The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-03-15
TRICKS OF BEGGARS.

Il ional beggars, to obtain livelihood,
is really surprising. In New York there
are clandestine schools where children are
taught the rudiments pertaining to this
profession. They are placed under the
immediate care Of experienced persons un-
til they have acquired sufficient conf
dence to make their own way in public.
The arts of the professional bcggar are
many, and very curious.
A stout, middle-aged person, for sever
al successive years appeared in Broadway
under the disguise Of an old, broken down
man. He was very lame; misery was
depicted in his countenance; he was
shockingly clad spoke with feeble and
trembling voice, and appeared to be in
the greatest destitution. This man re-
ceived aims in abundance, and seldom
made less than five or six dollars day.
About five o'clock he would hobble away
from the scene Of his labors, and dsap-
pear very mysteriously until the following
day He frequently changed his locality,
and traversed Wall street and other noted
localities, and almost always with great
success. Occasionally, charitable indi-
viduals endeavored to obtain some insight
into his history but his language was so
broken, and his voice so feeble, that it
was impossible to understand anything he
said. He was regarded with great COM
passion, and the police seldom disturbed
him in his daily rounds.
This man was at last secretly followed
by gentleman who had long noticed his
peculiar manner and habits. He was
tracked to vile part of the town, in the
neighborhood of Baxter street, and was
seen to enter one Of the sqalid abodes in
that vicinity. BY dint Of persistence,
and the free use Of money, the gentleman
who led the pursuit was able to secure
the services of hard featured woman,
who occupied apartments in the same
building, and he was thus able to cautious
ly observe the movements of the beggar
1t appears he went there, old, decrepid,
and miserable, to come forth from the
building entirely rejuvenated. This
house was mere hating place, where he
changed his clothes Where he went,
after he left for the night was unknown
to the wretched acquaintance Of the
slums. All they knew was that he was
not what he appeared to be to the public
at large that he came there early in the
day to put on the habiliments of his
swindling profession, and that at night he
returned to change them for better appar-
ell. The gentleman was now more than
ever determined to fathom the beggar's
secret; but it required several weeks o.
cautious effort before his labors were
crowned with success.
The beggar was naturally suspicious O
being tracked and he had recourse to va
rious plans to elude pursuit From tn,
wretched abode at the Five points, h'
walked very brisk y up town, turned ma
ny sharp corners, looked about him watch
fully, plunged boldly into one of the no
tells on his route, mingled with the crow,
few moments, and then rapidly walkeC
away. lie occupied luxurious apartment
in the vicinity Of Blocker street, and al
4 most nightly visited some place of publ
amusement. He was rich, and dresse,
4 luxuriously. After while he apprecia
i ted the fact that there were persons VIII
had discovered his secret, and he 500
t. disappeared altogether from public view
All large commercial towns in Europ
and this country are infested with wha
are known as army and navy beggars,-
= Experienced persons can sometimes dc
tect the shrewdest impostor. An Er
+" glish gentleman, named Halliday, relate
an occurrence that came under his ow
observation. He was walking with
!. friend who had spent the earlier part {
, his life at sea, when bogus sailor
shuffled up to them. They had just bee
~ conversing on nautical affairs, and Nj
Halliday said to his friend Here is
brother sailor in distress; of course 20
will give him something" He sal
. or" said the friend, with great disgust
did you see him spitT Mr.. Hallida
st answered, "Yes" "He spits to win'
III ward" continued the friend. "Wh
of thatY inquired Halliday. GA re
n sailor never spits windward. 1t is re-