Phil the Fiddler
Alger, Horatio, Jr.Phil the Fiddler: The Story of a Young Street-Musician. By Horatio Alger, Jr. … with five illustrations by J. Watson Davis. New York: A.L. Burt Company Publishers, [ca. 1902-1903].
Davis, J. Watson. Illustration forPhil the Fiddler. Caption: "Phil looked on with pale face." p. 93. 28.7 x 18.2 cm.
Phil the Fiddler is part of the Alger Series for Boys "Green/Tulip Format, edition B." This title, significantly, shed light on thepadrone system, in which young boys would be leased from their parents, taught basic musical skills, shipped to America, and forced to beg as street musicians, giving the money to their overseer. Clearly, Davis also tried to reflect a graphic version of thepadrone system, in keeping with Alger's story.
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