The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-08-14
4 SPECIES OF s1ReE1-eeeoINcs
which Is Very Prevalent on the S,r....
of y Leading Western CITY.


Ut = Leading Western CITY.
Catchlng' is new term for that Very
prevalent species of street-begginc wbii
IS oelng carried on extensively IN INV
streets ut this time. Hardly any oue Who
mas occasion to be OH the large th6ro,oh
iares Of the city after6 O'Clock in the even.
ing escapes the vigilant eve Of tn.
ca1cher The term arises perhaps from
,ne 'act that this species OF begging is ont
laWea, as II Is made Il business of. and the
person VINO contributes his mite to thes.,
people would he surprised and hurt if he
really knew that his charitable intentions
were entirely misplaced. and that the
Meholcants spent the nickels and dimes in
some convenient saloon for beer or drinks
OF some other kind. These "catchers' sell
dom ply their vocation until the shades Of
night begin to fall, and they are encoun-
tered oftener in the vicinity of some pub-
TIC place Onc can hardly pass Bessehls
on Broadway, without being tackled. and
where the bright rays of the electric light
verge INTO shadows and darkness short
Instance from the door of some "all night
eatlns mouse, or around and near to the
entrance of the great caravans;ries of the
downtown thoroughfares. these men,,i-
cants are sure to be found. Sometimes
they go into partnership and "whack' on
the proceeds OF the evenings bewyirr
tournament,
y catcher wishes for no greater >nal,
tha'l Il man who has Just stepped ont Of
some eating hnUse with a toothpick be-
tween his teeth and IL look OF satisfaction.
on ms co1ntel!ancr and Il feeling OF con-
tentmcnt with himself and with the world
filling his soul.
These ''catchc->" learn to be yoo,;
judges Of human nature, and can tell
when, If ever and under wh,, circum
stances, IL mans charitable feeling will us.
sert itself. They invariably have some
pathetic story to relate. IN which the lie.
talls OF the circumstances which forceL
them into this hilnilating position ar,
eloquently and tcelingiy portr,yed-if til,
| chance passer-bE is willing to listen to it
sunday is harvest day for the "catcher>'
| ana they work the downtown street.
during the whole day. Often on Sunday
the "catcher appears as Il little girl. al
most respectfully clad and heavily armct
with he;,rtren'ling story of Il hed-ridle,
and Widowed mother and not less tina,
six or seven little tamished brothers ant
sisters. Woe to the nice young man VIII,
dares to promenade Fourth OF Fiftl
streets Sunday afternoon with his hes
girl, for he Is tackled al every corner ant
in the middle Of the block. He could cas-
lily give away his weeks salary in dona
lions vi five cents each in Il promenade Il
fifteen or twenty blocks. vi course tn
nice young man with his best gil
wouldn't wish to appear stingy and III
charitable, but on the other hand woul
wish to appear rather the opposite. Thes
street "catchers" know this. and the mic
young man falls their prey accortlingl,
OF course great number Of these Y;
grants are run in by the police and give
"hours" the next morning. ut the fOr
courts. Of course they evnie the polio
whenever they can, and are watchful ~
to ply their vocation when al officer is
sight.-St. Louis Republican.