The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-11-22
BEGGARS' SYNDICATE.
How the Professional Mendicants OF Paris
Are Organized.

HOW the PROFESSIONAL MenulCantS OF farlb
Are Organized.
The alleys in the Champs Elysees, 1t
appears, are good for picturesque-look-
ing old men. On good day from
ton to dozen OF these mendicants
should each collect 80 francs tc
40 francs, or an average of 81.
This seemed exaggerated, but we were
assured it was not. The number Of per-
sons allowed on the "beat" is kept care.
fully limited, and intruders are speedily
cleared of. To tall thin person en-
dowed with long white hair and beard,
really or artifcially patriarchal and
starved-looking, who can stoop effect
lively, yet with an air of departed grand
eur and smile pathetically, post on
the Champs Elysees brings in thirty or
forty fifty-centime pieces and a pocket
full of coppers every day. One old gen.
tleman who was we'll known for many
years and bore the reputed distinction
OF an effete Marquisate-one Of the
oldest in France-we were assured
cleared close on 2 louis a day, or
about s10 week. He had been men,
ber of the syndicate, which of course
guarded him against all competition,
and out of his drawings he received 92
plus 90 per cent, from 95 to eS and so
per cent. on all beyond. His share
amounted to over g3 los. week nearly
all the year round. He is now in honor
able retirement in the neighborhood Of
Bougival. The mendicants allotted to
the Champs Elysees hand over their
drawings twice day to collectors, in case
the police should take a fancy to inspect
them, and are in addition pretty well
watched and followed by fellow-mem-
bers lest they should dispose of any sum
to confederate.
The Bourse is another spot which can
be depended upon for pretty regular
amount The mendicants there enjoy
the relics OF a reputation they never
possessed as quondam millionaires who
lost all at some grand crash in hypo-
thetical stock. Third on the list come
the principal churches, the Madeleine
and Notre Dame; but they are far from
being so profitable. Pictures of charity
at church doors are archaic The real
center OF the practice is where it may
serve to foster the self-gratification Of
women and children or weigh down the
balance in the game of "beggar my
neighbor." The syndicate's objection
TO church people is that they support
their proteges privately, or give aims
In the smallest doles as duty. Every
boggar revels on New Years Day, for
then no Frenchman or Frenchwoman
runs the risk of o beggar's malediction
by refusing to pay for 6oaheur1or the
year. The syndicate complains griev-
ously that on that day innumerable
outsiders join the profession, on account
OF its exceeding lucratiyeness for the
first twenty-four hours. f-c,.
The money losers" form recognized
branch Of the profession. These are
usually children or young female re.
cruits from the country, who bemoan
pitifully suppositious half sovereign
which big man knocked out OF their
hand as they were going message.
The crowd coll ects and aids to search
the gutter. When the weeping damsel
begins to talk OF hard-hearted mistress
and suicide in the Seine as all that is
left for her the crowd becomes practical,
and one ELUSIVE blue-bloused workman
gives out Of the sweat Of his brow the
first silver coin to make up the lost
journal,