, 1888-11-22
THE V%ENTRIL0QUIST.

amusing scenes of ventriloquism with
which that clever comedian, Toole, had
just been edifying us.
A journalist present complimented him
somewhat ironically on what he called his
little society talents"
These same little talents, >" said Toole,
in a grave tone, "have sometimes a great
utility in life; do not despise them. An
infinitely small talent may save q world
of trouble; nothing is ~unproductive here
below. Let me give you a simple Illus
tration:
Some years ago l was passing one
evening through Drury lane on my way
to the Gaiety theatre, where I was at that
time playing q role.
my attention was suddenly attracted
by a pathetic voice imploring charity. 1
stopped and looked around me. The voice
proceeded from a misshapen being, APP
parently q cripple, crouched in the corner
of an archway leading into one of those
winding alleys so numerous in this popu-
lous quarter. His whittier hair and beard
and his cracked voice indicated clearly
that the beggar was an old man.
GA few pence for a poor old man, SIR
said the tremulous voice. i am cold and
hungry-oh, so hungry l have eaten
nothing since yesterday
1.-The sight of a young man, however
miserable he might have been, would not
have moved me. Old cockneys Xix me
are too well posted on all these borrow
ing schemes which flourish in our town,
but this decrepit old age and horrible de-
formity filed me with compassion.
What miseryl' l exclaimed, gazing at
the old man. Is it possible that you are
condemned to begging at your age? Have
o no sons or daughtersY
"'Alasl yes, gentleman said the beg
gar in a smothered tone, as if ashamed to
acknowledge the truth. put they have
abandoned me
1t is infamousl' l added.
And l drew from my purse a half
crown.
LAS I handed it toward the beggar my
customary suspicious seized me. Perhaps.
after all, it was a made up cripple. We
actors are not the only ones who know
how to disguise themselves.
81 prefer to assist you more eff.
fectively,'I remarked after an instant's
pause. You have q refuge somewhereY
4 home? Where do you liver
Il expected to be enlightened as to the
g~enuineness of my beggar; the slightest
hesitation on his part would have put me
on my guard at once.
mo over a quarter of a mile from
here replied the cripple. I will take
you to my lodging, sir, if you like
THE earnestness with which he re.
sponded occurred to me after the advent.
ure was over; at the time | laid no stress
upon it.
Very well, go ahead; l will follow, l
answered.
The beggar started off on his crutches,
dragging after him two stumps of legs,
and with a hundred protestations of graf
itude made in a warm and fervent tone,
he Unanswered rapidly along the muddy
and slippery sidewalk of Drury lane.
1T was a dismal London winter even
ing. A thick, humid fog hung heavily
over the macadami2ed pavement. By the
dull, yellow light of the street lamps the
passers by have the aspect of phantoms.
From the doorsteps and windows of
the miserable houses in the alleys and
courts through which we passed gaunt,
pallid faces gazed out upon us, and cut
throat countenances with wolfsh eyes
glared out into the night.
I'm spite of my familiarity with the
dark sides of London life, l could not re-
press a thrill of inquietude, and 1 said to
myself it would not be pleasant to cross
this quarter of London in the lead of
night,
Not but that we must acknowledge
our police is admirably organized, for, con-
sidering the widespread misery and degra-
dation in London, it is only astonishing
that crimes are not twenty times as nu-
merous as they are. But, despite this
energy of the police, how many a black
deed rests hidden, buried forever in the
slums of our great town.
During these reflections, little reas-
surfing as they were, | gazed after my
guide. Decidedly it was a poor devil;
that l no longer doubted. | was on the
point of stopping him and sending him
on his way with a few shillings. 1 was
almost ashamed of my suspicious. But
with a skill undoubtedly acquired by long
years of exercise, the beggar advanced
very rapidly, turning from time to time
to make sure that | was following.
AT length we crossed Covent Garden
market and Long Acre, and entered that
hideous quarter which you all know
Seven Dials. The adventure commenced
to only half way please me.
"'Are we far from your room still?' l
asked, catching up with the beggar. I
haven't much time to spare
AS spoke drew out my watch, an
excellent thermometer of Dents, of con-
siderable value. Looking suddenly up l
surprised an ugly, covetous glance be-
meath the beggar's bushy eyebrows.
"'oh, hopI said to myself, that's a
mighty young eye for an old man,
my suspicious returned with triple
force; but often our paltry pride over
rules our better judgment. Moreover,
with the Seven Dials quarter had returned
the hustle and noise Of London life.
Laughs and shouts greeted us on all sides
from the public houses and barrooms of
the neighborhood.
II determined to push the adventure to
its end, the more so as my companion now
turned to me and said in his cracked fall
tering tones:
"'Here is my home. gentleman He
slipped through the half open door of a
dilapidated building and started up a
rickety staircase with the agility 1 had
before remarked. l had difficulty in fol-
lowing him in the nauseating obscurity.
The smart tap of his crutches sounded on
the steps and served as my guide.
eat the third story the old beggar
stopped; | heard him feeling about in the
darE thnn c.nln Ito nnnnd Of q Ecu tnrn-