New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-29
A BEGGAR TRUST.
THE LAWS AND LITERATURE OF MEyDr
CANCY IN PARIS.


The existence for a number Of years of a Beo1.,
Trust in Paris has recently been discovered. Tbis
news has spread alarm in many households which
have been the victims Of misplaced charity ana
have opened their doors to sneak thieves ana
pilSerers As rule, begging here is regulated
| by law, and on Fridays and Sundays and Good
Friday only are the INDECENT, MANNED. halt ana
/ blind allowed 10 go at large and solicit aims
In front Of the church doors during divine service
| a ragged group Of mendicants is always 10 be en-
| countered, and the running Of this pauper gaunte,
! forms one Of the most disagreeable experiences
of the devout visitor to Paris shrines. On Good
Friday the beggars are allowed TO roam the streets
unmolested, and solicit aims. On this doublg SAL
holiday they cOngregate from every part Of France
TO be present at what has been called by the
wits the Paupers' Fair" II is truly day 10
be dreaded, on which il is prudent and agree
able, if possible TO remain indoors. The strictest
police surveillance is supposed 10 exist over the
French beggar. So many visitors to Paris have
noticed the absence of these pests from the prn-
cpal bouevards II Is certainly In marked con.
trast to either London or Italy, where the most
revolving deformties and the most disgusting
spectaces are every day exhibited on the streets
with view of attracting the practical sympathy
of the charitable. But in the regions around the
aristocratic avenues of L'Etoie and the Faubourg
ST. Honore, the Partisan begsars, unhindered BY
the police flourish like green bay trees. There
is dark rumor Of certain tips passing from the
ragged pockets of the professional mendicant into
the too willing palms of il-paid sergeants des
villes.
The trystng place Of this corporation. so-called,
has been discovered by the chief Of police. into
whose hands have fallen documents containing
much curious information as to the regularly
organized beggars' guild. The headquarters proper
are situated in an old, rickcty building on one OF
the innumerable dirty lanes that climb the wind
miil-crowned heights OF squalid Mont
martre. 1t is here that the Chapter.
or Board of Directors, meet and
regular depot of beggars' supplies and appurten-
ances is kept. The system is well organized and
has been in existence number OF years. Each
Partisan district is patrolled by beggar-lieuten-
ant who has supreme control over his jurisdiction.
1t is he who sells the privilege Of soliciting aims
within his territory. Every beggar has TO apply
to him for his license. If the unfortunate tries
an independent lay" he is thwarted at once. and
by some mysterious means bounded by the police
until he either enters the association or hees the
city. The Chapter have certain blank forms wnlcn
are filed out by their clients IN the most approved
age. sex and residence of each applicant. as we'll
as the particular line which the bcggar desires to
follow. Lame beggars blind beggars, with or
without DOES. maternal bcggars, with or without
children. church begcars, beggars for food only.
bcnears for clothes only beggars with or without
musical instruments fortune-telling begears, faint
ing begqars beggars for tram and OMNIBUS laIes'
begging Letters and clerical beggars-these ana
hundred other ramitications oil the uaoe are
snecifed The blanks, when filed OUT are en-
tered in registers, where the record ana history
If each member is kept. A certificate is then
issued to the applicant, who Immediately starts
ont and reports to his appointed Lieutenant
A small fee is charged for this license, which
the purchaser carries about him ready to produce
whenever challenged by the subordinate In charge
Of his district. Besides this remuneration The
Trust gets out quite an amount OF literature OF
special interest to the profession The most I'M
portant of these publications is beggar directory,
a COPY of which has recently fallen into the hands
of the police. This volume make exceedingly
amusing reading particularly TO the persons In
terested. giving quite an insight into the private
habits. folles and foibles of many a worthy
bourgeois There are two editions of this vol
ume One of these costs three francs, which
simply gives the names and addresses of abou'
one hundred charitably disposed people The
other-a species Of edition de luxe-is six francs
and includes besides the names and addresses Q
certain little diagnosis of the victims. For in
stance, this extract:
NJ Jacques Bessord, 70 Rue DIES Retels Champs
Never gives any money. Ask for clothes.
Charles Fayes, 6s Rue DIES Ecuries DArtois
An old Radical Very rich Say that you are a
retired Communist
Widow Arnavent.-Thnks of nothing but her
; Acrh for n
Interest her concerning your children's ailments
Tcething and paregoric fetch fat fee
Nine La COmtesse Touraine-Nery religious.
Ask for a first communion or baptism outfit She
will furnish complete.
blanche de Remy.-Retired ballet danseuse.
Tell her that you broke your leg at the Chateet
and that YOU danced with her when she was pre-
miere in 1882 Sure of a louis.
This form of literature is certainly more enter.
tanning and suggestive than the red and white
chalk marks prevalent on barns and fences in the
United States, and the wade mecum Of the tramps
The list of articles for sale or hire which form
the tools in trade Of the Paris beggar is quite ex-
tensive The military is the most profitable line
on which TO work the sensibilities of a conquered
and betrayed people. Soldiers medals can
hired for l 90 francs, or $40 per year. Crutcha
and other aids TO cnlisting sympathy are also u
let. Poems and begging letters couched in ac&
demic French can be obtained for those who
work the proper intellectual game. In fact any
and every implement, means and way of sollcis
ing aims are for sale at the headquarters OF the
Trust When it is added that the Board of Drec1
tors is elective, and elections held each year.
the executive offices carrying salaries win
them, and dividends are paid from the general
fund, it can clearly be seen that the beggars Of
Paris are well organized There must he prons
in the business, because demands for beats, not,
withstanding the heavy tthes. are very brisk, anu
routes are eagerly sought after.
The old woman with the wooden legs, whom
everybody who has ever passed the corner Of me
Avenue de rOpera and the Boulevard has nov
failed to observe, is said To be heavy stockhodef
in the Trust She is not, however deserving
of charity as one might I've led TO believe Besides
selling fortune cards, which is done rs a cover
begging she has an extremely unsavory reputatics
and many poor Young girl is said 70 have bees