Monthly Newsleller of the HORATIO ATGER SOCIETY. The World's Only Publicotion Devol- ed to Thot Wonderlul World of Horotio Alger.

Fountletl 1961 bq Forrest Campbell b Kennetlt Butler

;iH ,t,Tl firi.-&-l -::- il

'IIIEPARSONAGE' d the Elid Church h the courtry and 6c flrst Indtan Church of South Natfuk will be do6icated as a in America. A plaque will bG prcEcnted to National Histaic site on Nov. 2. Ihe the Rev. Thomas C. Mayne d the Eliot Pleasant Street home was the boyhood Grurch by a representative of the Nadonal home of Horafio Algcr Jr., the famous Park Service at the Chu rch's annual supper to be heH in Memorial Hall on writer. His father, Sr. was (Photo the minister of the Eliot Cturch from 1860 Saturday evening. bY Joan until l8?4. The church, founded by John Normington) E[ot in 1630, is one of the oHest churches

0n page 3 of this montht" @y., Dr. Max Go1clberg d.etails the proceed.ings leading up to the d.ed.ication of the Alger parson- age as a National Historic Site. (Picture from the Natick. Suburban Press, Oct. 3L, Lsr4) I

NE}TSBOY

HORATIO ALGER SOCIETY places on its composition, believing it to be perhaps a decade or so later I

To further the philosophy of Horatio than the circa 1866 he attributes to f/ i A1ger Jr. and to encourage the spirit of it. Since Alger mentions in the course Strive ancl Succeed that for ha]f a cen- of his narration that Mabelrs grand.- tury guided. Algerts undaunted heroes - father was an adult during the American Iad.s ruhose struggles epitomized the Revolution, I place the time setting of Great American Dream ancl flamed hero the novel two generations 1ater, or ideals in countless millions of young a.bout 1820. Alger also mentions that Ameri cans . the fictional incidents he describes oc- curred about sixty years previous to his I OFFTCER S writing, so a logical date for its com- position rrould be about 1880. Moreover, i LEO (BOB) BENNETT PRESIDENT the fact that the manuscript is in a EVELTN GREBEL VICE-PRES]DENT copyistrs hand suggests to me that Alger CARL T. HARTMANN SECRETARY could afford such a luxur;r as he pre- DALE THOMAS TREAST]RER sumably could not in the apprenticeship- RALPH D. GARDNER DIRECTOR d.ays before @gg| Dick. Nevertheless, LESLIE POSTE DlRECTOR the date the manuscript was vritten is a RICHARD SEDDON DIRECTOR rather inconsequential problem. I have JI]DSON BERBY DIRECTOR no objection to tracing it to about 1866. Certainly the manuscript was @!9y,, the official organ of the found in the archives of Street and Horatio Alger Society, is published Smith, publishers of the New York Sun, monthly and is distributed" free to our for vhom we knov (tnanr

May NEI,{SBOY [Dr-."rrpo.t]ts vife.rrr)cJ( Tn the world since time immemorial. of Algerrs adult novels, the central characters usually aspire not to I hope all this has not seemed. too Itwealthrr (r^rhich is invariably associ- presumptuousl above all, I hope that Gil ated with the herors personal happiness 't{estgard appreciates my or.m attempt to in the juvenile fiction), but to mar- make sense of Mabel Parker. He was ki_nd riage (vhich in them is associated vith enough to correspond with me several happiness too, ratifying that old. cli- months ago regarcling our opinions of che, trmarital bliss'r ) . ihe manuscript, for vhich f am grateful. In the end, I think our slight differ- To Alger, the juvenile goal of suc- ences are more a product of perspective cess, however that term is clefined, cor- than of temperament. responds to the mature, adult goal of marriage, hearth and home. In other xHoratio Alger, Jr., Mabel Parker; or. words, it seems to me that the adult The Hirlilen Treasure. A Tale of the fiction as a whole anil Mabe1 Parker in Frontier Settlements, unpublishecl novel, particular inform trr" ,t@r'rf[ffi c. 1880, p. 61. From the Street and clarifying beyonrl any doubt that Alger Smith Collection, George Arents Besearch was a moralist, more concerned rrith the Library for Special Collections at moral uses of the money his heroes earn Syracuse University. Quoted by per- or inherit than with the money itself. mission of The Cond.e Nast Publications, His adult novels reveal by inference Inc. that his juvenile novels are American morality fables, not accounts of budd.ing xxlbicl. , p. 93. entrepreneurs on the make. )C )C TIM PARSONAGE AT SOUTH NATICK In my opinion, one of the most salient DECLARED A features of the manuscripted novel is a NATIONAL H]STONICAL LANDMARK thinly disguised similarity to one of the Leatherstocking Tales of James Ded,icated November 2, L974 Fenimore Cooper, entitlecl The Pioneers (which might have been one reason why by Dr. Max Golclberg Street and- Smith declined to issue it). Both novels are set in the lake district Before going into details, I must of Nev York state. Characters are also first thank both Forrest Campbell and d,uplicated, with Elizabeth Temple be- Stewart Mcleish for their endorsements coming Mabel Parker, Eclward Effingham and recommendations to the United States becoming Henry Davenport, Judge Temple Department of the Interior as to my becoming Squire Parker, and Tndian John qualifications. It aIl took three becoming Intlian John, or Logan, or Jack. years, but it was r+orth the corres- ponclence, phone calls anil effort. Similar incidents also appear in them. In both, for example, a rleer is shot On February 3t L97L, the U. S. Depart- simultaneously by two characters who ment of the Interior wrote to Forrest then argue over the carcass, a shooting Campbel}, rrasking for homes that A1ger match is held in which the virtuous occupied in Natick as well as .in other character emerges victorious, and fndian places.rr ft was signed by Robert M. John is cautionecl to abstain from Demon Uttey, Chief Historian Rum. Both also contain scenes of lnti- macy between Elizabeth-Mabel and Edwarcl- 0n February 1I, 197L, Forrest Campbell Henry. It seems, i, other words, that answered Mr. Utley stating, rrI recom- Alger borroved from an earlier r,rork for mend, that you contact Mrax Goldberg, 728 the skeleton of this one, much as he at 1{orcester St., Natick, Massachusetts. '-\- other times rewrote Charles Dickens, and Mr. Goldberg has d.one much historical much as a panoply of writers have done research on the subject of Horatio

