The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-06-09
HERE'S A QUESTION.
For Peace of Mind, Ought You to Give
Money to a Beggar?

For Peace of Mind, Ought You to Give
Money to a Beggar?
81 have always agreed" said the
rounder, ''with the theory that in
discriminate charity is unwise, and
results in creating paupers, but
one night l had a chance of view
ing it from new standpoint, and I
must say that am less positive now.
81 had been dining with some ac-
quaintances, and we had fingered
longer than usual because it was
nasty outside. We had had an ex-
cellent dinner, and as fine a lot OF
burgundy as l had tasted in many a
day. The check was a pretty big
one, and we were putting on some
big, fat. black cigars when we turned
out onto Broadway.
81 salo it was a bad night, but
that does not begin to describe it.
1t was regular blizzard, showing
and raining at the same time. and
coming from every direction at once.
Umbrellas were of no use in such q
wind, so we did not put them up. but
just turned up our overcoat collars
and drew in our heads, leaving onIy
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
1t 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-seventh and
Iwenty-eighth street we came upon
one OF the most miserable wretches
imaginable. He was still young.
but his body and face were bloated
from drink. His cheeks were so
swollen that his eyes were barely
visible and his nose was shapeless.
HIS Wlsp OF mustache looked more
like a 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 a shirt
short ragged trousers and torn shoes.
he had no gloves It was plain that
he was 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, I waved
him aside, although / must own |
felt sorry for the poor devil home
less on such a night. Two of nv
companions made a detour to avoid
him, but the third slipped a half
dollar into his hand. l felt annoyed
at his doing that and as we passed
on l said to him:
"'Say. old man, you ought not to
do that. Don't you know you're en-
couraging a 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 a thouohtfn1
man, pulled vigorously for a few
moments and then gave me this
staggerer:
jack he said, what you say NAV
be true, but the fact is that [ gave
that fellow coin from a purely sell
fish motive. This has been @ per,
feet night for me so far. The duck
was done just enough. the wine was
fit for king, the salad was not to
be criticised, and even this storm
cannot spoil the flavor of nv cigar.
Tnis walk is bracing, my blood is
warm, and my spirits are bounding.
When get to the club and remove
my coat and rubbers, and sit down
before the open fire with glass of
grog at my elbow. I shall be in the
most enviable humor But it would
not be so if had passed that wretch
unnoticed. His face would have
haunted me. | would have felt that
he was still out in the cold, wet ;:.a
miserable, and, while | have no ex-
cuse for him, the picture would have
been unpleasant and would have lis
turbed me. He may drink himself
to death on what l gave him, but
what's the odds? He can't be any
worse off, and I am certainly more
at ease.
''It occurred to me then that I
would have been carrying that fell
low in my mind, too, and that he
vaguely obtruded himself. even at
the club, and marred my enjoyment
of the warmth and comfort there.
am not prepared to say that nv
friend was right, but am in doubt" !"
New York Sun