Category Archives: General

“Youngsters Shiver in Park Fountain.”

27 Monday Apr 2020

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From the April 27, 1902, edition of the New York Tribune:

Youngsters Shiver in Park Fountain.

City Hall Bathing Season Formally Opened By Mickey the Angel.

Mickey the Angel, “Limpy” O’Brien, Spotty Puckerino, “Ginny” Murphy and “Spuds” Carrano, Park Row newsboys from nine to thirteen years old, formally opened the bathing season yesterday afternoon in the Tweed fountain in City Hall Park. There was a large and watchful gathering, but no “cops.” All the boys were barefooted, and most of them were burdened only with trousers and shirt.

“Youse ain’t going’ ter welch, be youse?” asked Mickey the Angel in a tone of supreme disgust as he led his Spartan-like band to the fountain and noticed that Carrano and Murphy held back.

“Aw, gwan,” said Murphy, peeling off his shirt and divesting himself of his trousers. This was a movement that all understood. There was a twisting of arms and legs, kinking of backs, and suppressed exclamations as the boys went through their lightning change act. Then five somewhat soiled and skinny young heroes clambered up the side of the fountain.

“O-o-o-o-ch, golly, it’s cold,” chattered Mickey the Angel.

“Souse down, y’ lobster,” said O’Brien with a great show of courage, as he ducked into the water and then shivered.

Puckerino, Murphy and Carrano, encouraged by the cheers and laughter of the crowd soon went under the water, only to look scared and pained as they realized how cold it was.

“Stay in! Stay in!” yelled the unsympathetic crowd, as the lads clambered out of the fountain.

There was no response. The boys knew when they had enough. Just as they darted for their clothes, some one yelled:

“Here comes a cop!”

It was a false alarm from a boy so dastardly mean that probably he will never be mentioned for the Presidency. It startled the shivering quintet, however. Carrano corkscrewed into his trousers and pulled his shirt on over his suspenders. Murphy carried his shirt across Park Row before putting it on, and all the boys showed a celerity equaling Sheridan’s cavelry at the battle of Winchester.

Five pairs of dripping, shiny legs twinkled across Park Row to a grating over a warm pressroom, the great homebound crowd soon swallowed them up and they were lost to view—but the bathing season was formally opened in City Hall Park.

Motion Picture: A Trip Through New York City in 1911

19 Sunday Apr 2020

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Black and white images show a lot about people and places in the past, but there’s something about seeing old black & white images that have been colorized to make the image seem even more real. Thanks to Denis Shiryaev, we can do that with a film compilation about New York City.

In 1911, cameramen from a Swedish company, Svenska Biografteatern (which existed from 1907 to 1919), made travelogues of places of interest around the world, including New York City. (Other locations included Niagara Falls, Paris, and Venice.) One of the nitrate prints survived and was restored by the Museum of Modern Art. Guy Jones slowed down the frame rate to match a natural speed of movement, and added background sounds for realism. It’s this version of the film that Shiryaev colorized.

 

