National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-02-15
Street Beggars.

In most large cities street beg
ging is a profession, having its own
peculiar arts and mysteries. and re
qulring a special training to make
1t successful. \ professional beg.
gar studies appropriate dress, ges-
tIirc and manner of speech, as
certainly. if not as thoroughly as
the actors in theatre, and many OF
them attain a degree of perfection
III this part of their art, that might
make their fortunes if practised on
the stage. Forexamplc. notice that
poor, tottering, white haired old man
that has Just entered our office: he
has frequently called before. He is
the very picture of recent emf
grant. His dress is scantv. but
neat ; apparently a great ef1oyt is
being made to be decent, though
poor. lie wears wooden clogs.
which give notice of his approach,
as he hobbies toward YOU. and
stretches out his long, thin hand.
that in itself has a most appealing
look. In reply to a question, he
mlmbles over some-Strange jargOn.
that no one present can understand
Most persons at once think-'.hcre
Is Il case of real misfortune. an aged
stranger in Il foreign land. who has
no doubt lost the little all he de
pended on to make him comtorta-
BILE in Old age. The whole appear
ance OF the man is carefully studied
and arranged to produce just this
effect, and until known as Il profeS-
sional beggar, few can turn him
away without at least a triile. Yet
on some fine afternoon. III walking
up broadway, You may meet well
dressed. respectable looking old gen
tleman. walking erect. CARRYING Il
cane, rather for ornament than sup
port, the picture OF one who has laid
by enough to make him comfortable
for the rest of his earthly Journey.
and if YOU are sharp at Scrutiniz-
ing ocuntenances. you NAV rccog-
hlze our poor pauper, for it is the
same. He is said to be already
wealthy from begging, but he keeps
at his trade, part Of the time, per
haps. from mere habit.
Thousands of our readers, have
seen a one legged man clad in an old
military dress. stumping painfully
along Park Row, now on crutches.
but seated on the pavement and
moving himself by means of his
hands, which are protected by thick
leather mittens. He never asks for
even pcnnv-that is, in words
but his appealing look to the passers
by, said more plainly than words
could I" For the love of humanity,
and in gratitude to your country's
defenders, please aid a poor MANNED
soldier and hundreds daily an
swer the appeal. a few weeks ago
this man was arrested by the police
as IL yagrant, having no visible
means of support, and consigned
to the place on Blackwell's Island
provided for such eases. Just as he
was about being sent up, his law
yer brought into court deeds, mortg
ages. etc, proving him to be worth
over S20.000! This disclosure will
probably put an end to his further
begging operations.
These are but two examples out
of hundreds here that could be de
scribed-some of them we may vet
notice. The large majority Of street
beggars are imposterS. and though
it seems harsh, we believe it to be Il
te rule to give to none Of them un.
les heir cases have been first in
vest!gated and found worthy of help.
If one desires to help the poor, as
all should do, little inquiry in al
most any ncighborhood will bring
out deserving cases enough to em-
ploy all the resources Of charity
Am. AUjcaliWist.