1975 NEi.ISBOY Alger home named historic site v The homestead of Horailo .\lser tlon c,f union Street and Rte. 16 Jr., the worlci-iatr,:us authoi lf rvas not constructed 'mHl l82B -- rags -ir-riches bo1,'s' storles, has irs foundatlons, sald the pastor, been .lecia:.ed eligtble to hecome iev. al6n1x5 Mayne, date to John a Naiional Hisioric Landmark. Ellotts time in the mid-seventeen- Graateci il:e tltie is the Eii,rt ih century. Church Parsonage in South Naiirk at iC Pieesa;1s St.r where 1-oung Little Chanse Alger lived as a boy when hli The Rev. Mr ilIalxe conflrmed father was minister of thechurch that the parsonage ts substantlally from 1860 to 18?4. the same as lt was in Alger,s The designation comes from the time. ..The kitchen has been National Park Service, according remodled recentlyr" he s'rid, to Davld Dlmmlck, moderator of ,.and the heating system ls mod- the ehurch, The ehurch, as owner ern, but apart fromthat it ts pretty of the house, must now formally mueh as it was. It,s also very apply to the park servlce for a comfortable.', certlflcate and a plaque to com.- Mr, Dlmmlek sald the new de- plete the hlstorlc deslgrntion.This signetlon carries no controlsrex- deslgrration will lnelude a lls- cept the ,.honorary control not ttng ln the Natlonal Reglster of to make a signlfieant ehange that Hlstorlc Plaees. alters the eharacter of thebulld- Mr. Dlmn:ick expects the church i,cg. " wlll gs ahead and apply for the He. sald that the parsonage was plaque and the ltsttng. ortginally a farmirouse, and had He sald that the pa.rk servlce been purchased by the iTunnewell approached the church a year ego famlly and glven to the church ln to examlne the parsonage as zrn Alger's tlme wlth tre rmder- htstoric landmark. ..They were standtng that Atger could use it. examinlng places that were llnked Prlor to that tlme, Ellot Church wlth slgniflcant Americen pastors lived inanumber ofhouses autiorsr,t sald Mr. Dtmrnlch, throughout South Natlck. Mr. Dlrnrnlck sald much assls- . Alger, havtng spent hls bol,hood tance ln the effort hasbeenpro- ln Natiek, returned later tospend V vided by lr{ax Goldberg of Nattck hls summers from 1866 to l8?? and the Horatlc Alger Soclety. at the yarsonage, Afte r a two- ThebulldinC iiself was conskuc- year ted ln 1816, although present trlp to the West, he resumed the summerlng church building at the lntersee- ln Natick and reflred here in 1898. Natick Suburban Press, Feb. L7, l97L

Alger, Jr., and f am confident that he Mr. Robert Gamble phoned me from Wash- will be able to provicle perhaps all the ington. We talked for quite awhile and information you might need,.t' I gave him the information he needecl.

On February 15, L97L, Mr. Stewart On l{ay 25, 197L, I received a }etter Mcleish wrote a letter to Mr. Utley from Mr. Utley which said; rrPlease stating, trf would note that with Mr. furnish us with further information Goldberg it is a work of 1ove, and he is concerning buildings connected with the always pleased. to furnish fulI informa- l9th century American author, Horatio tion regarding this subject." Alger, Jr.rl

0n February 26, L97L, Mr. Robert The last letter I received r,ras from Gamble of the U. S. Department of the Mr. A. R. Mortenson, Acting Chief His- ttAs fnterior trrote to Mr. Mcleish: you torian, and it was d.ated July 7, 79TL. suggested, f wiIl contact Mr. Gold.berg. He wrote: trThe information which you Mr. Forrest Campbell of Kalamazoo, Mich- have provided has been helpful to the igan has also recommended Mr. Goldberg. t' work of the survey.rl

