Street Newsboys.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 July 1914, Page 2

Street Newsboys.

Mr. Spencer Leigh Hughes wrote in the "Morning Leader" (London) the following kindly appreciation of street newspaper sellers :—Let me say that T regard the good little boys who sell newspapers as the friends of mankind, and as occupying a very important position in the journalistic world. As they run down the street proclaiming their message, they are the missionaries of news, the heralds of intelligence, and their fresh young voices cheer and bless the world. Men write ar-

ticies with more or less success, news is gathered in from all quarters of the world, editors perform the great and solemn functions pertaining to their positions, but the boy has the most arduous task of all. For he has to persuade people to buy the result of all this complicated labour. Editors and writers, those who collect news and those who concoct it, the "brains'" leader writer, and the superior critic, would all labour in vain, and spend their strength for naught, if these boys did not recommend the finished article. It is said that the

lads have an unerring instinct, keener than even of a sub-editor,

Some parts of the paper, which seem

to be of immense importance to those specially concerned in their productions, are completely ignored by these practical little critics. The thoughtful leading article, with its three well-balanced paragraphs, may be regarded by its author with pardonable complacency—and these swift-footed youngsters will dismiss it as so much "tripe,'' if I may use their own phrase for that which they despise. And yet their zeal and energy are necessary to bring the considered opinions of the leader writer before the public.