The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-09-27
THE bEocAR.s CLUB.
London Society.l

London Society.l
 The Beggars' club in the year Izoo used to meet at Welchss Head, Dyos street, St. Giles, and also at Kent ssreef. The stewards Of the club had the right 70 call upon every member to show his way of begging, 90 that by comparing the different shzms all interfexence with each others systems might be avoided. The eldest z @mumper uas allowed the pre-
 krence, and each took his turn according to seniority, and exhibifed his peculiar mode of exciting charity. The first, with 2 long beard down to his girdle stepped forward and began as follows:
 Good, your worship, cast an eye of pity upon poor decayed trade<man, who has been the husband ofthree wives, the father of thirty children. the master ot eighteen apprentices, and has kspt six lourneymen al work for many years to- gether, ill at last undone by long sick ness aad severe creditors, was kept a prisoner at Ludgate for sixteen years, and nov, in the winter of my age, forced to beg my bed through downright poverty and incurable lameness."
 Then followed a second, whose legs were covered with artificial ulcers, dirty handkerchief bound around his head, and his face covered with turmeric. His story way: Good christian peo- pie, show your tepder-hearted charity to a disabled wretch who has been troubled these twenty years with the running evil. Pray look upon my deplorabie condition :; l have been touched by two kings have teen in all the hospitals about London, but turned out as incurable: have been brought to beggary and want by i'll sur geens and unkind relations and am now in starving condition, unless the Lord opens the hearts of some good charitable christians 10 relieve a poor distressed creature under load of miseries.''
 Then third, dressed up like de- cayed shop. keeper" with hls arm bound up in an old silk sling, thus set forth his hypocri,ieal complaint in soft, wheed- ling voice: Pray, worthy sir, compas- sionate the sufIerings of poor decayed citizen, who, after many crosses in his family and losses by trade, had his house burnt down by the carelessness of ser. want, and the use of his right arm taken from him by the dead palsy, and is now forced to ask the charity of ell-disposed persons, not only on behalf of my poor self, but distressed wife that has lain sick and bedridden above these two years"
 A fourth, with wooden leg and but one eye. having lost the one by wrestling and the other by boxing, with a thrum- cap upon his head, pair of mistens upon his hands and a seaman's handkerchief about his neck, made blunt oration as follows: God bless you, noble captain. Remember poor seaman, who has lost a leg Tn the service and an eve in the battle. Was able to fight, I'd scorn to beg. have been a whole man in my time; therefore. pray, captain, bestow your charity upon what the French have left of me-
 Next came a fifth, who showed his qualification in the art of begging by screwing up his limbs, dislocating his joints, and erumb!ing up his whole body as 1t he had been broken on the wheel. He assumed a sorrowful look like play house ghost and broke out in the words " Oh, pity poor laDorer, who, by falling of scaffold from the top of Paul's, had my bones broken, my skull cracked, my limbs crippled, and in one moments time was made this miserable spectacle. who IS now forced to crawl upon his to beg your charity" ..--.~-.,.,
 After him came clean old fellow, with copper countenance, silver hairs, a hat, . clean band, but with coat patched with as many differ ent colors as are to be seen in a herald's | mantle. He started up, uncovered his | gray head, made a humble bow, and be | gan the following story: "Pray, sir, to look upon a poor decayed gentleman, who was once blest with a | ,ood estate, kept hospitable home, and lad many servants, but my kindness 0 an Ill wife, my friendship to poor re- atens, and being bound to unsrateful nends, have unhappily brought me to sant and misery in the winter of my Ige."
 Next to this lying hypocrite up started ragged old fellow, whose beard was ike an old stable broom. and rolling bout his eyes without saying a word, Iropped down at the end of the table. his hands fast, loaned at the mouth like Siberian prophet in a fit of :cstasy, and beating his head against the loor, most skillfully assumed a fit of Pilepsy. At length recovering, he got up, ct his back against the wall, and then ook his seat again at the table among he other members of the society.
 Such, very much condensed, is the ac- ount by the eyewitness of meeting of he Beggars' Club in I7oo. and it certainly 'ives curious peep of the elaborate ricks which were played on the public Then there were no charity organization ocieties to keep imposters in check. The beggars lived, no doubt, a jovial, merry life, caring little for the morrow. sut beggary and crime are very nearly ilied, and the probability is that some of hese clever beggars carried their tricks DO far, and ended their days at Tyburn. Man Who Believes in His Paper.
 lkentucky State Journall
 Why, great goodness , Barbor. are