The morning call., 1893-07-30
LIKES TO RIDE.
An AristOCratiC Beggar of
Car Transfers.
He Explains That the Rides Would
Lose Their Pleasure if He
Had to Pay.

that transfer l would be thankful II you
would give it to me"
The speaker was an elderly, smooth
faced, feshy man. neatly dressed and q
good talker.
He accosted the writer at the corner Of
Post and Montgomery streets yesterday
morning as the latter alighted from a
Montgomery-street car with transfer in
his hand.
The transfer, however. was simply
blind, as the writer took particular pains
that the aristocratic mendicaDt should see
it, The curious actions of the man for
long time past had naturally attracted
some attention. and gentleman from
W HON he had solicited a transfer upon two
occasions, and who had watched MIN, gave
the CALL man the IT'D.
The check was passed over 10 the man
without remark. and with a courtiy bow
and word of thanks he boarded the car
and was of.
A gentleman who does business in the
neighborhood said that the man was a
weil-known figure in that locality.
For many months, said he. I'VE have
known of the mans mission upon the cor
ner. He never asks for money. and is as
regular in his coming snd going as the
fight of time. Twice day, in the morn
Ing and evening. he comes and takes up
his position near the portable frnitstand
on the corner. The old woman who ped
dies papers in that locality knows him and
looks upon him with great disfavor.
'He is evidently good Judge of human
nature. as have frequently watched him
| from my office window and observed his
mode Of operations. He also apparently
has good memory for faces, for he sell
| dom asks a man for his transfer the
] fiv,,o / hou
meet with refusal"
Last evening the reporter was early In
waiting fo- the venerable enigma. A wide
doorway in the immediate vicinity gave
a good field Of vantage TO watch the
actions of the stranger, and his coming
was impatiently awaited.
He was punctual in putting in an ap-
pearance, and as be stopped a snort dis
lance away from the reporter and stopped
10 flick away a faw small particles of dust
that had lodged on his brightly shined
shoes, he looked every inch gentleman In
dress, in manner and by birth.
Before he had time 10 move away the
reporter accosted him and it was apparent
at once that the old gentlemen recognized
his interrogation. But he did not seem
alarmed or in the least embarrassed. but
with quiet What will You have, sir?''
awaited all explanation of the reporter
reques: TO speak with him q moment.
"A L
| the posse sSion of the writer and bis asser-
ton that the old gentleman should not be
msrepresented in the matter caused the
latter TO hesitate a moment, when he
finally said:
II suppose you think Pm deadbe OIL
a vagrant who has had little better lucI
than the general run of that class, and has
been thereby enabled to wear respectable
clothes. Ii you think so am here to as
sure you that you are wrong. The courte
sizes extended ME cost the givers nothing
as 1t is TO be presumed that the person
who gives his transfer check away did n o.
intend to use it anyway. You know that q
great many passengers take checks with
out the least intention at the time Of usine
them. frequently you can see several o.
them scattered about upon the pavement:
in this locality. Therefore, claim tha
the gift has lost all pecuniary value an(
cannot properly be denomin ated as aims.
what's my motive in begging transfers
Well. suppose it would be called a manis
by some, a fad by others. | don't attemp
to explain it. because | don't think, really
and without wishing to be misunder
stood as intending to be offensive-that i
is any Of your business am not beRga
land here the old gentleman gave tn
writer ocular evidence that he was not il
an impoverished condition by displayin
several bright pieces of gold. and am am
ply able to pay my honest debts like an
other man. But like TO ride on the street
cars. 1t is my sole enjoyment. If l wer
to pay my fare l believe the ride woul,
lose its zest. Hence, take that for whicl
other people have no further use. ant
which would be lost to mankind did no
utilize it, and thus the public does no
suffer. the railroad company is little tn
loser, and l enjoy the only light that break
through the clouds that hover about TT
close of life that has been far from
happy one"
The old fellow turned quickly as h
closed his remarks, and with brusqu
"good-nig ut" wal ed rapidly over to Marke
street and was lost sight of IN the crowd.