The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-08-18

withered arm or wooden leg Ia q pretty
little capital nowadays for one Of mod.
crate ambition. The late Rev. Thomas
Starr King was on one Of the Hudson
River boats when a cripple appealed 10
him for money 10 aid him in purchasing
q wooden leg. He had collected, he said,
buts7,5O; and Mr.. King gave him gen.
erous sum. The next year Mr.. King was
on the same boat, and was asked by the
same man TO subscribe for the same OBJ.
ject. de was asked how much he had
collected, and informed his questioner
that he had but $3.50. He was advised
to increase the figure somewhat for the
credit Of charitable public.
I. The poblstors, or Church Meudleants. ThGIO
frauds went about with letter. and seals, begging
church.
Concerning this class the Leiber says:
"verily such friars do make eollec.
tons for an editeum, viz, one which lies
not far baneath the nose, and Is called ST.
Drunkards Chapel" There were good
men, however, among these, for the
writer advises that III from church that
lies two or three miles from thee, people
come TO beg, give them as much as thou
wilt or canst." In our own day the hon.
est applicant Of this class, II . stranger,
cannot End iauitM his vouchers are test.
ed. Beggars for church fairs need have
no fears Of being included among this
class. Their fair faces, 80 often seen, are
guaranteed vouchers.
Other classes Of beggars are mentioned,
when Migrants aud strOllers are introduc.
ed, and foremost among the latter were
those who, with show Of learning, were
said TO 60 among farmers and others and
pretend TO do small miracles by charms
and nominations, uttering among others
these mystical words
wherever thAc words are sid
Norman shall sndleniy fall dead,
NOmuuains, InildeW or other miIGrlG
Shall touch this ErOlad tJall sternitia."
! have not room to describe at length
the various classes OF the old.time vaga-
bonds and their expedisnts, and will,
therefore, merely mention a few Of them
by name the Grantners, or those who
ieigned epilepsy, the schleppers, or false
begging priests; the Gickisses, or blind
beggars; the Naked Beggars, the Voppers,
or demouiacs-all, indeed, that are il, 10
be named, the rest having no imitators
among the profession to-day, the changes
OF custom Hutf-th progress Of refinement
suggesting other modes more ingenious
and more respectable.
The huuors Of the vsgabondism Of to.
day, though different ia manifestation,
are from the same spirit as that Of the
past, and we are often compelled 10 al.
mire the ingenuity OF the deception,
while deprecating its villainy. Any one
eau recall instances Of this sort, either Us
personal experiences or as matters re.
corded in the papers, enough TO form
new "Liber Vagatorum."
The suppression OF vNgabondism, in
Guiding trampism, is sgain taxing the
wisdom OF society, IA the news Of violence
and outrage by the fraternity burdens
every gale. Yet the principle Of yagA.
bondism invades even society itself, and
At times deeds are done by tramps in pur.
pie and fine linen which quite eclipse
those OF the lshmaelltes OF the highway.
Think Of the breaches OF trust, The he.
trayed confidence, the monstrous frauds,
the violations Of all laws and all decen.
cies, and case Of arson now and then, or
highway robbery, by the poor rascals may
wear mitigated aspect OF atrocity. The
evil must be submitted TO until il il cured;
but, az the curculio and canker-worm
are said to be the results Of cultivation,
vagabondism is but the gloomy shadow
Of wealth and prosperity. Therefore the
extent and quality Of the one must ofI.et
the other, by Proyiden'ial law. The best
that can be done is to control the evil.