Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-12-19
BEGGARs IN TANGIER.
n losophical Tramps and Mendi
cants OF Moro co.

Contrast the shivering badgered exist
ence Of the English beggar with the
pleasant life OF Moorish member OF the
craft For the ninth part of penny,
which the fractional copper coinage OF
his country supplies him in the shape of
blanouios. one hundred and fifty to the
franc, the beggar of Morocco can keep
his rag of soul and body very comfortably
together for the day.
The sunshine alone represents meat and
drink and clothes and coppers to that
fortunate individual No memorable
"peeler" bids him move on, for there IS
no statute in his land to proclaim beg
gng misdemeanor. There is 80 much
comfort in the sunshine that he does not
feel impcled to create an artificial
warmth within him at the bar of the near
est house of call when Charity has paused
to drop penny in his greasy bat.
Nor, for that matter, has he any greasy
chapeau in hand for the reception OF
penn'orths of compassion from passers-by
and let this be recorded to his credit, that
to whatever depth of poverty ne may by
reduced, he never sinks to the indignity
Of cast off clothing.
Much more Saxon than Moor, in ap-
pearance at any rate, is the red-haired
blind beggar lad who is generally to be
seen hurrying and laundering at reck-
less speed through the crowded streets,
going nowhere in pacticular at a head
long pace, which, if he enjoyed the
use of his eyes, he would hardly dare
attempt. 1t has been suggested, not
without some show of probability, that
he derives his carroty locks and Saxon
face from some fore'ather OF his OF
English birth, who in the good piratical
DAYS NAV have fallen into the hands
of Moorish sea-rovcrs, turned renegade
to save his life, and completed his DO
mestication by taking unto himself q
Moslem woman to WIFE This boy has
picked up trihe OF pigeon English and
turns it to account in duplicating aims:
"Givec penny to povero blindo. II he
oyerhcars you convcrsing in English IN
the street. he fastens himself on you,
laws hold of YOU by whatever article OF
attire he can clutch, and will on no ac-
count let 90 till you have paid a ransom
FOR your Ii crty.
Then there is your holy beggar
mendicant saint or "santo who beng
afflicted with paralysis or imbcclilty,
concciyes himself therefore one OF the
chosen children Of Allah, and ieyles his
tax upon your piety rather than your
charity. 1t is no matter to him that you
owe no allegiance to Mahomct; on the
contrary, he appears to make a partlcu-
lar merit Of fleeing christian dogs
Of their blanquios "Santo" says he
by way Of introduction, tapping HIM
self on the brealt, tuna pcSeta-givee
me. Santo.n and in further corr Oh )ra-
don produces a string Of beads and dan
dies them before your eyes.
There is tiny roo.cd street in Tan
gier which lies east and west, so that II
admits the sun into its reccsscs during
certain hours only when his heat Is mod
crate.
Here, as into harbor Of refuge diff
the beggarly remnants OF dccaycd men
dicants, and coiling themselves up with
in their jelabs, only leaving their feet
sticking out in some chosen blot Of sun
shine, sleep away the memory Of their
woes; and if it do not offend you TO
stand beside one of these sackfuls of
humanity. observe narrowly the pro-
;ruding feet, and you will sec the toes
open and shut from time to time, like
tie claws Of Holsters. in the excessive
enjoyment of the warmth and the
sesta.
Suddenly, provoked at last out OF all
patience, one of tine sleepers wakes and
sits up in fury Of resentment, plunggc3s
his hand down deep into the folds Of his
ragged robe, and after a brief hut deter
mined resistance on the part %! the flea,
drag, it ont in triumph and having flung
it away from him, subsidies again INTO his
race and dOZe.