Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-11-18
How a Man was Proved Pauper.

A writer in FTdSeT'S Mdgdztge On
" English Pauperism," after explaining
that the Friendly societies OF England
and Wales have membership OF 4,5OO,-
600 persons, relates this experience:
Some years ago / was travelling in a
third-class carriage in the south Oh Eng
land. was alone in my compartment,
while the other one became nearly quite
filled up at one of the stations where we
stopped, by number of builders men.
One of these, who seemed not too sober,
shortly began TO utter Il volley OF the
most horrible foul language. / called
over To him in a qui9t way: Neigh
Dor, will you be kind enough TO use
language little more decentP for yours
is distressing for other people to hear. "
He turned round 10 tackle" his in
terlocutor. very indignant indeed that /
should venture to take him to task; and
his companions seemed TO prick up their
ears in an amused and sympathetic in
terest. Il should like TO know" he
said, "what the whatty what business
the likes of you has to find fault with
the likes ofme. I'm free-born Eng
lishman, and I'll say Just what l
choose"
"Well, but" rejoined, I'm free
born Englishman, too, and I'm not
bound to listen TO the foul language you
use, and won't"
"Well, ifyou don't like my language,
what business have you hereP don't
see what right a gentleman has in
third-class carriage"
"If you come TO rights" ! rejoined,
you'll allow that if you choose to take
first class ticket, you would have a
right 10 take first-class- carriageP You
wouldn't stand my telling the guard to
put you out, would you'"
Certainly not" lie replied; "Tdjust
like TO see him try"
"Then, surely, if l choose to spend
my money in third-class ticket, have
/ right in third-clas carriage"
well. may be so; but then you must
take your chance of the conversation.
You're a gentleman, | suppose; and |
say again gentleman has no business
in third-class carriage"
A hum of applause followed this piece
of logic.
my good fellow" I said, you have
no right TO call names"
"I didn't call you no Names" he re-
joined.
You did" said; you called me
gentleman. How dared you do it?"
WELL" said he, quite taken aback
you're parson, supposeP"
YES" replied; but you called me
"A gentleman. What do you know about
me-you who have never seen me in
your life before-to have the impudence
TO call me such n namep But" /
added, "fair is fair. You have called
me a name that you can show no reason
for. Now, | will call you a name and
give a reason for it, and your mates
shall judge between us, and if they say
I'm wrong I'll beg your pardon"
"All right, master, that's fair
enough said one or two of his COM
panions, and the rest sat watching us
with pricked-up ears.
We'll" | continued, my free born
Englishman, the name | call you is
| pauper.
lie jumped up, as il TO scramble over
and strike me, and his comrades began
to look very furious. l jumped up, too,
to meet him. with a studied alacrity,
which, l rightly judged, would tend to
check his ardor, and crying out " Fair
play; I'm coming over 10 prove my
words" l sprang across into the one
vacant seat of the partition, among
them all, and faced my opponent.
MY lad" said to the man on my
right, are you in clubP"
Yes" he said, "the Foresters."
And you" went on, TO the man on
my lett.
Engineers.
And you," asked third; "what
club are you IMP"
The Hand-in-Hand."
The fourth and Dfth were Odd Fell
lows, and so on. As happened to have
heard and noted their conversation
when / entered the carriage. and had
gathered that they were all about to
make payments to their clubs, excep
my rhetorical friend, who had men,
toned having dropped of from his club
two years before, I came to him at last
"What club are you IMP" asked.
I'm not in any," he replied.
II suppose you've got some pounds in
the bankP"
The rest laughed. for they had
heard Gas had heard) him asking to
borrow from two orIthree OF his COM
panions.
| I" Not L ~ he answered sruffiv. oI,va