The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-09-30
PROFESSIONAL BEGGARS.
Experiments with one of Them

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Experiment. with one of Tn EN-.
knew he was professional beggal
as saw W him working on the outskirts
OF the crowd. Professional beggars
are great liars they have no sense OF
shame they are not grateful; they
study to deceive.
I thought would experiment on
this beggar. 1t would do him no
harm, and it would help me to pass
away an hour. One can't study hu-
man nature by taking seat in bay
window and watching the faces of the
people who pass OH the sidewalk.
The beggar had been rebufIed by
several, and could see look of dis
appointment in his eyes as 1 threw
myself in his way and smiled blandly
Coming nearer he held out his hand
and said, in woful tones;
"Mister, for the love of Heaven,give
nae some change! My wife is sick,
and l have seven small chill"
stopped him with a gesture, and
kindly answered:
"My dear man, here is a quarter for
you. 1 know all about your wife.
Poor thing, am afraid she will never
recover. Aud your seven children
Lord bless their poor souls and bodies.
1t has been hard trial for you as
we'll, aud don't see how you keep up
such good spirits. / wish l could give
you S25 instead of 25 cents"
was watching his eyes, and read
him like book. 1 was stranger and
he reasoned that had mistaken him
for some one else, and he hurried
away with the money without speak
ing another word.
Keeping my eye on the man, l saw
him rebuffed again and again, and
presently laid my hand OH his shoul-
der and asked;
"Ny good friend, didn't hear you
ask that man for 5 cents with which
to buy loaf of bread?"
He hesitated moment, and then,
thinking that did not recognize him
he answered:
"You did-you did. Ihave fever
sore and can't work, and haven't
tasted food for two days"
81 have heard of your case before,'
l said, looking him square in the ey es,
''and I'm willing to help you all can
It must be hard for man of your age
after being familiar with luxury for
years and years, to be suddenly de-
prived of wealth and social position,
crippled by disease, and compelled to
live as you are living now. l should
think that you would sometimes be
driven almost to the point of suicide
"Well-ah-ahem- he stam-
mered, as he took the second shin
plaster.
He dropped his eyes and saw that
he felt somewhut ashamed, although
after moment he rallied, recovered
his assurance, and said as he walked
away:
tI s'pose 1 might as well be dead
as alive"
walked clear round the crowd be-
fore found him again. He had made
pretty good days work OF it, and
feeling more independent he was Sc
lecting his victim, choosing men whose
liberality or Innocence of mind could
be read in their faces. 1 stood behind
him and heard him say to kind-faced
old man:
sMy wife is dead in the house, and
I have no means to bury her."
The d-faced old man hesitated,
even after putting his fingers into his
vest pocket, and said:
"Well, it's curious. should think
the overseer of the poor or some other
official would have authority to bury
your wife at the expense Of the town.
"They won't-I been to them three
or four times" replied the beggar
wiping his eyes. "You don't know
how hard it is to have dead wife in
the"
"Oh, well, here's ten cents" said tie
kind-faced man, handing over tht
scrip, but speaking as If he doubte
the beggar's word.
As the impostor turned away
tapped him on the shoulder and said
"My poor, dear man, how my hear
bleeds for you! l stood there ani
heard you appeal to that fint-heartei
old miser, aud saw him hand you ,
s. paltry 10 cents. Can that man have
heart? Can he feel for the sorrows o
) others? Can he be less than statue
L Tho houaa s.,a ouaa hai, xxad lais s.au