The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09
ARTISTS IN CH4PPED HANDS.
One or the Devices Used by Rcgcars 20 Get
Money from the Charitable.

A very pitiable object he looked as he stood in
the entrance to the elevated railroad stairs at
Twenty-eighth street. His form was bent. his
face pale, his eyes closed. as IL in blindness, and
he covered close to the wall to escape the cold
rain that was driving in before the fierce wind.
A box hung about his neck containing his wares.
pencils. and be held u bunch Of these in hands
that shook AZ il with palsy. and showed seams
and cracks apparently bleeding from being
chapped by the cold and wet.
buy a pencil" he whined. Hell a poor old
man with a few pennies"
A lady and a gentleman entered the station,
and as the plea Of the wretch reached her ears
the lady stopped and took out her pocketbook.
Here, my poor man. she said, dropping a
dime into his outstretched hand. Never mind
the pencil. l don't want ii. Just see how his
hands are chapped from the cold, poor fellow"
she added, turning To her companion.
"Yes, | see." replied the gentleman, leaning
forward and looking closely at the hand in ques-
tion, which, having transferred the dime TO the
pencil vendors pocket, was again outstretched.
Eyes, that is what | call very good work"
Good work - repeated the lady in surprise.
What do you mean ~
without replying in words her compaplon
proceeded to give an illustration. Stripping of
his glove he held his right hand cupped under a
riyulet streaming from the roof and got a little
loolb VI W ahtI w II. InfH ne SAT- 10 the man
I'll puy one OF your pencils II you have good
ones. Let me see one"
still Keeping his ewes rIneeH iehWtS iim mfhaGd n out
the gentleman seized the mans wrist. aud,
lHiIkiy applying the water held in his palm,
Iuooed the BLACK marks vigorously while his
companion gazed in RmaZement. Before The
man could wrench himself away every mark
was gone: Not q scratch or crack .: The skin
Was apparent. The skin was wrinkled "A little.
but coarse and sound As leather.
l thought So said the gentleman, forcing
tue peuCli man, NlO nnl now nUDuel his eyes
sh wa stgSgglinH TO get away, back against
out unless you want To be arrested as an In
postor. No words now, y as the fellow started to
demonstrate You cant afford 70 be seen in a
police court, You might he recognized"
Dropping he dime TO the ground the fellow
slraightened his back, shook on his palsy. and
put Tor the corner at a speed that would have
done credit 10 an athlete
What on earth does It all mean - the lady
1t means that that man * a fakir. and that
ne has usurped one of the privileges of your sex
reply. But he does il to dishgure Instead of tn
| have heard of beggars who painted
you called my attention To this chaps hands
ana nus hands. chaps recognized a case OF It.
lust before election he continued, " some
IN the lower east side, and | saw there an in
stance where the artist was more realistic than
TINS one. GolnR into a ten-cent lodging place
near Chatham square. | saw am apparent erfpple
sitting IN a corner working At his hands with a
tie occupation in that locality / watched ths
cripple, and discovered that he was making
long scratches on the back OF his hants with mo
nail. In great surprise l asked another Iodger
for an explanation.
"'Oh. that's Tenpenny Jack, said the man I
appealed to-. He's workin' the spike. He does
that every night
Does hs do II for fun Z / inquired.
IN me eye replied my Informant. II
II fer the dough. Them's chappin' MARKS
he's maxim. tie takes them mans out an shakes
EN-, an all the loiedies gives up their good coin
seef It's the creates graft in The biz, only thew
mans Is so tough you cant hurt 'em. an'he bas
Work gittin' any blood 70 come. Now he's
Just hnlshtn' on the fob
AZ The man said. Tenpenny Jack WAS nearly
through workin' the spike He examined ~
hands critically, gave a pick here aud a iab
there, heightened out a scratch = little, aud then
showing the nall into his packet went onf whTsf
llng- / thought - l followed him that Al ~
oesSar ever earned hs money be ala