Mry NEWSBOY 0n February parsonage 17, L972, the of No doubt the boy came to the same the Eliot Church was named a Historical opinion, for he Site. In press. was about to pack up the Natick Suburban Mr- his lnstrument, and move further on, urrnmack, moderator of the Eliot Church vhen rrMuch the outer door of the house opened. stated, assistance in the effort quickly, anal a beautiful little girl, has been provided by Max Goldberg of perhaps three years younger than himself, Natick and the Horatio Alger Society.'r beckoned him to come in. 0n November 2, 1974, the official He obeyed the summons, and followed the plaque was presented to the Eliot young gir1, who led. the Church, vay through the amid greetings and a fine hal} into an apartment elegantly but not collation. ostentatiously furnished. The breakfast table r+as stilt standing in the centre f phoned Rev. Thomas MaSzne inquiring of the apartment. Before the fire, in r,rhen the plaque wiII be placed at the a large armchair, v-as seated a gentleman Parsonage. f vanted to take a picture in the prime of life. He anil was carelessly sencl it to the Society. He informed attired in a clressing gom, and had me evi- that it lrill not be on the house it- dently just risen from the table. His se1f, but that a boulder witl be located face had that benevolent expression near the home and the plaque inserted in uhich is almost sure to accompany a it. When the boulder is in place, I will kindly heart. send a photo of it to the Society. This was M. Firal, the banker. Chalk up another achievement for the Horatio Alger Society! ! x*+ I{hen the door opened, he tooked rrTI# round, and beheld the troy whom his ThIEl\tTy FRANC pfECEr daughter Marie ushered in. by Horatio Alger, Jr. t?Ah, whom have we here?rr said he, The following Alger short story is turning an inquisitive presiiient glance tor.rards from the collection of Bob the boy, whose eyes were taking a sur- Bennett. It originally appearert in the prisecl suryey of the apartment, Nlarch rnrhich, 25, 1854 issue of The FIag of Our to his unpractised eye seemed furnishecl Union. rnith regal magnificence. Before the city residence of M. Fira1, rrft is a poor boy, papa, that I found a rich Paris banker, a boy apparently playing in front of our door. fifteen years I thought of age, might have been he might he hungry ancl d.estitute, and heard one fair spring mornlng playing on so . tt a hurd,y-gurdy. It i.,ras not very melo- dious, nor was the playing in the high- rrAnd so you invited. him, my little est style of art yet music t under vhat_ philanthropist. I{etl, }et us see if we ever form seldom 'l{here fails to find its way can do an;rthing for him. are you to the heart. It rn'as this feeling, from, my boy?'r doubtless, which stayed the steps of the humbler passers-by, and gradually trFrom Auvergne, sirr,, said the boy, in gathered around the poor musician a ring a respectful tone. of appreciating, though not renumera- ting auditors. The modietefs appren- rrAnd are you here alone in paris? tice, journe5,.rnan, the mechanicts the Have you no friends, no relations here? servant maid, for of such r^rere the You are young to take charge of your auclitors constituted, had nothing to yourself . r? give but their attention, and that they dispensecl liberalIy. ItNo sir, f have no relations here. At home, in dear Auvergne, which I hope to L975 NEWSBOY see again some time, if Heaven fayors ease, and he ate with great relish. fr€r I have a mother, and a brother, two Hunger is a great appetiser, and the years yourrger than myself .r? fine ro11 on rn'hich he commencecl opera- tions appearecl to him so delicious that v "Ancl rrhy dici you leave them?rr he could not avoid finishing it.

trBecause they are poor, and T rrould lrtren he rose from the table, it was not be a burden to my mother lrho works r^rith a sigh of gratification, which hard enough alreaily. But f could get no fully evinced the enjo5rment the meal work at home, so one morning I took this had afforded him. hurdy-gurdy, which once belonged. to my father, and. taking leave of ny mother rrl{e11rrr said M. Firal, looking up, and Louis, my brother, I came to Paris, ttare you hulgry noru?rt in hopes of gaining enough to support myself, and more, perhaps, so as to go ItNo sir, thanks to your goodness.rl home, by-and-by, to dear Auvergne." The boy made a motion to depart. M. ItI suppose you do not fare very Fira1 took from his pocket a hanclful of sumptuous ly? " small change, ancl placed it in his hand. Jean put it in his pocket, and thank- The boy looked perplexed. rtl beg fully retired. your pardon, sir, but I did not quite understanil . . .t' M. Firal drerr on his coat ancl gloves, and taking his hat left the house for rrl mean, I suppose you do not live on his office, feeling at his heart that very rich food?rr comfortable feeling which the conscious- ness of having performerl a good action t'Nor" replied Jean, for this was the always inspires. boyrs name. rrA loaf of breacl and a cup .was of rrater is what I generally get. Nor+ He walking leisurely along, when v and then, I buy a tart such as the mar- he felt a touch upon his coat. He ket rromen sell for a sou, but nct very looked back, ancl perceived that Jean .was often, for f save aII the money f can trying to arrest his attention. get to carry home." rrAh, what nov?rr he inquired., with rrHave you tahen breakfast this surpri s e . morning? " rrSirrtt said the boy, as soon as he rrNot yet. ?r could recover breath, for he had been running, rrsir, you have made a mistake.tr t'Then for once you shall have some- thing better than usual. Marie, give ilA mistake ! About lrhat?rr him a seat at the table, and pour him out some chocolate. Take care that he The boy held up a gold piece of twenty has enough. tt francs. Marie clapped her hands at the novelty ItYou gave me this, sir, among the of the idea, and caused the little Jean other pieces. I suppose you took it to slt at the table. He sat on the for silver. So, here it is again.r' edge of the plush velvet chair, for he I'Since r,,ras afraid of soiling it. The unexpec- you have been so honest as to ted circumstances in which he found return itrrr said the banker, ttyou shaIl himself placed, at first clj"sinclined him suffer no loss. It is yours. I give it to eat; but the gaiety of Marie, and her to you freely.I' persuasions, soon placed him more at his