    • 0:08—The Statue of Liberty.
    • 0:17—View from the front of a ferry, showing the Williamsburg Bridge.
    • 0:25—The Manhattan Bridge, and river traffic.
    • 0:34—Pulling up to the dock.
    • 0:43—People on the pier, watching a steamer.
    • 0:59—Disembarking the ferry, people first then wagons.
    • 1:27—You can see several newsies, one on crutches, and a row of umbrella-shaded bootblack stands.
    • 1:49—A street view. I’m amused at the men who suddenly start straightening their clothes when they realize they’re being captured on film.
    • 2:05—264 Fifth Avenue had Harold & Co. (a jewelry store) on the first floor with apartments above, the Knickerbocker Flats (not to be confused with the Knickerbocker Apartments). Also in view is the sign for a Cook Tours office. The SO on the awning could be for the Southern Railroad office, which took over the jeweler’s space. The building no longer exists.
    • 2:16—We’re in a Chinese neighborhood. I love the kid who notices the camera and stays in frame as long as he can. (Not much has changed in one hundred plus years!) The man on crutches is not our newsie friend from earlier; he’s missing the other leg.
    • 2:38—Another street view. I think the kid in knickerbockers who runs across the street might be the same one from the previous shot.
    • 2:50—At the Flat Iron Building. Do people not care about the possibility of getting run over? Everybody jaywalks.
    • 3:09—A delivery wagon for Ward’s Tip Top Bread enters the intersection and moves south on Broadway. Ward’s claimed that its Tip Top bread was never touched by a human hand during the whole process, since everything was automated; they had a modern new factory in Prospect Park.  You can read more about the bakery here.
    • 3:19—A more residential street view.
    • 3:36—The church is Grace Church, in the bend of Broadway at Broadway & East 10th Street.
    • 3:59—I love the chauffeur and the boy sitting on the floor of the backseat; they seem to be enjoying the drive far more than the other passengers, especially the little girl in the front seat! Apparently, the license plate is registered to Mrs. Florian Lochwicz (the car is a 1911 E-M-F Touring).  You can read more about the family here.
    • 4:41—They’re only on screen for a moment, but there’s one man sitting in the back window of a trolley, and another who looks like he hopped a ride by the way he’s hanging on to the outside.
    • 4:42—A view of the New York Herald Building, showing the facade with the Minerva statue that faces Herald Square.
    • 4:46—The film cuts to the John Ericsson statue in Battery Park.
    • 4:59—A row of bootblack stands outside of an “el” station entrance.
    • 5:15—Another shot of the Herald Building, from the same perspective.
    • 5:23—A street-level view of one of the elevated trains. The MOMA identifies the corner as the one at the Bowery and Worth (aka Chatham Square).
    • 5:50—An eye-level view of (probably) the same “el” train.
    • 6:03—A view of the Manhattan skyline through the cables of the Brooklyn Bridge. One man stares at the view, and several people pass in front of the camera. The ones that have received the most attention on the internet are the three young men who are last shown, because two are holding hands.
    • 6:21—The view switches to the pedestrian approach for the Brooklyn Bridge, showing the suspension tower. Cable cars (the NY and Brooklyn Bridge Railway) run on either side of the walkway heading underneath, and trolleys & horse-drawn vehicles  travel on the outer lanes. One of the ads on the building to the right is for Calox, “The OXYGEN Tooth Powder,” sold by McKesson & Robbins, whose offices were located at 91 Fulton Street. (Calcium dioxide was the active ingredient.)
    • 6:37—A very brief view of the bridge looking at one of the suspension towers, between the cables along the pedestrian promenade and the outer edge of the bridge, overlooking the cable car tracks.
    • 6:43—Quick panorama of the city.
    • 6:49—A different panoramic view.
    • 7:03—A view taken from the Flatiron Building (Broadway is to the left; Fifth Avenue to the right). The flag on top of the building in the bottom left corner says “5th Ave Bldg.” Washington Crisps were a brand of corn flakes. Mark Cross is a luxury goods brand, primarily leather goods, that began in Boston in 1845.
    • 7:15—The Rosedale was an excursion steamer. Interesting note: in 1896 it sank in the East River at the foot of Broome Street after a collision with a ferry boat, and was raised again.
    • From 7:43 onwards, Shiryaez shows side-by-side comparisons of scenes that have been colorized and the original black & white.

Here is Guy Jones’ black & white version for comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aohXOpKtns0

“Risks Life to Rescue A Newsboy”

09 Thursday Apr 2020

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From the New York Tribune’s April 9, 1899 edition, a daring rescue:

Risks Life to Rescue A Newsboy

William Welch, a newsboy, fell into the North River yesterday while trying to reach the string-piece outside the Quebec Line’s pier, in order that he might watch the steamer Trinidad enter her slip.

Michael Hays, a hackman, employed at Savage’s Livery Stable, No. 194 Sullivan-st., seeing the boy’s danger, jumped in and succeeded in getting hold of him. A rope was thrown to Hays, and this he tied around the boy, who was pulled out by men on the pier. In the mean time Hays himself was drawn beneath the pier by the force of the tide and was in danger of drowning. He just had sufficient strength to fasten the rope thrown to him around his body. When they raised him to the pier he was in an unconscious state. He was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital.

The deed was commented upon by those who saw it as a heroic rescue. Had it not been for Hays the boy would undoubtedly have been drowned.

 

“Newsboys At Rosie’s Funeral. “

24 Wednesday May 2017

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From the May 24, 1900 edition of the Sun:

Newsboys At Rosie’s Funeral.

Meanwhile They Are Taking Care of the Corcoran Business at the Bridge.

The funeral of Rosie Corcoran, the Brooklyn Bridge newsgirl, will be held from her home at 102 James street, to-morrow. She will be buried in Cavalry Cemetery. Last night the women friends of Mrs. Corcoran, who are very many in Cherry and Water and Henry streets, sat in the front room about Rosie’s white-covered coffin and commented tearfully on the uncertainties of life. In an outer room at the head of the stairs sat Rosie’s oldest brother surrounded by a large number of his friends. Pipes and tobacco and other simple refreshments were provided for them.
Most of the Park row newsboys intend to go to Rosie’s funeral. A number of them voluntarily took the Corcorans’ places at the Bridge entrance yesterday and carried on the business for them under the supervision of Mrs. Corcoran’s rival, Mrs. Shea, who was anxious that the respect which the family was showing for its dead might not cost it too much. Mrs. Corcoran, who has had years of bitter experience with the Parkrow newsboys, sent them word by visitors at the house that if they thought they were making a permanent entrance on her territory under the semblance of doing her a favor she would take great pleasure in showing them to the contrary when the period of her mourning was over.

