New-York tribune., 1877-07-21
CHARITY MISPLACED.

YOUNG RECRUITS IN THE RANKS OF VICE.
CHILDREN : LYING TALES OF WANT AND SUFFERING
METHODS OF STREET BEGGARs To AWAKEN
COMPASSION.
mister, please give me a penny said q
ragged boy to reporter Of THE TRIBCNE, at Fifthave
aud Twenty nlnthst father is cripple, mother out
OF work and we are starving" "Where do you live ~
asked the reporter "Frst-ave and Thrtieth-st," ne
replied "wen, III give you five cents now, and you
take me 10 your home and show your father and
mother will give you cents more" "Come along"
said little rascal and of he started towards Frstave.
On the he related anew his tale OF suffering
and want He did not 70 school because the family
depended for food the few pennies given him. He
begged during day and sold flowers in the yestbue
Of the tneater in the evening "sOme days, he said. II
make three dollars and p0cr days / never took
home less than 80 cents" This story told while
the reporter and the boy walking through rhirteth
ST. When second-ave reached the boy stopped and
asked the reporter wait until he had told his
mother that a stranger coming to see her. This the
reporter refused to DO, however, and insisted on
going to the house without any warning being sent be-
fore The willy street Arab demurred al first but at last
agreed to conduct the reporter right to the spot cros
ing secondave the had hardly reached the center
OF tine block when into dark aeyway darted the boy,
with the reporter following close in his footsteps In
few moments the reporter found himself alone In dark
hallway, and no boy in sight. thorough search ot tho
house. which tenement 10 uls'OftE
in distress or crippled father and WORKOUT mother.
After waiting about fifteen minutes, with faint hope
that the boy might reappear the reporter went away
About onehalf OF the children who beg in the streets
are compelled 10 do by idle and dissoute parents,
while the other half with their pitful stories OF want
and starvation live the creduy of persons ehara-
big inclined Special laws have been passed in regard
to street begging and vagrants aud persons who have
studied the subject that those who encourage this
btr riyfu IN
them 10 maintain life OF dleness and vice which
eventually leads u crime. With the closing Of pub
lie schools and the consequent temporary suspen-
sion Of the Compulsory Education Law, the littls
street beggars aud vendors OF various articles
have resumed their vocation with renewed vigor.
Not that many them attend school, but they seem
to have a wholesome fear Of the visant Taant Agent.
t is claimed that not in ten OF these yagrant child
rem represents family in any way destitute. Most OF
them have already broken away from parental restraint
and live upon interest excited by their pathetic tale
OF dying mother brother aud sisters starving, father
out OF work, the terrible cruelty ot some unnatural
parent Other cases well illustrate the habits Of these
children. little grl perhaps ten years OF age who was
selling shawl pins and buttons made a most earnest
appeal she did not sell them all they would have no
supper and she would be severely beaten" little later
in the evening. the same child seen with three
Others near the of low theater Offering, with
pert remarks button hole b0ques to the standing
around the doors The girls had invested tile profit or
the days work flowers, and before 10 O'Clock were all
in the thcatcr and the starving family" forgotten
Another girl, about twelve years Of age, was met
near Madson-sq., barefooted, Old shawl
thrown over her head, aud a dirty basket on
her arm going from door 10 door begging food AT al
most every house something given to her. When tho
basket was about half filed she seated herself on the
soop of house TO discard what she did not want
Unbroken slices of bread frcshly-cooked homny, and
ff.ff.s In--a
The reporter smoke her. aud after close duesto ming
and little threatening. she confessed that her mother
knew nothing Of work she dOingshe did IL 'or
lady had fifteen boarder and gave her five cents
day for what meat she could get what do you make
of the five }" asked the reporter go. buy rib
bons and candy. and story-papers" She promised 20
sop begging reporter would not inform the police
man.
Many OF the street boys are expert thieves, and
are the pest OF grocers, aud all those who display
goods OF any kind in front OF their stores.
few evenings ago a small boy was sitting on
the cufbstone crying piteousiy, ana appealing TO
the passers by for few pennies. He gave his
name with little reluctance and told most pitfGl tale
ot suffering aud desttuton Iy mother Is dying. Ny
father hasn't got work. I've got i've sisters and
brothers aud We haven't had nothing . eat to-day"
He taken 10 restaurant near 10 procure food As
the light struck his face he recognized as an old
offender An officer called and he Was taken
% the station House Here he became thoroughly
frightened and at gave his real name and address
HIS father had regular work. good wages. and every
needfu comfort The hoy one OF a gang the men,
bers OF which kept themselves sup lied with money by
begging stealing. The city the east and west
sides, Is filed with this class OF boys and girls. and
though occasional complaint is made II Is rarely that
policeman succeed in arresting OF them II he
tries and then the culprt generally discharged with
reprimand At the present time the Juvenile Asyum
fh.D Drnf..
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