May NEWSBOY

Jeanf s eyes sparklecl. up, and beheld vith pleasure the face of Jean, the whilom hurd.y-gurdy player. rrsince you are so kind, sir, I l,rilI keep it, and many thanks. I hope I rrWhat, is it you?tt she exclaimerl, shall some clay have a chance to show you how truly grateful I am." rrYes, thanks to your good.ness, and that of your father, I am a little "That I do not in the least iloubt. better off than I was when you took pity Make a good use of it, and I shall on me. tt feel more than repaid.rr 'rAnd, hov is it that I find you here? A moment afteniard,s, and the hoarse You have renounced the hurdy-gurd"y?rr notes of the hurciy-gurdy were ?gain hearil, as the boy, with a light heart rrYes, maclemoiselle, it dicl not entire- and cheerful spirit, fuII of glor+ing ly suit me. By good luck, the owner of anticipations of the future which are this stall rras willing to sell out his so rea

trShall f ever see him again?rr she rrI am glad to hear it. r! asked, with a feeling of interest. Marie vas about to deposit the price Months passecl by, and though she took of the fruit, but Jean requested her care to examine particularly all r+hom r.rith so much earnestness to allov him she met, who were engagecl in the same to make her a present of it, that she emplo;rment as her protege, she rras finally.yiekled to his entreaties, unable to find. Jean. feeling assured. that in no other roay cou1cl she give him so much pleasure. One day, as she went a little out of her usual course, on the way to school, After this unexpecteil encounter rrith she was attracted by the sight of some her protege, Marie used. to frequently fine oranges at a fruit sta1I, situated pass by the little stand at which he vas at the corner of a street. stationed., and never without exchanging a few vord.s r+ith him, or, perhaps, pur- rrWhat is the price?rr she inquired, chasing some littIe article. taking one in her hand. She woulcl often lead him, by an ex- rrTo you, mademoiselle, nothingrrr was pression of kind encouragement, to speak the reply. of his mother, and his cottage home in Auvergne, round which clustered so many Surprised at thj s answer, she lookecl associations of childish happiness.

L975 NEI{SBOY

Such a state of things, horrrever, was In his business affairs, M. Firal went not d.estined to continue long. Summer on with a steady flow of prosperity. No came vith its long and sultry days, and bank vas more accredite

