The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-10-01
VOL. XIII.---NO. 30.
The Beggar's Paradise.

Many strange stories are told of the wealth
accumulated by blind beggars and Paris
seems to be their Paradise. 1t is q THRIVING
trade, this blindness, and two pretty stories
have just now turned up together. One
is of pretended blind man, who has found
out new method of picking pockets He
walks the streets with the sad, upturned
visage of blind man, till he comes to a
crowded crossing, where he gives every to-
ken of being afraid to cross. He appeals to
the passengers to take pity on him, and
help him in his difficulty. Some charita-
BILE creature takes his arm and leads him
across. He is thanked by the poor blind
man. He goes on his way, feeling that he
has done kind deed; and the next time
he puts his hand into his pocket for his
watch, he finds that it is gone.
The other story is of really blind man,
who is always to be found ensconced in
a gateway on the Boulevard Sebastopol.
nearly opposite the Square DIES Arts-et-
Meters. A certain Partisan often passed
that way, and was in the habit of giving
him penny-a two-sous piece; but the
other day, by mistake, he dropped into his
hat a double louis of forty francs. Some
time afterward he discovered his mistake,
and off he ran to the Boulevard Sebastopol
to get back his money. No beggar was
there, but in his place cripple. "Where
is the blind mani" said the benevolent man.
"Do you mean Monsieur benjamin." re-
piled the cripple. "He has gone to his
house to breakfast"
"Is it far9"
"Only couple of steps, in the Rue du
Petit Carreau." Away went the inquirer
to the address indicated, which he soon
found.
Monsieur Benjamin here2" he says to
the concierge.
d" All right; second floor; door to the
right" was the answer
He mounted the stair, rung the bell. A
nicely dressed servant came to open it.
monsieur Benjamin in ~
" Yes, sir"
Our friend is shown into an elegant ante.
room, through. which one could see into
admirably appointed With fine white lin
en-, crystal and silver.
1t seemed as if there must be an error;
but there was little time to consider; the
maid came quickly to say that Monsieur
Benjamin would be glad to see his visitor,
and at the same instant she opened the
eiooi VI I'LL aparInent lurnlSncu IN TURKISH
fashion, in which the blind man, smiling,
was seen seated on divan.
"You wished to speak to me-" he said.
eyes, indeed, sir" replied our friend,
rather embarrassed. II am very sorry to
trouble you-but the fact isl believe
| rather think-that in passing along the
Boulevard Sebastopol this morning-I gave
you by mistake two louis for two SOUS"
The blind man said, with the utmost
coolness-
"That is quite possible-I haven't look
ed at the cash yet; and if there is mis-
take, nothing is easier than to rectify it."
He rung the bell, which was answered
by the maid.
"Ask M. Ernest" he said, eff in the re-
ceipts of this morning he has found piece
of forty francs"
The piece was there; the maid fetched
it, and at the bidding of her master presen-
ted it on tray of Chinese lace to his visi-
tor. The visitor bounced upon his coin,
and, without more ado proceeded to take
his leave.
pardon, sir" said the blind man, "you
forget something-there are two sous to re-
turn to me-"