“Saved From A Pauper’s Grave.”

16 Tuesday May 2017

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From the May 16, 1905 edition of the New York Tribune:

Saved From A Pauper’s Grave.

Newsboys Contribute to Buy Plot for Fellow Newsboy.

“Dutch” Johnson, a Park Row newsboy, was buried yesterday in a flower covered grave in Middle Village, Long Island. His body was saved from Potter’s Field by the pennies of fellow newsboys. Thursday night “Dutch” lay ill with pneumonia in the Newsboys’ Lodging House.
“I ain’t goin’ to weaken’ jus’ ’cause I got to cash in,” he told Superintendent Haig [sic], “but it ain’t ecksactly a happy thought ter t’ink I’ve gotter be planted up there in the Potter’s Field.”
Superintendent Heig assured him that he would not have a pauper’s grave. That night “Dutch” was taken to Bellevue, where he died a few hours later. As soon as the other boys learned of his death the hat was passed around by Jack Kelley, who stands at the Brooklyn Bridge. Jack has a persuasive voice and hands, and not a boy refused to contribute. In a few hours $36.40 had been gathered from 143 contributors, and $17 from the Paper Handler’s Union. This was turned over to Superintendent Heig, who bought a three-grave plot, enough money being left to purchase a modest gravestone. The body was buried at noon, with a few of the boy’s friends present, Superintendent Heig readnig [sic] the prayers.

“Newsboys Will Bury Comrade.”

15 Monday May 2017

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From the May 15, 1905 edition of the New York Tribune:

Newsboys Will Bury Comrade.

Raise a Fund Which Will Save “Dutch” from a Pauper’s Grave.

Frederick Johnson, who lived for years in the Newsboys’ Lodging House, at No. 14 New Chambers-st., and who died in Bellevue Hospital last Friday, will be buried to-day in Linden Hill Cemetery, Brooklyn, by his former comrades. Johnson, who was known as “Dutch” by the newsboys, died from pneumonia. He came from Germany seven years ago, but where his parents live is not known.

Superintendent Heig and John Paul, leader of the Newsboys’ Band, will superintend the funeral arrangements and the boys will act as pallbearers.

“‘Newsboy’ Josephine Beck?”

01 Monday May 2017

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From the May 1, 1904 edition of The Sun:

“Newsboy” Josephine Beck?

As Joe Becker She Fooled the Lodging House.

She’s 14, and She Acted Like a Girl in Some Ways, but Her Sex Wasn’t Suspected Until She Had Been Sent to the Children’s Aid Society’s Kensico Farm.

Mrs. Charles F. Beck of Newark, N.J., learned yesterday of the appearance at the Newsboys’ Lodging House in this city of Joe Becker, who turned out to be a girl, and she believes that the child is her fourteen-year-old daughter Josephine, who left home on April 14.

The girl disappeared with part of her father’s and part of her brother’s clothing. In her room were found curls of her hair and the scissors with which she had cut them off.

Mrs. beck came to New York last night searching for the child, who had been sent from the lodging house to the Children’s Aid Society’s farm at Kensico and then, when her sex was discovered, returned to this city.

The officials of the society were noncommittal yesterday about the Joe who should have been Josephine, barely admitting that a girl had been at the lodging house and that she is now in one of their institutions. But the newsboys, Matron Hike and Assistant Superintendent Gordon had ideas of their own and freely expressed them.

“Just eleven days ago—to-night,” said Gordon, consulting his register, “he—er,she—came here late at night and asked for a night’s lodging. That’s not unusual. It happens every night. The only thing I noticed was high scared-like voice and eyes as pretty as a girl’s. Joe—that was the name he gave—was bashful, but lots of boys at first are.

“Now this is the pedigree of Josephine, or whatever his—or her—name is.” And Gordon produced a filled out official blank, which stated:

Name? Joseph Becker.
Born? Newark, N.J., Aug 3, 1889.
Parents? No answer.
Profession of trade? Brush maker.
Last employer? J. J. Pett.
Why not working now? Can’t get any.
Ever been in an institution? No.
How much money have you been making? Three dollars a week.
Can you read or write? Yes.
Where have you been during the last week? Roving.
Have you any friends? No.

the boy-girl got a berth in the big five cent dormitory on the third floor, and slept late the next morning. When she appeared at the superintendent’s office about 11 o’clock she asked for some kind of work, and was told to assist the janitor in cleaning up.

“That’s where my first suspicions came in,” said the janitor. “Never a boy could make a bed quick and tidy as that.”

“I just thought he was the prettiest, sweetest little boy I ever come across,” said Matron Hite. “He was so polite and he used to blush when the boys said things.”