Mry NEl{SBOY ItYou are right, sir,rr finiling it once more. Need f say more? rrf I am Jean, the recipient of your gener- \- understand there is a run upon osity. f cannot better employ the your bankrtt h" proceed.ed. moderate wealth r^rith which Fortune has ?'ff gifted me than in serving my you have any cleposits which you benefactor. rr wish to r+ithdraw, t' remarked M. Firal, rrthere somer+hat nettled, vi 11 be no Jean stepped forwarcl ancl deposited 1n d.ifficulty.rl M. Firalts hanels the amount which he had offered. rr0n to deposit. the contrary, sir, we, that is, my brother and I, vould like to make a de- M. Firal congratulaterl him warmly on posit, if it lrould tend. in any r+ay to his success, and invited the brothers Iighten your pressures. Would fifty to return with him to the evening meal. thousand. francs be of service in that way?tt rrlt will not be the first timerrt he remarked. I'that ?'Gentlemen, gaily to Jean, you have with that assistance, I taken fooel in my house.t' should be able to carry matters through. f could do vithout it, if depositors I feel that it is r:nnecessary for me woulcl grant a single dayts delay. But to proceed farther. The rearler will to rrhat ann f indebted for such a signal divine that Marie I s scruples against service from entire strangers, for such marriage vere not insurmountable, and f believe you are?rr that in her hand. Jean received. from M. Firal a gift, far more precious than The youlg man drew from his vest- the TWENTY FRANC PIECE. pocket a gold louis. *xic The folIor.'ring essay was sent me by pF- \- 'rnoes not this call me to your recol- 3L4, Dave Kanarr. It is chapter five of lection?r' he inquired. YounEer Days of Famous Writers, pub- lished in L925 by the Century Compan;r. M. Fira1 confessed that it d.id not. The author of the book is Katherine Dunlap ?rSeveral Cather, ancl the title of the years &gort' continued the following piece is rrshepherd. of the young man, 'ta boy ptayed on a hurd.y- Frienclless.rr gurdy before your residence. He was invited. in, supplied with a warm Anybody could see that the boy was breakfast, and when he withd.rev, it r,ras hungry. His eyes vere fixed so intentty vith a number of coins, of which this upon the pies and breacl-loaves in the was one. Having nord a little capital, bakery window that they seemed to be he purchased the interest of a small riveted there. The wind, icy r^,ith the fruit-sta}l, r,rhich he conducted success- breath of the Atlantic, sent blind.ing ful1y for sorne months. This gave him an sheets of snow along the street, and increase of capital, which enabled. him people hurried home'trarcl as if determined after a while to tay in a smalt stock of not to stay out a second. longer than was goods, and set up as a travelling mer- necessary on such a bitter night. Many chant. Gradually, he extended his bus- of these carried packages tieci lri-th iness and associated his youngest bright reil string or ribbon. Here and brother with him. It rnas only a few there was a box or bag gayer than the days since that he encountered this others in its covering of flower- Iittle coin, which has been the origin garlg.nd.ecl paper. Bet.ween the pies anrl of his good fortune. He recognized, it bread-rows in the windov were sprigs of tM. r by this inscription, F. to J. r holly, standing upright like dwarfeil, which he scratched upon it rather with red-fluted. trees. Festoons of scarlet the tlesire than the expectation of paper svung behind., ancl from these L975 10 NEIIrSBOY dependecl shining cardboard bells; for it The boy moved north along Broad-way, vas Christmas erre, and Nerr York had turnerl east at Fifteenth Street and wreathed. its windows in keeping vith the into Union Square. There he headecl holiday spiri-t. toward another lrindow gay with Christ- mas wreaths and swaying bells, but it The boy shivered as he stood there. was not the wind,ow of a food-shop. His coat was worn ancl thin; though on Books .were on display there, some gaucl- such a night a covering of fur lrouId ily attractive r.'rith trees, mountains, have been none too warm. Once he animals, or people embossed upon their started, moving toward. the d.oor as if covers, some somber and plain, but all about to enter the warm, food-fiIIed looking invitingly at passers-by. Even shop. Then he stopped, thrust his hand more than they had shone at sight of the into his pocket, took out something, and foorl , the boyts eyes norr kindlecl as they looked at it. Horatio Alger, in the glimpsed the volumes. This time he did. shad"ows behind. him, saw it v.as a few not hesitate. Opening the d.oor, he small silver pieces. vent inside. Horatio, more curious than before, followed him. IIe reachecl for the door-knob, but insteail of going into the shop he sud- An old man came from the shaclows in tlenly shook his head. ancl pusheci the the rear of the store to see vhat the money down into his pocket again. Once prospective buyers wanteal. At sight of again he looked yearningly at the win- the youth his face brightened with a dow. Then u,ith quick clecision, as if he glance of recognition. feared. clelay might shake him from his resolve, he turnerl and started up the rrYourve come for the book?rt he asked.. street. rrYesrtr the lad- returned-. rrYou d-onrt A1ger was much p:uzzJ-ed.. There v.as no need. to wrap it. I live close by here. mistaking the fact that the boy was Irll just slip it under my coat.rr hungry. He had the money to buy some of the food. spread temptingly before him, r?Yourll not be sorry to own it, Itm yet he did not buy it. There was some- surerrr the olcl man remarked., going over thing appealing about him, something to a table and picking up a volume bound Iikable, a frankness about his face and in paper. eyes that invitecl friendship; but along with the frankness was a pinched, worn 0nce it had been a light tan color. look that showed. life had not dealt Now, hovever, through much use it was pleasantly with him. stained to a muddy brovn. As the boy turned. the pages before tucking it under Not only was Algerts curiosity keyed his coat Horatio Alger saw it was a copy to a high pitch concerning his curious of E Spyr by , actions. His sympathy was aroused. He vhich had appeareil about three years was only a boy himself, come to New York before, and about which all America vas on a yacation from Harvarcl, to spend still talking. The boy paid for it r,rith part of the holidays with friends, and, the coins from his pocket, and when the being the son of fairly prosperous bookseller gave him the change Horatio people, knew nothing about hard.ship him- saw there was five cents left. This he self. But the thought that here was a slipped, back to the place where the sil- lad who wanted, need.ed food and had the ver pieces ha

Ma.y NEWSBOY 1I answeredl itten centsr worth of that over Alger laughed. t'Folks donrt usually in the case.rr buy their own Christmas presentsrrr he rlThey replied-. let other people d.o \, He }aid the money for it on the coun- that for them. r' ter, but did. not wait to receive the purchase. The boy had quickenecl his rrSome d.oril came the quick retort, ttor pace. Already he had dlsappeared be- they donrt get any. Irm one of the yond. the window and before many min- some. I have nobody but myself, so I utes voulcl be lost in d-arkness, the harre to buy my own presents.tt crowd.s, and the whirling snow. rrNo folks at all?rr the olcler boy ques- Alger hurried. after him. tioned.

ItYery r likely I 11 never know any more A shake of the heacl ansrrered. him. about him than f knov now if I just go Then, as if disposed to be friendty, the on follor,ring irimrrr he thought as he boy said.: namets Dick Richards. rrHe "My rrrent. said he lives near here. f live in the next house. lfant to come Any minute now he may turn in at a d.oor, out of the cold? I like people r^rho like ancl then f rII lose him for good. f tm books. tr going to speak to him.rr He lecl the vay to a cloor opening into He swulg almost into a run in order to a d.ingv house in Madison Avenue. To overtake the fast-moving figure, and get away from the wind ancl the snov- then he callecl in a friendly vay, flurries into the protection of the hall rrTerribly 'was blustery this evening, isntt a relief , even for Horatio, who was it? r' warmly clad..

