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Houston, October 1913. Marion Davis, Messenger #21 for Bellevue Messenger Service. Fourteen years old. "Been messenger, off and on, for two years. Not supposed to go to the Reservation [Red Light] under sixteen years, but I do just the same. The boss don't care and the cops don't stop me." View full size. Photograph and caption by the indefatigable Lewis Wickes Hine.
I've seen several references these boys make to the red light district... some as young as 11. See Percy Neville at https://www.shorpy.com/node/1868 for example. Are these young kids really indulging at brothels? A 14-year-old, maybe.... but it's hard to imaging an 11-year-old really interested in that at such a young age.
[When Hine talks about these kids visiting the Red Light, he means in their capacity as messengers. Delivering packages, telegrams, etc. - Dave]
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