Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-14
LIVES ON HIS WHISPERS.
How Young Napoleon of Begging Swim
dies the Public.

Begging is being reduced to a fine
art, SAYS the n. Y Times. Those who
are in the habit of travelling through
the busy thoroughfares of this city after
dark are often surprised into involun-
tary alms-giving b. some startling tale
of distress.
1t is during the small hours of the
morning, when mankind generally is
wrapt in the restful embrace of natures
soft muse that the real artist beggar is
encountered by those unfortunate or
foolish enough to be out of their beds.
Many of these display an ingenuity and
knowledge of human nature which if
applied to a more worthy channel
would bring fame and fortune Such
one accosted a Times reporter re-
Gently.
1t was on Twenty-seventh street, close
to Broadway, that this beggar was met.
He was Incorporating fellow, young,
athletic, and exceedingly we'll vet
modestly dressed. The most striking
thing about him however, was a very
heavy, scrubby growth of beard of a
hue atrociously red. There was not
enough of this growth to be dignifed
with the name of whiskers, but Just
enough to give the fellow dirty and
rather ferocious aspect. He approached
IN modest yet manly way, touching
his hat as he said:
Pardon me, but can / detain YOU
for minute? [ am a stranger in this
city; came here from Exeter, n. H.,
three days ago to look for employment.
l was unfortunate enough to lose my
pocket book containing every cent |
had. That is why | am walking the
streets at this hour of the morning. l
hate to beg, but Clubbing his hand
across his unshaven chin) I'm in a very
bad hole. At o'clock | have an APP
pointment with merchant who has
promised to employ me as bookkeeper.
1t will ruin my chances for the place if
| 90 looking like this. Will you lend
me fifteen cents so that [ can get
shave?n
Nine men out of ten would have
given the fellow what he asked, or
more; but the reporter, with an in
tuitive belief that things are seldom
what they SEEM" had Just little sus-
picion, to substantiate which he asked
the beggar if he was hungry. An
affirmative answer was followed by an
invitation to step into a nearby chop
house, where the two were soon seated
over modest spread of meat and
drink. The beggar proved to be a
really delightful companion, ready in
conversation and engaging in manner.
Over the luncheon he soon warmed
up. When he had become stuff GENTLY
convivial the reporter candidly, but in
half-ashamed sort of way, told him of
the suspicion that his tale of woe was
mere ruse of an ordinary, or rather an
extraordinary beggar. With a hearty
laugh. and without any indication of
remOrse, the fellow admitted it, and a
few questions drew from him the fol-
lowing information:
Il did come from Exeter to get work,
but | could not find it, and now |
don't want to. In nv extremity |
necessity is the mother of invention. |
needed a shave, and in my necessity
one night about a month ago | APP
pealed to a man on the street to give
me the money to get one. / told him
just what | told YOU, and Immediately
he gave quart er and wished me luck.
The ease with which | got that quarter
induced me to try again. l tackled
about twenty men, over half of whom
swallowed my yarn and gave me money,
aggregating over 81.
NV success as a beggar knocked all
desire for work out Of me. | saw that
| had soft thing and stuck to it. Its
only drawback is that have to 90 I'M
shayen four days a week. During
those four days, though, make enough
to live all the week. so | get shaved and
loaf about town the other three. Oh,
chat ugly red beard is my ion,
though it used be the bane of my life.
1t ears $40 or more week for me with
out any invested capital except such
as put in good clothes. | must dress
well TO bear out my story, you know.
Going? No, don't. You have paid
for the supper, so now sit down and
have bottle of ale and a cigar with
me. | have a small surplus of shaving
money this week" The invitation
was accepted, and the reporter must
confess that he never spent more con-
genial hour than that hour with the
man who lived on his whiskers.