The lad. turneil in surprise, wond-ering rrlt must seem ]ike being in parad.ise r^rho it was that had sucldenly spoken to for Dickrrr he thought. \, him. Yet the long, narrow passage, untight- trYes rr ItIt t r he answered- pleasantly. s ed except for a smoky, dimly flickering an awful night. frm going to get in- lantern, was anything but a paradise. sicle the minute I can.r? They starteil up-stairs. Narroro' stairs rrl must say something that viII d.raw they were, like the passage, and steep, him outril Horatio thought, wonalering the kind the Dutch built vhen they hov he could get at his story immedi- erecteil the first houses on Manhattan. ately. A youth who gazed hungrily at Two flights the boys climbed.. At the food in a window, yet turnecl from it top of the second they came to a large, and bought a book, .was sure to have a unfinish'ed garret. story. rrHerers where f rrl liverrr Dick said, saw you get Coopert" .&J at the leading the r+ay and lighting a candle. bookstorer" h" said, hoping the re- rrTr,ro other fellows live with me, but mark might be a key to unlock the door theytre not here nov.tt of the boyrs confidence. Iftts a splenrlid book, isntt it? Itve read it Horatio looked, around. It seemed to tvice.rr him nothing coul-d want to live there, except possibl-y rrl a raL. The floor was havenrt reacl it at all yet; just bare. The panes in the rnindows that ]ooked through it enough to know i looked clona upon the street were cracketl want to. So I bought it for my Christ- and broken. Several of the holes were mas present. rr pasted over with paper to keep out the cold. Three beds stood at i-ntervals

)"975 L2 Ntr}ISBOY

along the wall, not beds cleserving the out cellars and burning refuse, and name, but rough boxes set on legs, helping load a.nd unload boats in the covered rsith straw pallets and several harbor. He was not strong enough to do shabby quilts. A small, neglected- this latter work .warmth constantly. About two looking stove provided for the davs a week of it was as much as he place, but there was no warmth now, for could stand. The rest of the time he the fire had gone out. Dlck hurriedly had to fall back on smaller, lighter set about rekindling it, and as he did jobs. But by keeping his eyes open and Horatio noticed beyond the stove an being always ready wlth his hands, and unpainted table on which \{as a cup, a joining with trro other boys who were plate, and a saucer containing some alone in the worlcl like himself, so as bror,mish-looking stuff he knew was the to red-uce the cost of a roof over his remains of bread-crust soaked- i-n coffee. head, he had managed to keep soul ancl Tlro tumble-dovn chairs, and on the body together. other sid.e of the table a box that probably served as a cupboard, completed rrl did intend to buy a pie this even- the furniture. ing and a German apple cakerrt he said, not dreaming that Horatio had seen him rrTn this noiserable, hovel*like place look hungrily at them, rrand ha.ve a Dick lives; exists ral,herr r? Horatio Christmas feast. But I wanted the book, rrYet , thought. he spends almost the and could not have both. So f took the last money in his pocket to buy some- book. It wonrt be a bad Christmas, thing to read.tr though, having The Epg to readrrr he added. As the fire blazed and the cold began r?I{hy to leave the garret, Dick talked freely, donrt you and the other boys go and Horatio soon had the story. Dick in together and have the feast an;rway?r' was born in Vermont ancl lived. there with Horatio asked. his parents until he was thirteen. Then, in 1849, his father started. for trTheytve gone for a week, maybe long- California to join the gold-seekers, err?r the ragged lad. answered. 'rThey do shipping out of Nantucket around the carpenter work sometimes. A man ther. Horn, leaving his wife and son to tive helped last summer has a cabin in the alone until the fortune was made and he Hudson Val1ey this side of Tarrytown. returned. east or sent for them. The He asked them to stay with him until boat on vhich he sailed, a c1_ipper after New Yearrs, so that l-eaves me bound for Chinese ports to take on a alone. But I donrt mindrfi he added. cargo of tea, was wrecked off Patagon.ia, bravely. ?tThererll be snow to shovel, rm and John Richardts voyage ended in the so f sure of something each day, ancl bottom of the Atlantic. Dickrs mother owning The Spy all by myself seems died the folloving autumn, and he splendid. Irve always liked to read. started out to shift for himself, drift- At home we had a whole shelf of books, ing to IIew York, where he had heard Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrimts Progress, there were many opportunities for a boy Irvingrs Life of WashinAton, Arabian to get ahead. He managed to earn his Nights, and one or two others. But when vay there by helping a drover take a everything rdas sold after mother died. to herd of cattle gathered up in New pay the money she owed, they had to go. England to the city market, for in the f havenrt had a book of my own since forties cattle were moved on the hoof. being in New Yorkrrr he went on wistfully. rrBut I'm going to have this That had been more than a year ago. one, if I must be a little hungry in Since then he had lived by devious ways, order to do it. ?t doing whatever he could find to do, selling papers, sweeping sidewalks, Horatio was fi11ed with admiration for making fires for housewives, cleaning the courage of this lad. Fourteen years

