Identifier: streetlanditslit00davi (find matches)
Title: Street-land; its little people and big problems
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Davis, Philip, 1898-
Subjects:
Publisher: Boston, Small, Maynard
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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STREET-LAND sixty per cent, of the proceeds. The ownershipof new corners is fought for on mixed issuesof might and right. The first claimant is gen-erally upheld not only by the unwritten lawof newsboys, but even by the police officer onthe beat. The newsboy who is determined to succeedwill sell both morning and evening. Whenschool is not in session, he will sell all daylong, stopping only for short intervals whilewaiting for new editions. This interval maybe an hour or fifteen minutes, but it rarely giveshim a chance to have a meal at home. Considering the environment, with all itsdangers, it is obvious that newspaper sellinghas serious drawbacks too lightly dismissed bynewspaper men who are fully alive to the gen-eral evils of child labor. Even the public, asyet somewhat unenlightened on the subject ofstreet trades, justifies them on the ground thatthey are necessary evils. But if family neces-sity is relieved only to the extent of twenty-five cents a day, is such work worth while ?
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c CHILD WORKERS IN STREETS 155 Peddler boys sell fruit, vegetables, chewinggum, notions, shoe-strings, candy and novel-ties of all kinds. Little sisters often helpthem. Fruit and vegetable peddlers are numerouseverywhere, especially in the markets. OnSaturday between three and eleven p. m., andon the eve of any important holiday, scores ofboys help handle the market trade. They aremostly Italian and Greek boys, some of themonly seven years of age. The remunerationfor a whole days work is frequently a bagfulof specked fruit. Novelty peddlers break loose occasionally,appearing at fairs, on circus and football daysand, especially, during the toy season beforeChristmas. Their numbers swell the unman-ageable army which fills Fakirs Row in everycity. They vanish as suddenly as they appear,following the crowd and playing hide-and-seekas successfully as if they were in the woods.Police officers consider it unwise to chase them,for on such occasions mob law reigns supreme, 156 STREET-LAND and

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