The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-17
PLAYING AT POVERTY.
A Millionaire Turns Tramp for tn.
Fun of'the Thing.


David H. Lichtenstein. of the firm NJ
Lichtenstein Bros, dry goods merchants
Nos. 273 to 285 Grand street, is a million.
aire, He has been stopping for the sum.
mer in Wave Crest, l.. l., where he owns
a fine cottage. At Wave Crest other
ealthy men, most of them members Of
the Progress Club, of which Mr. Lichten.
stein is vice president, have cottages
With plenty of money commOdlous and
lavishly furnished houses, and nothing ia
do through the summer but to enjoy life
the summer colony at Wave Crest has
had an easy time of it.
One day, shortly before leaving for the
summer, Mr.. LlchenStein happened 10 see
an Italian Organ-grinder. 1t set him 50.
liloquizing over his own happy lot and
over the misera BILE one of the poor Italian
An idea occurred to MIR Lichtensteip
He would borrow the handorgan, disguise
himself, and try to imagine himself an
organ-grinder for half an hour. He
hunted up the Italian and paid him $40
for the loan Of his organ Then he went
to his room and dOnned an old suit Of
clothes and dilapidated hat. He smiled
TO himself as he removed the diamond
from his shirt front and the brilliant rings
from his fingers.
He sailed forth with his organ and be.
gan playing in front of the residences Of
his friends, one after another. At the
first place he went through the whole re-
portOire, but without receiving any con.
tributiOn. Then he started after the
Ball, :" and played it three times in sue
cession, which brought out the servant
girl in a hurry. She threw a
penny in the box and begged him to go
away.
Mr.. Lichenstein stopped in front Of the
next house, but they had heard all they
wanted and gave him a cent before he
could grind out the first selection. Athis
next stop he played until he thought his
arm would fall off, but got nothing
He skipped whole block and had Just
got ready to turn the crank at another
corner when d party of four ladies came
along, with each of whom Mr.. Lichten-
stein was intimately acquainted. His
heart sank into his silk stockings and he
was fearful of being recognized. 1t was
too late to run, so he put on bold 'front.'
and, after rendering marguerite he
held his hat out so prominently as to al
most Obstruct their progress.
Gracious, how persistent ~ exclaimed
one of the ladies. Poor fellow, l sup
pose he's hungry" and she dropped
cents in the tin cup.
Mr.. Lichtenstein was about to congrat'
uiate himself'on his escape when, to his
horror, fat dog which belonged to the
party, and which he had fed with many
lump of sugar rushed up to him and
wagged his tail in joyful recognition
showing that dogs are wiser than man
kind in that they do not Judge people by
the clothes they wear. Mr.. Lichtenste4
scowled and the dog looked surprised and
ran away
Mr. Lichtenstein played in front oftour
other houses without getting cent ana
was twice insulted. AS he was crossing
over to another street he ran plump mo
little Lawyer Abe Hummel The meet
ing was so sudden that he could no1
smother an exclamation. Here was the
man with whom he had played pinocnie
night after night at the Progress CIuO,
with whom he had gone to theaters, anu
with whom only the day before he naU
engaged in a confidential chat. Mr. Hum
mel was quickwitted enough to observe
that there was something odd about tne
organ grinders behavior and he kept ms
eye on him until he was lost around the
corner.
Mr.. Lichtenstein was now getting
holder. He planted himself in front Oh
his own house. Seated in front Of the
cottage were two ladies of the house anu
several little children. The children
We're delighted to see him, and en}oyeSa
his selections more than the old folks ala;
When he played ''On the Bowery' one Ok
the little girls clapped her hands with de-
light, and running into the house, crleu,
Uncle Dave, Uncle Dave! the man
playing On the Bowery.'"
This is one of Mr. Lichtenstein' favor
lite airs, and the child was DISAPPOINTED
on not finding him in the house.
That was glory enough, and Mr.. LlchJen.
stein shouldered his organ and stole away
to a photograph gallery, where he lau
his picture taken. He said nothing OF Il )
venture to any one just then, but he IN III,
vited party of friends to dinner WIZ
him that evening, and at the table ne leO
the cat out of the bag At first they re-
fused to believe him. but he proluc
| his photograph, and with the zorro .ora,
ton of Abe Hummel's underlined suspicion
! ana the strange behavior of the doS
which the women had noticed, the case
I was complete.
Among the guests at the dinner N"S5
Mr.. Hummel. Il thought it was you,
said. the little lawyer II thought 1t was .,
you-that isl thought something
it all, l don't know what l thought.