The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-08-20
6rneral Snftllioentr.
RIGGJNC AS A FINE ART.
Experienced In n ssschool for Bcggars''
"A scholar Taken In and Done For

EMneElgnNNA IN N AaNCn00N N0E hfUWMEh'
"A scholar Taken in and Done For
From tho Ieipsic DahclmJ
1t is difficult at this moment TO deter
mine what institution London still lacks,
since Il is easy for one Mt all acquainted
with the city, TO count upon his fingers the
ones it already has. Stealing, begging and
pocket-picking are systematically taught ! n
secret, but up to q very recent period no
one had dared 10 establish upon the Thames
a school where begging, as q profession, Is
actually taught, and where the pupils have
the advantages Of lectures and the use Of
DISCUSSES.
"What do you mean7 Is that hum bug
or not2" / asked of my friend, who was
All adept in city ways.
me, that is the truth" he replied, and
continued making lis toilet, as though dis
cussing one Of the commonest questions Of
the day. There is the namo of the pro-
fessor and his residence, No. 81 Princess
street, ST. Giles"
what is his name2'
"Roonay."
al nave the greatest desire to take a
course of lessons, in order TO give to the
world the result of my observations"
''Why not do it, them"
"In that case 1 must hurry
"Why2 Do You fear That the seats will
be all engaged2'
mot that, but rather that the police viii
he apt 10 close the academy as soon az pos.
sible."
THE police? oh, mol Roonay keeps
within the law, so asnotto come in contact
with it,"
On the next day 1 sought Prof. Roonay.
l did not in the least believe in his exist
ence, but thought that the announcement
of his having opened such on academy was
one of those bold assertions so often made
by the press in order TO fill their empty
columns. After considerable hunting / NJ
last found myself face to face with Profess
sor Roonay, whom / found dressed in ele-
giant style.
"How can / serve your" he nskcd, on my
entrance, rising from his scat.
The sudden question rather disconnected
me.
II wish TO take q course of lessons in tho
art of begging with snocess," said |, after
n short pause.
At the words with success" l could
not suppress a smile.
"You did not come here 10 make the art
of begging. in the true sense OF tho word, a
means OF your future support; it was your
curiosity which led you here, was il not2'
Eyes, that il So" answered. Never
theless, l., IL have sought You with the
earnest desire of hearing You lecture, and
secunnga seat. / can pay the required
fee now"
Saying this, / took out my purse.
keep your money in your pocket, " said
Roonay, with a gesture Of contempt. II
cannot allow your name to be placed upon
the register Of my academy, for / take none
here but those having n firm determination
TO pursue for the future the paths / show
them.
"But I will" continued he, make en-
exception for once, in your case, in order
TO convince you that there is not so much
humbug in London ms the foreign press
would have appear. Please follow me-"
1 had scarcely time to recover from my
astonishment Mt his words, when Roonay
led me into a wide hall which opened into
q wide hall which opened into a largo room
the academy proper-the rear Of which
WAS handsomely decorated, and at this end
va placed a desk for the lecturer. On the
wall were hung many well executed paint
ings, representing many devices of beg airs
in foreign countries, from the earliest days
to the present time. The collection was
one of considerable merit in n historical
point of view.
THAT side Of the room represents Lon
don only, said Roonay, pointing to n col
lection showing the ways of London beg
gars.
We then entered a second room, which
contained the appliances of the profession.
Here were closets with glass doors, CON
tanning pieces made Of what appeared 10
be pdpier mdche, representing shot and slab
wounds in various stages ofhealing. These,
by simple mechanical cOntriyances, could
be applied TO any part of the body. In
other parts of the room were TO be seen
many DISCUSSES, coats, little wagons for the
use of pretened cripples, beggar clothing
covered with medals for deeds of imagin-
airy bravery and heroism, boxes with vari-
ous inscriptions on them, umbrellas which
looked aa though made in the early DAYS Of
art, and which could be used az weapons
of defense, etc. Upon thetable were strewn
certificates for the use of pupils, testiiying
to their poverty or misfortune; these were
all signed by Roonay, and had the seal OF
the academy attached.
The third room We entered was the most
interesting Of hll. Here We found kennels
of dogs Of various kinds.
This dog can alone earn more than a
hundred guineas a month"; said the pro-
lessor, pointing TO a small hound, whose
ugly countennnce would alone move one TO
pity. "There, Moss, beg of this gentle
man." continued he, placing on the dogs
back one of the small boxes we had seen
before.
The dog began by loud yelps, which he
soon changed to q low whine, at the same
time approaching me nodding his head
then stood on his hind legs. and reaching
out his paw, pulled at my coat-tail. This
he kept up, and would not be quiet until
placed a piece of money in tho box.
ellis neighbor, Armstrong, begs in a
different way from that, A." said Roopay, ut
the same time opening the kennel and
letting out a large bulldog, upon whose
back was n huge box, on which WAS paint
ed, "Your money or your life"
DO not be afraid; he will not hurt you
If you only place your purse in the box"
When in the street again, / was about to
call q carriage, but was reminded Of my
empty purse. The modern professor of
begging and highway robbery had relieved
me of my last penny, and Ihad no redress.
On the contrary, had ] commenced an ae-
ton against him, | doubt not that he would
have recovered his tuition from me, tor he
had given me private lessons.
An international exhibition is 10 be