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December 17, 1909. "After 9 p.m. Newark, New Jersey. All these were selling and work later some nights. Some are 10 years old." View full size. Photo and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. So, who here has the latest on Britney?
"Back in the 1970s I delivered papers to 50 houses daily before school on my bicycle. The world is a worse place for not allowing kids to do it before school now. It taught me a lot about responsibility."
I delivered papers too, but in my case it taught me a lot more about how much I detest waking up on a cold Canadian winter morning at 4 a.m.
The photographer did some touch-up on the fourth kid to the right. His eyes were closed when the flash went off so they brushed in some eyeballs. Note the eyelashes.
[Not retouched. This is a glass negative. - Dave]
Let me guess - Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, Dutch Schultz, and Vito Corleone, right ? Hey, just kidding people !!
That one in the middle in the light jacket does not look well--his eyes and also the extreme thinness of his lower legs. You always wonder what became of them; it is good to read posts where there is info. I especially like the links on the "Migrant Mother" Florence. I've seen that picture all my life and it is hard to believe looking at it that she lived a long life and was able to look at that low, low point as a phase she managed to get through. But very good to know!
the stares from these eyes ... eerie, stunned.
[Yes. The magnesium flash powder they used back then was basically fireworks in your face. - Dave]
While I don't think anyone wants kids to go back to working after 9pm on the streets, I do believe that the 3 years I spent delivering papers in all manner of weather on time every day gave me a great work ethic, determination, perseverance and the ability to deal with all sorts of people.
Both of my girls delivered papers for a couple years. It was a given that they would when they were old enough to do so. While they didn't do it to help put food on the table, they did learn a lot, and have fond memories as well. Shoveling snow in the winter and mowing in the summer works too.
Back in the 1970s I delivered papers to 50 houses daily before school on my bicycle. The world is a worse place for not allowing kids to do it before school now. It taught me a lot about responsibility.
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