Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-06-10
IN THE BEGGAR'S GUISE.
A YOUNG WOMAN DONS RAGGED RAJ
MENT TO SOLICIT Aims.

/ 1ho POOr VINO BeIrienu Une HOOr-Inose
Who Preach Bepevolence and Those who
Practice It-Twenty-fOur Cents from an
Evenings Begging.
an try it," said to myself, "and learn by
actual experience whether poor person can
sufficiently touch the hearts of the passersby
to raise enough in one evening to purchase
even bread for the morrow's needs"
1t required some nerve, but l was deter
mined to carry out my intention, albeit when
the next evening came it was with some
rather shaky feelings in the region of my
heart lest / should be recognized that
donned shabby suit, and with an old shawl
over my head prepared to sally forth, first
drawing the shawl well around my face
which the chilliness of the evening excused.
walked to Forty-second street, anu hay
ing placed myself in a shady nook close to
the reservoir, wondered what would happen
next. Two or three young girls, belonging
evidently to the better off classes, passed me.
They looked at me quizzically, made some
laughing remark among themselves and
passed on Young, light hearted and pros
porous, what had they to do with seeming
poverty and distress9
PLENTY OF BEGGARs OUT.
There were several others like myself seek
ing aims that evening. The ever present
woman, crouched upon the ground with her
musical instrument, if such it can be called,
and small tin cup, was multiplied by three in
as many blocks One of these sat not far
from where | was standing, and looked at
me, thought, little suspiciously and en-
viously while trying to attract notice by her
low toned musical wall
Presently | saw coming leisurely down
from Fifth avenue gentleman knew well,
a lawyer and very wealthy man. was de-
termined to try him and stood forward as he
approached.
'Please, sir" l said, with a professional
whine, holding out my hand.
He looked haughtiy towards me.
II never give to beggars," he said, curtly,
as he passed on.
sighed-a real sigh--for that man is a
prominent light in one of the churches and
had heard him often advocate benevolence
and charity towards those who are poor and
outcast; but possibly he meant the applica-
tion for others
The next who passed was poor laborer.
He came towards me. was standing back
and had not asked him for a. ything. He put
nVe cents In my hand.
'God help your he said, in low, sympa-
thizing voice, as he passed on.
A TRACT FOR THE HUNGRY.
A good woman followed him. She looked
keenly at me, and then coming forward,
placed tract in my extended hall.
"Read that" she said, as she, too, went on.
hastily put it in my pocket, and upon MY
return home found it was "a Call to the I'M
converted" | wondered how that would help
supply to-morrow's need.
Some mischievous boys now came up, and
looking at me in a pretended friendly warn
ing, said hurriedly:
'Look out, the cops a-comin'."
/ looked up startled and examined the
street east and west, but could see no sign of
policeman. However, as l did not wish to
run any risk of night in the station house,
"moved on"
paused again, little further up, and an
old lady with kindly face placed two cents
in my hand. She looked poor herself and as
if she had known trouble, and hated to de-
prive her of even that trile. Two little girls
and their mother followed next, and both
little ones, after a hasty consultation with
their mother, came back and gave me two
cents each. They looked so sweet and plying
longed to clasp them in my arms.
Several gentlemen passed, but poverty was
not in their line; they did not know anything
about it and therefore had no wish to relieve
1t. But one young man walking alone, with
thoughtful and somewhat sad face, placed
a dime in my hand. 1t was the largest "fnd"
Of the evening and / began to be hopeful.
Two little boys with dog looked curiously
at me, and the dog shifted suspicously at my
dress as though, with the instinct of his kind,
he detected something not quite what it
seemed; but the children called him: "Come
away, Fido; you mustn't bite her. she's poor"
and then one of the little fellows returned
and gave me penny.
1t was growing very cold, and even to my
own consciousness | must have looked a sad,
lone figure shivering under that thin shawl,
and a sort of pity for myself came into my
heart, as If l were in reality what | seemed.
THE WORLDS COLD SHOULDER
The figure Of lady huirying home at
tracted me- recognized her as one | knew
well, and when she came near, relying upon
my disguise, held out my hand saying, For
the love of God, }" as | have heard some of the
others say. She looked at me coldly, unsym-
pathetically. knew that she could count
her dollars to a million at least, and that she
profeSsed great pity for the unfortunate, but
not one penny did she give TO one who, for
aught she knew, was starving and homeless.
The teers sprang to my eyes st the heartless-
ness. had heard Of it before, but had hoped
that case OF real, or seemingly real, distress
might move her.
The rain had been for some time falling
softly, and l saw my brethren in misfortune
with discontented faces preparing to return
homeward, wherever their respective homes
might be. Perhaps The figure of policeman
looming in the distance may have accelerated
their movements-it certainly did mine
took last look around. There was no more
hope of pennies, and with a sigh l left the
field of my new labor. A sigh for the poor
things, who, l fear did not CLEAN much from
that evenings harvest.
On my way home overlook blind man
led by a shivering little dog The poor ami
NAL looked wistfully at me, and stopping the
man put my evenings gains In his hand.
The little dog thanked me with a glad bark,
seeming to fully understand what had
done, and perhaps realizing that now there
might be supper for two. The man gave me
a trembling God bless you," not knowing
but that / was rich and happy, and passed
on his way Twenty-four cents l had col
lected, and had spent nearly three hours In
the cold and rain. It was 1870 that evening
when reached home, so thankful that bad
a home, and so glad that would not be
obliged to go out on a similar tramp the fol-
lowing evening.-E. M. s. In New York
World.
Good EoT Dyspepsia.
A New York truck driver tells Of gentle
man who eveTy morning for six months past
has ridden down town with him on his truck.
ttHa IL a nraalthu man fnn-head Of a hin