The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-04-28
DON FERNANDO.

" way pbe' 49,
numerous and alms-seeking is re-
duced to n science. The laws are very
strict against asking aim openly, and
hence bcggars resort to artful means to
cxtort aid from charitable people. While
the law expressly forbids asking aims, 1t
does not prevent beggars from accepting
aid. These professional bcggars evado
the law by pretending to peddlc goods,
sell triilcs or act as street porters, ETC.;
but they actually live on aims bestowed by
charitable people. These professional
bcggars' are generally dressed in rags and
tatters, and Oh their faces carry n woe
bcgone and hungry expression. Should
you bcstow aims Oh one of these gentry,
he will call down the blessings of heaven
and all the saints on your head; should
you not give him aims, he will curse you
and Consign you to tho hottest part Of
hadcs. Indeed, their seeming piety is
only cXccllcd by their pcrsistcncy and pro-
family.
Adjoining the federal building in tho
City of Mexico was a little portico that
juttcd out from the main building. A
Mexican occupied this place. lie was n
Misunderstanding, middlc-aged man, and
while his clothes were rather old and
s~cedy-looking, he kept them carefully
brushed and always presented a shabby
gcntecl appearance. From daylight till
dark, he was to be found at his post. He
wore wide-legged, white cotton pants,
ornanentcd with a broad yellow stripe
high-heeled boots, always neatly blacked;
n long, black Price Albert coat, shining
from age, buttoned closely over his chest
and its lapel adorned with q bouquet of
roses; his head was covered with n high
stoyepipo hat OF uncertain age and
remoter fashion; n "A pearl gray vest
decorated with a huge brass watch chain;
q gorgeous red sash and a skyblue neck
tie completed his wearing apparel and
finely set off his wcll-built figure. In
fact, he presented such n well-dressed,
Genteel appearance that tho employees of
the federal building bestowed on him the
iiattering and dlgniticd title of Don
Fernando"
Don Fernando really lived on aims, but
he was too shrewd to openly solicit dona-
tions from charitable people, as such a
course would lead 10 his arrest and con-
viction as a vagrant and bcgsar. Tocom-
ply with the requirements of the law no
had taken u Il "mcrchants license In
the eyes Of tho law Don Fernando vas a
''merchant,' though his name did not fig
ure prominently on change, while, as a
matter OF fact, he was n bcggar and do
pended on charity for his living.
Don Fernando had n small box and n
small portable stand. He was a "mer-
chant SO his license said. and his stock
consisted of a few Spanish weekly papers,
"A box of cigars that no one could smoke, n
dozen boxes of matches innocent of sui
phur, and "A gross of lead pencils devoid
of plumbago. He could talk English pretty
fair and looked upon American tourists
with great favor. as he frequently secured
aims from hen lie claimed to keep
american books and papers for the
benefit of American tourists. These
'American books and papers consisted
of a few tattcrcd and out of late Giote-
Democrats and a bundle OF Ayers alman-
acs, and patent medicine pamphlets that
he had gathered up at drug stores.
Dor Fernando was always Oh the look
out Tor American tourists. Should an
American pass within a rod of his 'busi-
ness" stand, Don Fernando would i'll
stantly resume a graceful and digniiied
attitude and call out in English: Here
is American books and newspapers for
sale; the finest collection in the cts.
Colonel, will you please buy a late paper?'
This would fetch the tourist every time.
He would ook over the selection OF
American books and newspapers" but,
as the papers were usually out of date, he
would ask for a later one. Then Don
Fernando's face would assume a doleful
expression, and in a half-sobbing voice he
would assure the tourist that while he
spoke English, he could not read it; that
news agents took advantage of him and
worked oil old papers OH him that he was
an honest, but poor mani; he had a wife
and five children, the youngest Of which
was an infant only three days old; that
he must sell his goods to procure himself
and family their evening meal; would not
tho rich American buy something from
him; should he do so, the saints in hoavcn
would bless him.
AS Don Fernando never had anything
that a person would possibly desire to buy
the tourist would generally bestow a few
Lickels in aims, and continue on his
way. Don Fernando would loudly call
down the blessings of heaven on his bene-
tac,or, wipe away the supposed tears, re-
arrange his stock light a cigarette, sit
down, and patiently await another tour
list sucker
Don Fernando did not seem to make
great efforts TO make a sale; but to every
American who stopped at his news"
stand he would relate his affecting tale
OF poverty and woe, II lay particular
stress on unfortunately being the father
"of an infant three days old" The infant
part OF his pathetic story was particularly
~atfectir &, and IT always fetched a dime or
Il quarter from the charitably disposed
auditor. Had Don Fernando been the