The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-26
BEGGARS IN ALL LANDS.
BEGGING AS A FOREIGN INDUSTRY
DESCRIBED.
The Cry for Backshish in the East
Methods OF Russians, SpaRiards, Ital-
ians, Germans, French and Irish
Americans the Chief GiVers.
Especial Correspo1dence.I

NEW YORK, Sept Begging would
seem to be a racial habit. 1t may not be
such. however, beyond partial extent.
For, while the common people of every
country in Asia, Africa and Europe are
addicted TO begging, they beg in different
degrees, with wide variations. Character.
intelligence, education count nearly as
much perhaps as blood does in this matter.
and are indeed in way dependent on
blood.
In the east begging appears to be the
chief business of lie, as ell who have trav-
eled in Anatolia (Asia Minor, Syria, Tur-
key, Egypt, wherever Arabs prevail, will
eagerly witness From the hour one en-
tiers the territory that they infest, be it
where it may, until one leaves them be-
hind the cry Of "Backshish" is continually
in ones ears We often hear of men who
20 abroad without learning a word of any
foreign tongue, but everybody learns in
five minutes after meeting an Arab in his
habitat that backshish means a gratuity
of money. He may be told that it is Per-
sian, but be viii be willing 20 swear that
it is the commonest of common substan-
tiveS, and the principal term used in every
language spoken in the lands bordering
the eastern shores of the Mediterranean.
Backshish is so muttered. grunted, shrek
ed, howled, rOared throughout that whole
region that many Americans regard it as
the integral expression of the orient.
There is tradition that the first thing an
Arab child hsps, the last thing the Arab
mans dying lips utter, is backshish. His
cupidity is Unsuitable. Give him much or
little, curse him, beat him. bind him hand
and foot, hurl him into the Nile, the Jor-
dan, the EUphrates, the Tigris, the Oar
danelles or the Bosporus, he will gasp with
his last breath for backshish.
Begging, like manners and reputation,
comes from the east. Its practice is pro-
portioned generally to the condition Of the
government, to the subsection and poverty
of the inhabitants. In the east despotism,
servility and pauperism are the rule, hence
the eternal petition for aims, which is an
instinct of the people and necessity of
their ignorance.
In Russia, especially at the capital and
in the leading towns like Moscow, Arch
angel, AstTakhan, khaZan, Khiev, Nov
gorod, Perm, Smolensk, Odessa, begging is
very common, priests of the Greek church,
usually illiterate and often immoral, being
the greatest beggars in the name Of re-
ligion. Superstition is rife among the
peasants, and skopticism among the no.
bility and the upper classes, aud supersti-
ton and beggary go hand in hand.
The empire, TO which so much shudder-
ing attention has been recently directed
by official barbarities, is in a distressing
state in other than political ways. The
peasantry are as ignorant rs they are
loyal and to them the continuation of the
autocracy is due. II they could only think,
the present form of government would noe
last twelve months longer. The machinery
of the empire is SO complicated that it is
impossible to tell who is responsible for
the cruelties constantly practiced there.
The car is popularly thought To be, but
be is not. If he would lay down his crown
the Odious system would still go on. All
civilization il shocked at the Trustworthy
accounts received of horrors that would
have disgraced the reign of Nero. 1t would
seem as If. every enlightened government
should protest against the atrocities sane
toned there by authority, and interfere, if
need be, with armed force between the
people and their oppressors. What is the
use of enlightened government if it can
not insist on the preservation Of common
humanity in a first class power?
The doom of the odious rule and sys-
TEN is written. Russia is certain to be q
constitutional monarchy ere long. Until
it is such, nihilism, with all its terocity and
destruction, would seem TO be justified.
Beside what confronts US in those domin-
ions beggary, superstition and the cOrrup-
MIL licb h., -
urated appear Insignificant. 1t is con
solatory to believe that a radical change
cannot be very far Off
Spain has ever been the realm Of men
delaney, notably Andalucia, where ignor-
ance, superstition and indulgence are at
their worst. Efforts have been made lat
terly toward its suppression though with
out much success. Begging is trade
there which descends from sire to son.
Beggars in order to excite pity and insure
aims expose their crippled limbs, their de-
formities, their ghastly ulcers, and fire.
quently main and wound themselves to
this end. They have no sensibility, no sense
of shame. They have been so long degraded
that they have no consciousness of degTa-
dation. Ii they can extract a few cuartOs
or pesetas from a passcr BIZ they think of
nothing else; they are happy in their
miserable way. They have extraordinary
success with our compatriots. who givs
quickly TO save themselves from the sicken.
ing sights prepared for display. COnse.
quently the beggars have learned TO dis
tinguish an American at the longest range
of the eye.
The Italians are, on the whole, the moS5
professional and cheerful Of bcggars, but
in the south they often copy the iO4thsome
methods OF the Spaniards. The govern
ment has labored hard 10 abate them since
the upihcation Of the kingdom, but they
will not be abated. They seem to belong
10 the pictorial peninsula, as much so as the
bell towers and the Apennines. IL is al
most impossible 20 be offended with them
ordinarily. They are even when old like
children. and are 50 manifestly acting
that their professions of wrotcheduesS are
amusing. When they see 4 stranger they
at once put Gu doieful face, and move
toward him with some such phrase as
Give me a few soldi for love OF the Vir-
gin" If he initiates their manner and
their speech they sec that they are under
stood, and begin 10 laugh. Then they tell
him promptly that he ought TO pay some
thing for enjoying their De2Gtiful country
they honestly believe thls-aGd they are
apt TO get something for their franAness /
Children are especially employed for mendi-
Cants. their parents sending them forth on
daily missions Of the sort, and the children
regard it as business combined with pleas
ure.
The lower order CT Italians are so poor,
so ingenious, 50 ductile, SO careless. 50 ire 4
spOnsible. they have grown SO accustomed |
TO dependence, tAas eleeCosy1aTy end
seems to them no Gocb: 70 De Gheir due.
Aims they reckon as { pCopris,ary interest |
from nature and the sol They |