May NEWSBOY I3

o1d! He himself was almost seventeen, concoction that a stocky German waiter and he doubtecl if he would have the set before them Dick talked more and pluck to face life alone with empty more of his experiences, and of the \, pockets and only his hands to aid him. many ways in r^rhich a fellow can make He wanted to give Dlck the Christmas his way in the world if he has a mind. to feast he had hoped to provide for do so. He was so hungry he fairly himself, but in the short time they had gulped the food dowl, but he was so talked together he klew Dick was too intent on what he was saying that he did. proucl to accept anything offered in not notice how nearly empty his plate what might seem a spirit of charity. had become. So Horatio quietly motioned A call to Christmas eve service sounded the German to brlng another helping. He from a church steeple across on Broad- knew he would have to go without some- lray. Horatio had not realized it was thing himself because of spending the so }ate ancl started up with a bound.. money, for he harl only funds enough to get him to New York and back to Cam- rrf must be goingrrr he exclaimed. trrid,ge and a very little to spend whi,le rrHavenrt had a bite to eat since before in the city. But he felt he had rather noon, when I took the train from Cam- mlss almost any pleasure than not give bridge, and am hungry as a bear.'r this brave lad at least one nourishing meal. He wished he mlght have the Then, hesitating a moment, he added.: entire evening with him, and part of the trCome on and have supper ryith me. next dayl but that was out of the ques- Yourre afone, and Irm alone. I hate tion. The friends he was to visit would. eating all try myself . rr not want him to go wand.ering away with strangers. Also, they would think it Dickfs body suddenly stiffened, and a strange if he did not reach the house Iooh of suspicion came into his eyes. until nine otclock or after, as he had written he would be in on the train that ItYou can eat at, your friendst house, arrived. at five. So he said good-by to v canrt you?tt he asked, making it very Dick, expressing pleasure orrer having clear that even though he was almost met him. penniless he vould not accept charity as ttf long as he could shift for himself. rm certainly glad you spoke to me and that we got to krrow each otherr" the ?'f t t s too laie to get anybhing to eat ragged boy returned whole-hearted.ly as thererfi Horatio answered truthfully. they parted,. rrltts been a very nice "They d"ine at five.r' Then, in genui-ne Christmas eve. Come anil see me the next cordiality, for he likecl this waif and time youtre in Ner.a York. Guess ItlI be wanted him to go, he add.ed, I'f wish in that same loft for a good. while yet. yourd come along.rr Of course, when f get to earning big money, n he exclaimed, as if not for a His manner seemed- to convince Dick minute did he doubt that he would be that the invitaiion was given out of prosperous some day, rrl r 1l move to a friend,liness, and his frank winsomeness better place. l{hen I do ItI} write and returned as qulckly as it had left him. tel1 you so. Good-by, ancl a Merry Chri stmas . tt I'Al1 right, f r 11 go, " he exclaimed. Then, impulsivel.y, he added, "Itts aw- He set off through the snow for his fully nice of trou to want me.'r cheerless garret, but as he went it seemed to him a very lnviting place. He They went together dorvn the narrow would curl up beside the stove and read. stairway and through the night to a 1it- the book that was now his very own, tIe restaurant. Horatio ordered stew Cooper'" -[pJ for which he had been long- with brearl and butter for two I and- as ing for many months. they ate the steaming, fragrant

L975 t4 NEWSBOY

Horatio Alger never saw Dick again. schools in those rlays, and helpect them After his visit to New York he returned to find jobs and to get into better to Harvard and, graduating there, set- places than the ones they had already. tled dovm in his Massachusetts home to And the boys gave back as mueh as he write. Once vhen he went back to the gave to them. While he was getting city he trieil to find Dick, but the their confidence and coming to knor,r ragged. urchin and his companions were their hardships and their hopes, they gone from the garret, ancl nobody living furnished. him r,rith something to rsrite there knew what hacl become of them. aboutl and he wrote freely, eloquently Horatio hoped it meant that Dick had sometimes, because he was very fuII of got the fine job he so confidently his subject. In stories the.t he calted talked of getting, and that he was Ragged Dick, Tattered. Tom, and the like, no longer having to chcose between in keeping with their charaeters, he hunger and a book. But r.rhether that pictured the lives of struggling boys rras the case or not he never knew. he knew. He always brought his books to a happ;. eniling, had the rdrong punished Meeti-ng the waif , however, quickened and virtue rewarded, because that was his sympathies for alt homeless, unfor- what he hoped would be in store for each tunate bovs. He found that there were of his yourg friends. He knew, also, many struggling to keep alive and to ihat to read books in r+hich boys strug- go on to something better, and that gling against heavy odcls succeedeil at those rrho were making the fight in great last r+oulcl help them to go on. He be- cities hacl to fight hardest, because, came a shephercl of the friendless, a although they found many opportunities bringer of hope anrl happiness into there there were more and bigger ob- lives that held little brightness. And stacles for them to surmount. He had a perhaps but for seeing Dlck Richards father to stand back of him and to send Iook hungrily into a bakery r,r'indow one him to colleger yet even he felt some- bitter Christmas eve it would not have times that life was not whol1y rosy. turned out that vay at all. Dick and others of his kind hacl nobodyl *)c)( only their hand"s, their head.s, and their ANOTIMR REYTEW OF HORATTOIS BOYS pluck. ft began to seem that those who by Jack Bales make their own vay and" succeed are worth ten times more than those who go When I printed Gilbert K. Westgarclrs to success aided. upon every sid.e. Hora- review of Edwin P. Hoytrs Horatiots tio felt a desire to help all waifs, to Boys [n*a!or, Pennsylr.rrirlE-irton Book encourage them, and before he realized Co., 1974), in the December, Lg74 issue such a thing was possible a way opened of the Newsboy, I had not yet read the for him to do it. volume, and was therefore unable to write my own comments regarding this Nev York offered. more opportunities to biography. Nov, however, after having a vriter than any other place in Ameri- stud.ied. Hoytts book, I find that I am of ca. The publishers were there. It was the opposite opinion of GiI - I feel the market to which to take oners \{'ares. that it is a significant contribution to So Horatio Alger settled in New York, Alger history, and believe that it is a and while rrriting there his chief recre- r,vell researched. clocumentary of Algeits ation'was to go about the streets and life. follow up the lives of bo5rs. He found many a ragged. Dick and tattered Tom ancl As Gil points out, there ry errors Harcy, and r,rhenever he did he macle in Horatio I s Boys, and some pretty care- friends with them, trying to help them less ones at that. But notwithstanding stand on their own feet and go on. His this, there are so many notes append.ed. home came to be their headquarters. He to the volume (a boon to the Alger lent them books, taught those r'.ho wanted scholar desiring more information), that to stucly, for there vere no night one gets the impression that Hoyt had