“Gee!” said one of the newsboys in the “Waldorf” dormitory, so called because there are a chair and a little locker for each bed and because the cost is 15 cents the night. “Gee! That kid Joe’s a girl.”

“Say, yer slow, Mike,” answered his partner, “yer slow. Half the fellers called him ‘sis.’ Pat Hanley says she gave herself dead away in the gym first time she went there. Somebody pitched a ball her way and she tried to ketch it in her lap.

“She didn’t want to mix up wid us much, ‘cept in sellin’ papers,” said another boy. “Said she wus from de country and asked Pete to show her how ter sell papers. Den she beats Pete at his own game. Say, she had us conned all right, all right. but I wouldn’t ha’ bullied her so much ef I’d ha knowed she wus a girl.”

Just what the real antecedents of Josephine are, no one seems to know. She told several tales, all of which vary and it is believed that she is a runaway girl. She gave her age at first as 15, later as 14, and it is now stated that she is 13. She is about 5 feet tall, well built, blue eyed and golden haired. Her hair was cut short and parted on one side. She had smooth, fair skin and a pretty mouth and teeth.

The youngster’s real sex, it is said, was not discovered until Wednesday, when the superintendent of the society’s farm at Kensico, where Josephine had been sent, became suspicious and asked the disguised adventuress to reveal her identity. Then she confessed.

Philip Marcus and the Silk Shirt

18 Saturday Mar 2017

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VII

Believe me, us kids used to be on the lookout; we was ready for anything. An’ there wasn’t very much got by us either.

I remember once I was in a one-armed restaurant–the place did a thriving business, an’ along about midnight, ‘specially when it was cold, we used to go in to soak up some heat. They used to kick us out, but sometimes we’d buy some coffee–and, an’ then they’d have to let us stay a while anyway.

Well, as I was sayin’ I was in there one night–it was maybe twelve-one o’clock–when a guy comes in with what looks like a laundry package under ‘is arm, an’ I’m on the make as usual, alert. It looked like a laundry package, but it was all wrapped up nice an’ I figured it wasn’t no laundry. He got him something to eat; and ‘ ‘e walked over to a seat; an’ this package, he sat on it.

Me, I go buy myself a cup of coffee, an’ I sit down in the seat right next to him. I keep dawdlin’ an’ dawdlin’ over my coffee, an’ I almost don’t make it last. I figured maybe ‘ed forget that package. I kept busy readin’ one of my papers. It must’ve been along about one o’clock in the morning.

Sure enough, when ‘e gets up, ‘e forgets to take the package, an’ quick as a flash I grab it an’ put it in between my papers, an’ then I walk out. When I open it up a few blocks away, there’s a classy silk shirt. I figure it must-‘ve cost seven-eight dollars, maybe ten. I couldn’t do much with a thing like that.

But I get a bright idea. It won’t do me no harm, I figure, to be on the good side o’ one o’ the circulation men, an’ I offer it to ‘im. He likes it an’ he says, “what do you want for it?”

I wasn’t figurin’ to sell it; I’d meant to give it to ‘im, figurin’ it wouldn’t do no harm to be on the good side of ‘im that’s all. But when he said that, me, I say, “We’ll call it a hundred an’ fifty sheets.” That’d be about ninety cents. No! – in those days the war was on an’ the price was raised to a penny, to us kids. A dollar an’ a half was all I got for it, in papers.

Advice from “Newsies” on the Day After the Election

10 Thursday Nov 2016

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Elections are trying times; this year’s presidential election was no different. Tensions were high during the campaign season, and continue to be so over very divisive issues under the campaign slogan “Make America great again.”

Change doesn’t always start from the top. Newsies is a reminder of that. Children and young adults, at the bottom of the totem pole, went up against powerful newspapermen, and while they may not have gotten exactly what they wanted, both sides came to a compromise.

In order to make positive changes in this country over the next four years, it is up to us to work together to reach common goals. The time to start is now.  And we have the music and message of Newsies to remind us in the dark times.

 

From “The World Will Know”:

Everyday we wait,
is a day we lose,
and this ain’t for fun,
and it ain’t for show,
and we’ll fight ’em toe to toe to toe and Joe
your world will feel the fire and finally, finally know!

 

From “Watch What Happens”:

But all I know is nothing happens if you just give in.
It can’t be any worse than how it’s been.
And it just so happens that we just might win,
so whatever happens! Let’s begin!

 

And finally, from “Seize the Day”:

Now is the time to seize the day
Stare down the odds and seize the day
Minute by minute that’s how you win it
We will find a way
But let us seize the day
Courage cannot erase our fear
Courage is when we face our fear

“The New Colossus”

23 Sunday Oct 2016

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Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

—Emma Lazarus, 1883