Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-02
sADeERED By BELLIES
Virtually a Robbery In the Mans
Of Charity.
Merchants Tribulations on the APP.
proach Of the Holidays.
A Heavy Tax That Isn't On As
SCISSORS Books.

beggsr maid was given a local applica-
tlon yesterday bya well known mer
chant. who, in discussing the business
outlook with a party OF friends in a
club house, proposed that they form an
association to protect themselves from
genteel beggars. 3
You will understand what | mean
by 'genteel beggars, he added, draw
ing a note from his pocket and passing
It around the circle, when you learn
rom their communication that the
season Of church festivals has arrived,
sud that Mrs Fillapew-of whom |
never before heard but who announces
herself to be one Of my regular JUS.
tomers-invites me to contribute lib
errlly toward q fair and festival soon
TO be given for the benefit Of a surbur-
ban church she attends, and which l
have never entered nor even seer as
far as | know" A look Of d~epreeatory
anguish that had in the meantime
travelled in the wake of the note and
brushed a smile from the face OF a
Chronicler who sat in its path now
drew a counter irritant from a stout
gentleman who has made his fortune
on dry goods
Thank God that she didn't call,
man. and send in your contribution
soon OF she will probably threaten to
boycott You, as a woman did me last
week. | wish | had a list of the many
merchants who have been indirectly
thre tened with loss Of custom be-
cause they did not find it convenient
TO contribute to every one OF the hun
dreds Of church committees who solie-
tied contributions from them last
Sinter. 1t would be far more inter
sting reading than the Blue Book,
but about as much mixedin a society
-euse The FIRST speaker admitted
be truth OF his friends averment
and there was a general motion all
round the group TO give their
several opinions as he proceeded;
but you all must appreciate the ad
vantage the g%enteel beggar has over
he debased person who is supposed
o beg only because she is hungry or
'old or i'll She can have no csncep-
ton Of the exalted motives actustine
the churohwoman who asks sWeetb
nd confidently to be given something
handsome in the shape Of money.
goods, or groceries that she may apply
1t toward be2utilyiDg or making more
comfortable the church in which it is
her pleasure to worship. 1t makes no
difference whether you are interested
in the church, and the quality of your
orthodoxy is Of no sort Of consequence
as long as you respond to the numer
Gus and impairment calls made 10
the name of Christianity, otherwise
sou will be considered q brute; and ii
here is any flaw in the harmonious
relations Of your professions and prac-
tees, be sure 1t will be detected and
commented upon. The women mean
Eeil enough, but in their cOmmeuds
Die zeal to advance the interests oil
shat absorbs them they entirely
lose sight Of the fact that there can
be no apology fer the abuse Of gener
0sity. For instance, | might with
equal reason announce that the coun
ter stools of my store need new velvet
covers, but that as [ am not able t
Afford the necessary outlay thil
.eason shall expect my pat.
rOns and their friends Wht
have really worn out the covers, t
contribute toward replacing them Will
rev material, And this Is directly il
he same line Of moral sentiment a
he begging question; for without
nesning 10 be sacreligious | beliey,
the dry goods merchant is more re
SpoDsible than the minister for 90
c0uraging religious principles il
women. Every man Of you who has
Sife knows thatshabby or oldfashione,
;lOthing will make an iu6del of
CONAN when nothingelse can and tina
suitable and handsome dresses inspir
a feeling in her that is so like that q
religion that | for one don't preten,
to separate the two. AS for the beg
ging question, the men who eonlrc
he several church organisations ar
really to blame; for permittin
fairs aud festivals TO be encouraged il
this way they find less difficulty il
meeting the financial obligations 0
the society. | hold that il churcl
fairs must be held, and if begin
must be resorted TO, the committee
for ~decency's sake, should call onl,
upon the members Of their own churcI
organization, and leave the outsid0
world 10 peace.
3 This is a matter OF DO small i'm
portsnes when you reject that st
Louis has lT3 religious organizations
J Just thirty-siz more than the entir,
State Of Nebraska can show. and tina
ZACH one Of them will have probabl
several entertainments oallinI
for contributions during III,
year These actually ov.auube
2 he firms considered able to stand ID.
lonation racket, and in a short tim
} the begging becomes a nuisance ,addip.
a large sum to the already overbuT
dened expense account which is th
usual accompaniment OF wealthy firms
closet skeletons. Another thing: n,
young womsn vas ever the gamer b
this begging practice, and that the pref
tiest and freshest OF them are chose
tor the work, brings up 4 suggestion
which, to repeat, would horrify III
/ good ladies concerned who act on th.
assumption that the end justi6es th
means, and Who cannot or will not con
slider more than one phase Of the cues
} ten. ap never approached BY one O
these attractive yQdng women that d
e not recall the story Of that eccentri
African monarch who 'disdained al
s Tomankind' until he saw the prett
and unsophis.icated begger maid
but, recolleet, he saw her from III
window. Ifyoung women who hon
G to be wives would only draV a mors
application tp their own cases fror
this, it would certainly DO easier 10
D them to fOrego the stupid victorie
c OF q begging campaign which me
s find distasteiul because II leave
Them no alternative but TO play III
! gallant hypocrite. During the past IA
and winter | gave away to churo
soliciting committees who had fair:
G festivals, suppefs, ETC., TO engineer 70
n the purpose Of clearing debit on IN
d church. or for repairs or furnishing