of displaying the news so that the busiest, man or woman will pause to purchase a paper; the secret of reading human nature and being able to tell in what particular news passers-by are interested, has been discovered by Harry Blanche, a nineteen-year-old newsboy who arrived in Chicago yesterday on his twenty thousand mile Journey to win a gold medal that is to be given to the champion newsboy of the United States.
Ever since he was old enough to toddle about the streets of New York with a bundle of newspapers beneath his arm, Harry Blanche has been a newsboy and he enjoys the reputation of selling” more papers daily than any other boy in that
city.
Blanche left New York June 1 for the express purpose of teaching the art of selling newspapers to newsboys throughout the country. In three months he has visited cities from Montreal, Canada, to New Orleans, and from St. Louis to San Francisco. In the larger cities, where there are organized clubs for newsboys, he gives lectures and tells the “newsies” of methods that will increase their business.
Reads Papers With Care.
Each day he reads the papers carefully and is always prepared to tell in an instant the contents of all the papers that !he carries in stock.
When Blanche started on his tour he had no funds. He had the ability to read and understand the contents of a newspaper. This was his only stock in trade. With this ability he has traveled more than 17.000 miles and besides meeting expenses has a surplus.
Landing in a strange city, his first move is to purchase a supply of newspapers and these he goes on the street to sell. It is his proud boast that he has never practiced deception in selling his wares.
Blanche in telling of his method, said:
- A newsboy need not shout at the top of his voice to sell a newspaper
“Read the papers and get an idea of the news. I have discovered that you can interest a woman by telling her of bargains that appear among the advertisements just as well as you can by referring to news items.
“You stand on a street corner and thousands of persons pass by in the course of a day. It’s impossible to take each person aside and tell them what yon have for sale, but by displaying your papers so that passers-by can see the news you will make a sale that otherwise would have been lost.
Studies All Who Pass By
“Another thing that Ihave found a great aid is to study men and women as they pass. If a voting woman comes along that looks like an actress or a chorus girl explain that vou have the story of a theatrical romance, the latest theatrical romance, Mme. Cavalieri or someone else. She’ll buy a paper.
“When the financial, man passes by tell him that ‘X. Y. Z.’ has taken a slump or that some bank has closed its door, you can count on him for a sale. also. Study the faces of the people that pass.
One of the terms of tbe agreement under which Blanche undertook the journey was that he should bring back a newsboy badge from every town he visited. He now has fifty badges, and when he reaches New York the latter part of October he expects to have double this number.
Blanche will remain in this city until tomorrow afternoon. He will purchase a supply of Examiners this morning, sell them, and incidentally instruct Chicago “newsies” how to sell papers
Harry Blanche, most successful newsboy in the United Slates, as he appears selling a paper on the street.