The vice-presidents of each auxiliary took personal interest in the details of the work, and kept the various committees busy. The reports at each meeting showed how well the boys had the affairs of the association under control. In the meetings, the entertainment features were very interesting, from the fact that the boys themselves prepared the program. If it was necessary to secure talent, the executive committee required each boy, beginning with the officers, and then taking the names as the boys were registered in alphabetical order to show what he could do. First a boy, a bashful newsie, was required to “step forward and make a bow,” and after several pretty rough introductions of this nature, it was always found that the victim began at once to prepare something for the next meeting. First, he would commit a very short piece, perhaps two lines, always selecting something of a comical nature. Then later, of his own composition. After a few efforts he became master of the platform, and was generally over anxious to do something. It was surprising the different talents unearthed by this method. Musical turns, good, sweet singers, short and long recitations, original dialogues, and many “new stunts,” as termed by the boys, when surprised at what someone produced. The trustees always took advantage of this work, and did everything to encourage it. The talent thus discovered, and trained, in the auxiliaries, was used in the Sunday afternoon meetings to great advantage and honor to the boys. At one of the Sunday meetings a very serious carrier asked the president: “How can a boy avoid being bad if he don’t know what bad is?” “How do you know bad money?” asked the president. “I don’t know bad money, I know good money.” A newsboy is never at a loss for a reply to any question, and knows something about any subject discussed in our daily papers. This boy further surprised the president by saying: “Those who are thoroughly skilled in navigation are as well acquainted with the coasts of the ocean, with the sands, the shallow places, and the rocks as the secure depths in the safest channels, and good boys must as well know the bad that they may avoid it as the good that they may embrace it.” [Illustration: GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE HEADLINES.] [Illustration: “DIS HERE IS DE DOG.” _See Page 83_ ] This boy occupied a front row for many months in all entertainments, and when a speaker interested him he paid very close attention. One time a very good minister was talking over the heads of the boys, preaching a sermon they could not understand. This little fellow, with his ever serious look, cried out: “Say, mister, can’t you cut some of that out?” It had its effect, much to the embarrassment of the good divine.