Boxing - The Manly art of self-defence 1908 Mouse Pad

Colourized photo from 1908, August Original title: The "Manly art of self-defence" Newsboys' Protective Association Photographer: Lewis Wickes Hine Location: Cincinnati, OH In 1907, Cincinnati had about 1,900 regular newsboys (both black and white), a handful of newsgirls (which wasn't discouraged). Many of which could go to school, but didn't. Working on the streets are a newsboy was tough. Children as young as 5 years old could sell papers. They had to buy the papers from the publisher themselves, two copies for 1 penny. For every paper sold they earned 1/2 a penny. A 5 year old could earn as much as penny or so a day (about 30 cents in 2022). Older kids could sell as much as 300 copies a day, earning them $1.50 a day (about $45 in 2022). In rare instances, they could return the ones they didn't sell for a refund. There were three editions, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and sometimes there was a third in the evening to show sports scores if baseball was in season. Not everyone sold papers, some sold shoe strings, gum, or lead pencils. Other's simply begged for money. Those that didn't have the entrepreneur spirit would watch a movie, buy candy, or get into trouble. It was a hard life working on the streets, many kids didn't own shoes, they were young, the family poor. Many did this so they had their own money. They learned how to use money at an early age which is a good thing. However they had to push their way past the competing papers. Many of which would hire bully children to go after people. Didn't matter if they were little kids or crippled, they would bully them. Push in front of them, bad mouth and threaten them. And if no one was looking, physically attack them. People complained that its not right they hire bullies, but those companies claimed that they are only protecting their own because the others do it too. The city decided its best to give them a badge with number on it, so you can report them. But kids kept "losing" them. So it was decided in January 1907, the Newsboys Protection Association was created. It was paid for by subscriptions and other sources. Rich people maintained the facilities. Children had free access to a reading room, a shower, and a gym where they learned how to box. So they could protect themselves, or maybe become bullies themselves, who knows. That's what we see here. You can see that the place has no problems with white and black mixing, they all learn and work together. Those things on the walls are small dumb bells, and thing on the wall is a work out thing with weights.