On Broadway, not far from the St. Nicholas Hotel, is an office of the American District Telegraph.

Let us enter. A part of the office is railed off, within which the superintendent has a desk, and receives orders for boys to be sent to different parts of the city.

On benches in the back part of the office are sitting perhaps a dozen boys varying in age from fifteen to eighteen, clad in the well known blue uniform prescribed by the company. Each wears a cap on which may be read the initials of the company, with the boy’s number.

At the end of the benches sat a stout, well made boy, apparently sixteen years of age. He had a warm, expressive face, and would generally be considered good looking. On his cap we read this inscription: A. D. T. 91.