Direct Quotes
At the rally at New Irving Hall on July 25th, 1899, several newsies gave speeches to the thousands of newsboys who came out to support the cause. Below are several transcripts of those speeches.
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Kid Blink (one of the two newsies who inspired the role of Jack Kelly in the musical):
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"Friens and feller workers: Dis is a time which tries de hearts of men–dis is de time when we’re got to stick togedder like glue! But der’s one ting I want ter say before I goes any furder. I don’t believe in gettin’ no feller’s papers from him and tearin’ ’em up. I know I done it. (Cries of “You bet you did!”) But I’m sorry fer it. No! der ain’t nuttin in dat. We know wot we wants and we’ll git it, even if we is blind. Dem 10 cents is as good ter us as to de millionaires–maybe better. I shouldn’t be surprised but that it’s as good as a quarter is to dem. Anyway, we wants it. And we’ll strike and restrike until we get it. Won’t we boys? (Cries of “Yes! Yes!”) But don’t lets stop no more poor driver and dump over der wagons, like we done in Madison st. de odder day. I know I was one. (“You bet you was!”) Let’s not do it no more. Say, will we, boys? (“No! No!”) Say, you remember dat day in Wall-st., when the gents trun money to us and tole us to buy decent papers? You remember, say, don’t you boys? (“Yes! Yes!”) Dat’s all right, but, say, don’t lets hurt no more poor drivers. We won de fight in 1893. We ought to win in 1899. Oughtn’t we, boys? (“Yes! Yes!”) Youse all know me, boys, don’t you? We’ll stick togedder like plaster, won’t we, boys?"
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Direct Quotes
At the rally at New Irving Hall on July 25th, 1899, several newsies gave speeches to the thousands of newsboys who came out to support the cause. Below are several transcripts of those speeches.
​
Kid Blink (inspiration for Jack Kelly):
​
"Friens and feller workers: Dis is a time which tries de hearts of men–dis is de time when we’re got to stick togedder like glue! But der’s one ting I want ter say before I goes any furder. I don’t believe in gettin’ no feller’s papers from him and tearin’ ’em up. I know I done it. (Cries of “You bet you did!”) But I’m sorry fer it. No! der ain’t nuttin in dat. We know wot we wants and we’ll git it, even if we is blind. Dem 10 cents is as good ter us as to de millionaires–maybe better. I shouldn’t be surprised but that it’s as good as a quarter is to dem. Anyway, we wants it. And we’ll strike and restrike until we get it. Won’t we boys? (Cries of “Yes! Yes!”) But don’t lets stop no more poor driver and dump over der wagons, like we done in Madison st. de odder day. I know I was one. (“You bet you was!”) Let’s not do it no more. Say, will we, boys? (“No! No!”) Say, you remember dat day in Wall-st., when the gents trun money to us and tole us to buy decent papers? You remember, say, don’t you boys? (“Yes! Yes!”) Dat’s all right, but, say, don’t lets hurt no more poor drivers. We won de fight in 1893. We ought to win in 1899. Oughtn’t we, boys? (“Yes! Yes!”) Youse all know me, boys, don’t you? We’ll stick togedder like plaster, won’t we, boys?"
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Racetrack Higgins (leader of the Brooklyn newsies):
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"Say, we'se bin carryin' overweight long 'nough, and it's just about time we wus gettin' some ur de odds in de bettin'. Der was a 75 to 1 shot day we'se goin' to win dis here fight. And we can do it hands down an' no whippin' if we keep our eyes skinned, and w'en de newsboys comes in furst under de wire some ur dem guys sitting in de gran'stan wid shiny kicks and 'lectric lighs on der fronts 'll wish dey had gone to de trubble to do a little arbitratin'. But I want ter tell yer about dat Chief Devery. I goes to him to-day and I says, just as perlite as I knows how: 'Mr. Devery, I wants to get a permit please, to have a brass band lead me Brooklyn men to de meetin', to-night.' 'Go way, you slob!' he says - dats what de Chief says to me. And I told him I wasn't no slob, and some day I might be where he is.'"
Manhattan Lodging House Rules
Rent per Night: 6¢
Rent per Night (private bed): 10¢
Rent per Night (arrival after 9 PM): 7¢
Rent per Night (arrival after 10 PM): 11¢
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Breakfast: 6¢
Lunch: 6¢
Supper: 6¢
Dinner: 20¢
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Boys must wash up at the first opportunity.
Clothes can be stored in lockers that correspond to the nearest bed.
Boys are encouraged to arrive back by 6 PM for the classes offered at the Lodging House.
If a boy cannot afford to stay, costs can be deferred until the boy can pay back his debts.
Boys are also encouraged to help pitch in to help out fellow newsies.
Boys who swear and chew tobacco cannot sleep here.
All boys must be out of the Lodging House by 7 AM. Many leave between 2 AM and 5 AM.
Boys are expected to take a bath before breakfast should they choose to attend.
No boy, even with a pass, may be let in after midnight.
Boys must help with the upkeep of the Lodging House.
Boys are expected to help cook and serve breakfast on occasion.
Monday is laundry day.
All boys must be under the age of eighteen years old.
Girls are not allowed in the Lodging House.*
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*There is one known incident of a girl staying at the Lodging House. In the spring of 1904, a boy calling himself "Joe" showed up at the Lower Manhattan Lodging House. He told of the cruel treatment he'd had at home, leading to his running away. The other boys teased him for his voice, nicknaming him "Sis." Joe was soon sent, willingly, to the Farm School, where he was popular and did well. But he "developed sudden fits of bashfulness, and in this way the secret came out" (The Galveston Daily News, May 6, 1904). Joe was actually Josephine Beck, a fourteen-year-old girl who had run away from her home in Newark, New Jersey two weeks before. She was immediately made to change back into a dress and was escorted to New Jersey where she was reunited with her mother. She was the only girl who'd ever stayed at the Lodging House, and only then because they hadn't known Joe was a she.
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Newsies sell morning editions every day, and evening editions every day but Sunday, when there is no evening edition published.