The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1894-05-26
HERE'S A QUESTION.
For Peace of Mind, Ought You to Give
Money to q BeRgar:

rounder. with the theory that in
discriminate charity is unwise, and
results in creating paupers, but
one night | had chance OF view
ing it from new standpoint, and
must say that | am less positive now.
II had been dining with some ac-
quaintances. and we had fingered
longer than usual because it was
cellent dinner, and as fine lot OF
burgundy as l had tasted in many a
day. The check was pretty big
one, and we were pulling on some
big, fat. black cigars when we turned
out onto Broadway.
81 saio it was Il bad night, but
that does not begin to describe it.
1t was Il regular blizzard. showing
and raining at the same time, and
coming from every direction at once.
Umbrellas were of no use in such a
wind, so we did not put them up, but
just turned up our overcoat collars
and drew in our heads, leaving only
our faces and our big cigars exposed
We would have taken cab. but we
felt SO warm from the effects of the
dinner and wine that we did not
mind the storm bit, and voted that
it would be just jolly to walk up to
the club
$50 we turned down Twenty-sixth
street to Fifth avenue and sauntered
along. Between Twenty and
Twenty eighth street we came upon
one OF the most miserable wretches
imaginable. He was still young.
but his body and face were boatcd
from drink. His checks were so
swollen that his eyes were barely
visible and his nose was shapeless.
His wisp of mustache looked more
like n strand of rope than human
hair. He had on battered Derby
hat that was too small for him, a
thin, tight cutaway coat that did
not conceal the absence of shirt,
short ragged trousers and torn shoes.
He had no gloves At was plain that
he was a tramp OF the worst sort,
and even in that storm his breath
was redolent of stale beer and bad
whisky when he accosted us.
Mindful of my principles, | waved
him aside, although | must own
felt sorry for the poor devil. home
less on such night. Two of my
companions made detour to avoid
him, but the third slipped half
dollar into his hand. / felt annoyed
at his doing that, and us we passed
on ! said to him;
".Say. old man. You ought not to
do that. Don't You know you're on
couraging tramp and professional
beggar, and thus aiding to make
pauperism less disagreeable? He
will tell others and inspire them TO
rely on charity, too.
.My friend who is n thoughtful
man. pulled vigorously for u few
moments and then gave mo this
staggerer:
Jack, he said, what you say may
be true, but the fact is that gave
that fellow coin from n purely sell
fish motive. This has been per
feet night for me SO far. The duck
was done just enough. tho wine was
ii t for king, the salad was not to
be criticised, and even this storm
cannot spoil the flavor of my cigar.
This walk is bracing, my blood is
warm. and my spirits are bounding.
When get to tho club and remove
my coat and rubbcrs, and sit down
before the open fire with glass of
grog at my elbow. shall be in the
most enviable humoE But it would
not be so if | had passed that wretch
unnoticed. His face would have
haunted me. would have felt that
he WAS stifl out in the cold, wet and