Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-04
BEC5ARS IN TANGIER.
Philosophical Tramps and Menoi-
cants OF Morocco.

Contrast the shivering, badgered exist
ence of the English beggar with the
pleasant life of a Moorish member of the
craft. For the ninth part of a penny,
which the fractional copper coinage Of
his country supplies him in the shape of
blanquios, 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 inexorablc
"peelern bids him move on, for there is
no statute in his land to proclaim beg
ging a misdemeanor. There is so much
comfort in the sunshine that he does not
feel impolled 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 hat.
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 he may by
reduced, he never sinks to the indignity
of t-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 a reck-
less speed through the crowded streets,
gong nowhere in pacticular at 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 forefather of his of
English birth, who in the good piratical
days may have fallen into the hands
of Moorish sea-rovers, turned renegade
to save his life, and completed his do
mestication by taking unto himself a
Moslem woman to wife. This boy has
picked up trihe of pigeon English and
turns it to account in supplicating aims
"Givee penny to povero blindon' If he
overhears you conversing in English in
the street, he fastens himself on you,
lays hold of you by whatever article OF
attire he can clutch, and will on no ac-
count let go till you have paid ransom
for your liberty.
Then there is your holy beggar--your
mendicant SAINT or "santo," who being
afflicted with paralysis or imbccility,
conceives himself therefore one Of the
chosen children of Allah, and levies his
tax upon your piety rather than your
charity 1t is no matter to him that you
owe no allegiance to Mahomet; on the
contrary, he appears to make particu
lar merit of fleeing "Christian dogs
of their blanquios "Santow says he
by way of introduction, tapping him
self on the breast, tuna pcscta-givee
me! Santol" and in further corrobora-
tion produces a string of beads and dan
dies them before your eyes.
There is tiny rooted street i'll Tan
gier which lies east and west, so that il
admits the sun into its reccsses during
certain hours only when his heat is mod
crate.
Here, as into harbor of refuge, drift
the beggarly remnants of decayed men
dicants, and coiling themselves up with
in their ielabs, only leaving their feet
sticking out in some chosen blot of sun
shine, sleep away the memory of theii
woes; and if it do not offend you tc
stand beside one of these sackfuls oi
humanity, observe narrowly the pro-
truding feet, and you will see the toes
open and shut from time to time, like
the claws of Holsters, in the excessive
enjoyment of the warmth and the
siesta.
Suddenly, provoked at last out of all
patience, one of the sleepers wakes and
sits up in fury of resentment, plunges
his hand down deep into the folds of his
ragged robe, and after brief but deter
mined resistance on the part of the flea,
drags it out in triumph and having flung
it away from him, subsidies again into his
rage and doze.