The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-10
CUBAN BEGGARS.
The Considerable Treatment Accorded
Them in the City of Havana.


There are very many beggars in
Cuba. At least it seems that there
are. Possibly there are no more in
proportion to inhabitants than else
where; but the beggar here is in GER
tain sense a person of individualiza-
ton and character, and wholly so
through the way he is treated. by all
classes of people. One might say
there were no unworthy beggars here.
That is, there seem to be few who have
no good reason for begging. There is
quick public discernment that will
permit no imposition, or little impoSi-
ton, and every human being seems to
as instantly discern imposition as real
ize real need. Evidently most beggars
quickly take place as public charac-
tiers, permitted with consideration to
ask aims, or if detected in imposition
are instantly subjected to most severe
punishment. So those who are toll
Grated are most sympathetically treated.
While this is an odd social condition, it
is still more odd that the mendicant
does not become OVERLOAD and insolent
The recognized beggar is permitted,
almost encouraged, everywhere. You
will stumble over him at the church
doors; give him the sidewalk on the
principal thoroughfares; see that he
has a comfortable seat in the cabin of
the ferries; walk all around him in his
various forms at the doors of the cafes
and shops; defer to his being agreeably
located in the parks and plazas, and
give him the pleasantest corner beside
your portero in the entrada of your
dwelling. have followed these beggars
around some to notice not only their
conduct, but that of people toward
them, and confess that it became a per-
picking study. The MANNED beggars,
who can not get about from place TO
place, are just as regularly at their
different stations as the merchant at his
shop, and they are never in any ones
way. Thousands of people pass them,
but no one regards them with indiffer-
ence or contempt, and there is certain
ly an honest sympathy and thought
full consideration shown, even if
aims are trifling and infrequent.
The most forlorn beggar, if
thirsty, will march into a cafe, walk
right to bar, and help himself to a
glass of water from the fountain in
every bar, which seems to have no
other purpose, with rs much cOmposure
as though he owned the establishment.
and if he is helpless and asks for it he
is served with as much Difference as an
official. This is not exceptional. 1t is
universal. And if dozen patrons of
the place are near there is a cessation
of vivaciOus activity until the beggar's
want has been supplied. l have taken
many trips on the Guanabacoa and
Regla ferries, where you will ALWAYS
find pleasant class of refined suburb
an people coming and going. to study
this one phase of life here, and quiet
and thOughtfulness always prevail in
the cabin when the beg@ar enters.
Those who give, give gladly and with
out ostentatiOn. Those who do not.
defer to the act of others with unfeigned
approval and apparent regret at their
mGmentary inability to do as they
would like in the same direction. Sat
urday is beggar's day in matters of
food, and, it is said, no beggar can
enter any shop and go away empty
handed. Dealers in coffee and rice
apportion great sacks of the same for
the poor, and clerks are detailed to
wait upon all applicants generously;
bakers invariably provide for these
days. and every caller unable to pay
for the same receives loaf free, while
every dealer in food materials Yields
and cheerily gives his 1.-THE in the same
direction. / do not know what can be
deduccd from this public attitude to
| know certain wise men
would seriously insist that it en-
couraged and fostered beggarv. In
just that mode, asked many if it did
not. Those who did the giving were
certain it did not; and one merchant
who sets aside thousands of dollars for
this purpose each year was bold enough
to say that Americans had got so they
would not give dollar for any pur-
pose whatever unless they could man
age to exact immediate credit and
recognition through the columns of
some newspaper, which was giving
aims to their own vanity instead of to
the poor.-Edgar l.. Wdkeman, in Chi
cago News.