Mry NEWSBOY I5

definitely I clone his homework. A1so, Horatio s Boys; there are more than since many facts are brought to light enough positive ones to atone for them. U that f was not aware of before (and rrNotes that are clocumented in the ancl Though I do not pretend to be as kaowl- Acknowledg;nents'r section), I am inclined edgeable about Alger t s 1if e and r.rorks as to regaril them with a strong degree of others in the Society, plausibility f have consis- until they are proyen tently collected reference books and false. articles to increase my fund of Alger erud"ition. Hoytts book ad.rls greatly to The gay aspect of Algerts life is this. Though of course rre all know nothing new. As HAS member Herb Ris- the story of the Mayesr hoax, Eclvin teen noted in a recent }etter to me, Iloyt details it all. I know that there Richard Huber probably first brought is not much information on Algerrs life, it to light (very matter-of-factly but was unaware until I reacl Horatiots too, with no trace of sensationalism) Boys that this is due to the Iiger famt- in his The American Idea of Success lyts habit of ciiscard.ing papers. Natur- [New York, Mccraw-Hiff eook Cr., tg7t]. aLIy, f am familiar with the padrone As many knorr, when the book vas re- system, but vas ignorant of Ieased, the fact wire services across the coultry that, according to Ho;rb, a man named saw fit to publicize onty this portion George Nelson Maverick first brought it of a truly excellent work. to Algerrs attention. Though we in the HAS are familiar with the Newsboys I However, if Alger were a homosexual, Lodging House, Hoyt details its founding reaIly, vhat clifference does it make? by , quoting It is currently in vogue in the liter- Iiberally from Brace, and discussing ary world to dust off the skeletons in such places as Rag Pickers notable Den, the peoplers closets and to bring Thleves' Lodging House, Rotten Row and them forth, \, clad in aII the dirty linen Poverty Lane - all locations that that authors can fit (or stretch to the philanthropist visited. in order to fit) upon them. Personally, aLL I care learn about the problems of vagrant about is Algerts rmiting and the effect children. And finally, horr many HAS that he had on the social anrl cultural members are aware that on Algerts times of the nineteenth century. As to entrance examinations to Harvard. CoI- rrhe his personal life - thatrs his owl lege, dicl not clo as weII as had. been business. expected, [ana] was accepted conditionally as a probationary This my is only fault with Ho;rt. I stud.entrr? (Uofi - p. LT) definitely agree with Git when he rrrites in t'He his review: [Hoyt] never lets fn,his review Gil writes that Ho;rt, you forget his contention that his sub- bulk["] his ject book to a point rshere was a homosexual, child-molesting over half"p of the volume is taken up vith sodomist.rr The author does this in plot summaries of over a two dozen A1ger variety of methods. He has the title, tales.'f Though this is true, Hoyt does Horatiots Boysl there is a picture on this to give his analyses the of Algerts cover of Alger vith his hand on a writings. For example, in his s5rnopsis newsboyts shoulclerl a line below that of Ben, rrthe the Luggage Boy, Ho;rt states states that the book is only tells- that rrvell into the Raggecl Dick series, it-a1t biography of Amerlcats all-time Horatio had established firmly best-selling the style author,,i a chapter is en- in which he would workrr (p. lOl), and titled, rrl,ion Among the Juveniles?'1 and how Alger woulcl employ the 'rsnapper finally, a quotation from the church Iopening line] to hring the reader into records in Brerrster ?' is placed prominent- the tal e . (p. l0l ) ly on the back cover. Also, when Hoyt deals vith Bents re- Enough of the negative aspects of turn home, he notes how unemotional L975 ISSN OOl8-4918 t6 NEI{SBOY rssN oo28-9396 the homecoming is: rrThere are no re- In spite of my d.ifferences with Ho;rb criminations, no probing of emotions, no on this subject, ancl notwithstand.ing problems. It is hard-Iy a Dostoyevskian the errors pointed out by GiI Westgard, treatment of human feelings, but then it I firmty believe that his painstaking rras aimecl at young men from the age of and. methodical efforts have producecl ten to about sixteen, who esche'r+ecl such an extremely scholarly book on Alger - weakness vith the same horror that they one that belongs in every Alger collec- felt at the prospect of washing or of tion. kissing maid.en aunts. Horatio knew his *x)c boys and he knew what they wanted.. The RANDOM BEPOBTS FROM ALGERLAND emotional leve1 of the scene vas just by Jack Bales proper for the market." (p. IO3-104) As a souvenir of t}ae L974 Alger This methocl of tlissecting Algerrs Society Convention, Phil Atkins re- style is carried on to other sr:mmaries. proclucecl the first dialogue from @!!gg For example, in Hoytts discussion of The His Fortune. HAS SecretarY Carl Young $p}ggg., Hoy-b observes that in Ilartmann still has a few copies of this one instance Alger is making a comment booklet left, ancl if you d.esire one, on a public affair of the times. Quot- sencl $2.25 to him at 4907 Allison Drive, ing from The Young Explorer (as quotecl Lansing, Michigan 48910. i"-no""tiiG EGf,--ift-* r"trick 0t Reilly appeared to hol