The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-02-03
BEGGING BUSINESS.

Il is IN old saying that one hnlf the
world does not know how the other halt lives
to which VIC mny add, that ono half III,
world docs not know how the other hall
mako living. We sec men keeping some
kind Of stores--sclling various articles
when in reality they are following some
other business. A deep, sometimes impcn.
etrnble veil, is thrown over the life of mnny
men and women also. The human mind
appears to DO always mcdita,ing on some.
thing new, grasping nt some new mode Of
making noncy-something novel and un.
tried. This is the ngc Of experiment.
| We sec in many streets Of New York,
various Italians playing orgnns-somc with
monkeys performing all kinds of antics
some with hurdy gurdys-and some with
mechanical figures on their organs. Then
We have troupe Of old and young dark
complcxioned women, with guitar ana tnm-
BORNE. singing their way through the city
with Swiss melodies--a few pale interest
ing boys begging with white mice
and now md then poor weather beaten
fellow with printed document, setting
forth that he was shipwrcckcd on the const
Of Calabria, and his wife nnd children
drowned. A poor woman sits here, and
another there, with little half starved
baby unable TO speak our language. and en-
treating. in good Italian, for relief in tho
name Of Santa Marin.
II would scarcely be believed, and yet
VIC arc assured il is true, that these various
phases Of bcgsing-thesc tronpes Of timer
ant singers md organ playcrs--arc oil I'M
der the direction Of single manager; n
person keeping kind Of store - street,
selling cakes, cordial, oranges and Parse
man cheese. Il appears that he engages
these persons, and furnishes them with
organs and monkeys when they arrive
here; md that the hurdy gurdys. tho tam
borincs, the wind instruments and singing
girls, the boys and white mice. md even
the bcgcars and babies belong TO him; and
that they divide the city into districts, sally
out in the morning, come home nj night,
dcposite their organs, wind instruments
and tamborincs, md divide tho spoils of the
dars's work. Even the bcggars and ship
wrecked mariners settle up nightly. That
is really doing business on !ursc scale,
but siil profitable one on both sides. II
is kind Of common wealth; and if the
gains are not large, still they divide some
thing ut night, md that Is more than they
do nj some theatres accounted fashionable
We can imagine the scene which occurs
nightly in the settlement between the man
ngcr and his troupe, MS they como into the
long room up stairs.
We'll, Jacopo, here you arc. Wha, luck
to day.
Only two shillings, maestro. NV mon
key bit child severely, and they beat us
both. had to cross the town 10 get rid Of
the mob
THAT is bad luck indeed. We must &c,
YOU monkey marc docilc. Let tho little
rascal smoke cigar; that will make him
sick, which he will understand MS punish
mcnt. All! Pictro; how did you and the
white mice make out to-dayY
'Onc hundred and twelve pennies, sig
nor.
Good boy! Good hoyr
But, sicnor, / was beat out Of one tav-
ern and kicked out Of auothcr. People
look al my white mice aud give mo moth
ing
sParereta! No matter. When it SHOWS
hard you must learn TO cry md to SILVER,
and wear linen trowsers. The winter is
your campaign. Here Is my shipwrcckcd
tar-how have you mndc on, to-dayr
capital business! | went among the
good hearted captains and snilors, gave
them the printed paper 10 read my pi.cons
tale Of mistortunes, and collected three dol
lars. tell you what, maestro! liked
to have been found out. One captain said
that my statement WINS printed on Ameri-
can paper and with American type, md
that was an impostor, and no was abou,
handing me over to the police
NO matter--you must change your bent.
Don't 60 upon the Same route but once q
week.
i met onosher fellow begging with n
printed card. lie said that he belonged to
Naples, and his cottage was burned 10 the
ground by On overflow Of lava from vcsu-
vius'
IAN impostor no doubt. Beat him il you
arc nb.e-at least threaten him. lie be-
longs to rival house. Well, Katrina, how
does tho Swiss singing come on!'
i must change all my songs. Wo get
nothing but pennies, where formerly We
got sixpcnces.'
That may be the fault of tho singing
II you can get mc some handsome German
girls who cnn sing, will give them good
engagements and dress them in the bar.
gain. The fact is, Katrins, tho niggcs
singing oil around Us cuts in upon our hon.
est gains. Well, Frashetta, how much
have you made out todnyg'
/ spreifv vvell n UNA n fsre dnv md