The St. Johns herald., 1894-10-04
A CURIOUS STRIKE.
The Beggars Of a Roumania City Organized to Some Purpose.
When Forbidden by the Police to Beg They Resort to Ways That Are Still More Dark to Gain
 Their Ends.

tory" is modern proverb, the truth of which is not likely to be contested, says writer in the London Telegraph; and for the past few years RCumania has acquired the right of considering itself foremost among these privileged countries. No political event of any note has been chronicled here during that time, and people mind or neglect their own business as the spirit moves them, without fuss or worry, leaving their neighbcrs to do likewise. The smooth course of this beneficial but humdrum monOtony was broken lately by an occurrence, vouched for by well-informed journal of this city, which, if not precisely calculated to usher in far-reaching changes in the sphere of politics, is at least interest ing enough, by reason of the light t throws on economic questions general ly and on the ethics of strikes in par@ ticular. Incredible as it may appear, the strike on this occasion was planned and carried on by the Guild of - Beggars, 1t should be promised, how ever, in order to understand the feasi- bility of such seemingly mad notion, that the largest contingent of mendi- cants in this happy kingdom is fur nished by unregenerate gypsies, who are as black, uncivilized and isolated here as they were in their native land long centuries ago. They are a very clever people, who can turn their hands to almost anything, and can turn almost anything toward their hands; so that it is considered some what of a concession to the needs of society on their part that they humbly beg for what they might easily 'appro- priate if they had mind to. Now, one of the finest streets in all Buchar- est is the Calea Vittoriei, which ex- tends the entire length of the city, from the Dimbovitza quay to the Kis seleff road. It boasts two churches, one theater, several hotels, govern ment offices, the royal palace, the prin- cipal clubs and the most attractive shops, the boulevards being situated on either side of the street.
 This fashionable thoroughfare was the favorite beat of the beggars, some of whom are known to have made fortune and retired from the business,' as French advertisements put it, in a few years. The street literally swarmed with them of late, and their number went on increasing. You could not go to your hotel, take glass of wine in a restaurant or enter a church or theater without running the gauntlet of a score or more of impor- tunate beggars. People at last began to complain, and the prefect of the po- lice admitted that it was an eyesore which must at all costs be removed. He therefore issued an order peremp- torily prohibiting beggars from ply ing their calling" in Calea Vittoriei or any of the streets which intersect it. The members of the indignant frater- nifty at once put their heads together and resolved tn strike, end f0r-tvvC1Tty four hours there was. not a beggar to be seen or heard in Bucharest. and great was the consequent joy of the dwellers in the west end of this capital thereat
 Meanwhile one of the guild called on the prefect and requested an audience, which was granted then and there.
 
 sent him to express their regret that any such ill-advised measure should have been taken against them, seeing that they were so popular with the wealthy classes. "Besides, if we are not allowed to take up our old position in the Callea Vittoriei," he added, we shall feel compelled to continue to strike" This threat ticllled the fancy of the police prefect, who laughed out right and said: ''Then strike away, my good man! You will all the sooner become profitable members of society,"" ''It's now that we are useful members of society" rejoined the spokesman of the mendicants. Every gentleman and lady who gives us a ley (tenpence) or few banis Ia bani is a tenth part of penny) feels insured, as it were, against tenfold losses in other ways Your own policemen will confirm what I say. You understand me. We can pull through nicely enough without aims, God be praised but it will be a positive loss to the almsgiving classes if we go out on a strike. We can turn our hands to other things without any painful efforts. Believe me, I am act ing in the interests of society,"" The prefect all at once became thoughtful, and, dismissing the eloquent advocate of the poor, said he would give the matter his careful consideration. And he fulfilled his promise, for before the shades of night had fallen the police reported a large number of complaints lodged by private individuals, whose watches, gold chains, silver, handber- chiefs and filled purses had been ab- Stracted, they knew not by whom. how or where. A dazzling light is said to have dawned upon the prefect's mind, and early the next morning the chief of the gypsy beggars received an intimation that their demands would be complied with. and that the sooner they returned to work the better. Since then people give aims in the time-honored way and have 10 further losses to complain of. A beggars' strike might possibly be 9 boon in other countries, but in Roumania it