New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-15
From The HeWYork Ledger.
RECOlLECIIONS OF a BUSY LIFE.
BY HORACE GREELEY.
BEGGARs AND BORROWERS.
No. XXIV.

BEGGAkS AND BClsRONEho'
New-Yoik is the metropolis of beggary. The
wrecks .f incapacity, mis-education, prodgaly and
prongacy, drift hitler from either continent and are
finally stranded shore Has preentious family
In Europe member who is felt burden or loathed as
a disgrace money somehow scraped together to ship
him of TO NewYOrk; taking good care that there be not
enough 10 enable him 10 ship himself back again. Does
family collapse anywhere in the interior or along the
Of country leaving helpless widow andfather
Tess children TO struggle with difficulties utterly
peced and unprepaed for though too proud to work or
even beg where they are Known they are ready enough
to try their fortune and hide their fan in this great en-
po1ium where they would gladly do-f they could get 1t
the very work which they reject as degradingin the
home Of their bygone prosperity and eonsednence.
Though living here most expensive, ana only eminent
sll efficiency can justify migration hitter on me part
OF any but single young yet mechanics and bOeTs
of very moderate ability, and even WIDOWS With sna
children, bic hither III r9cksss enance ~ me dD nae
twentiehs Of them only TO plunge theIehy mo Geepgr
more squalid hopeless misery than they had previously
known. Want is hard master ahywheIe, pt hoWneo
else are suerin the woes the despelalOn Ol uteT
ewiTently 80 i'm ms city, because the multiplicity of the
destitute benumbs the heart OF charity ana ne
his and efforts TO such extent that ne KNOWS
nothing OF the neighOors VINO MONA may , DC SS hem "
The beegars of NewYork comprise but small proper
Sn OF MS Smd rrmapRaS P1dent One who
accept franc in Pans, or shilling In LoIdon WIN
and nsulted il YOU offer him less than dollar in New
u
he rndmept were acquired in the old World but expe
cience and observation have qualified them 10 pursue u
orr native beggars have bodness Of aspiration and
audacity OF conception such as the magnificent proper
are calculated TO inspire. doubt that an Aslauc OF
European beggar ever frankly avowed his intent 70 peg
have invested their gains thus audaOyi Dut nave Dee1
solicited by more than one A.elGan Mo Ha1 nrs.gU
and avOwedly to beg the means OF buying homestead
wish certain thatnone OF these had more success
Vgifl %
Begging for churches for seminares for Libraries has
been Of most crying nuisances II there be two
hundred negro families living in city they will get up
Baptist Methodist and PERHAPS an Episcopal OF Con,
undertake to build for each meeting house ara supurt
cergymanLn go9a part bS Ts SftenSnS Summary Mil
form library association, or debating ciup ana then
20 possess Thus in addition to our resident beggaTy
NewYork made the cruising ground the harvestnea
OF the highsOaring beggary OF whole continent; whe
our princey merchants at some seasons are weu upon
by more solicitors OF contributors than Pd Se "a
goods Hence rich men generally court ana secure
reputation for meanness which may or may 10. DC uS
Indspensabe as protection like the shell Of tortoise
Were they reputed benevolent ana % mar, 1ny
and could enjoy hours peace In the bosom OF their
s chronic beggars are bad lot but the systematic
borrowers are far worse. What you give Is gone ana
soon fogottenthere Is the snd o. oe Rut
ou lend lin your greeer days. WITH some expectation VI
being repaid hence q, S 1onr abused faith
In human nature presume no year passes wherein me
xeTf I'm
nons ~ Dollars borrowed OF them, for few hours or
says as a momentary accommodation by nelghbors ana
sf%Ietmal paynent; vet who never do repay 1t. am
confident that good houses have been reduced 20 panK
rIutcy irregular and tmpr0yident loans
Worse still the habit OF borrowing and lending among
clerks aud young mechanics part OF these are Prov
dent thrifty frugal and save money; another and
much larger class prefer TO Live AS they co. and.a
constantly spending In drink ana other dsspaon nas
i was jOurneyman, knew several VINO earned more
than did, but who were always ben win t.er oCarG
/. f..Iaa
their frugal acquantances 10 invest IN bah, sleigh
ride an excursion r rEs AMI Mons q aoS in the
aggregate are thus transferred nom the pocKets OF the
means tIey are sure to need when they TO furnish
house undertake business ana dong inc latter no
sgc lending Should be systematically discomtenanced
hate TO say anything that seems calculated 70 steel
Others against the prayers OF the unfortunate and neces
sOus yet extensive prOtracted experience mas leu
the conclusion that Di1e-tenhs OF those VINO 80
ct Of strangers casual acquantances are thrift
vagabonds who viii be better on than AZ pres
ent scOundres who would not pay II they were aple
In scores II not hundreds Of have been mpQr
tuned TO lend from up 10 So TO help stranger VINO
had TO the city errand or Other nhu neIe
fallen among thieves twho are far more abnnaant mere
aud asked only enough TO take him home when the
money 6sTe e lent ts sum n PeSaed H other
have refused but cannot remember single instance
ieet case wherein capable. Intelligent New England
mechanic, his way from an Eastern city to WORK Two
means ~ saving his children from famine on the way,
promising 10 pay II out OF bis rst months wages which
others only m that swiDder was clearly Of better
class than that which the great army OF borrowers
is 50 steadily and bounteOusiy recruited
In instance young man came with the usual re-
quest, and asked 70 state his case. l clerk
from New Hampshire" he began, and have been for
three years employed In Georgia. At length, severe
sickness prostrated me lost my PLACE my money was
Exhausted; andAere am l. with my wife, without cents
and want 20 borrow enough 20 take me home TO my
fathers house. when will surely repay IT. stranger
must help you get away; but why say anything about
paying mei You know, and know, you Will never pay
CONVINCED II did not convert him, Don't you see"
-oiur that you cannot have been three years clerk