Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1895-07-12
WAS A PHILOSOPHER
A sEeeAR STUDENT OF HUMAN MA
TURE WHO HAD A SYSTEM.

Lines-why He Avoided the Rich-stood
Outside Restaurant, but Never Begged
From Hungry Looking Man.
| he was wretched looking chap, SO
thinly clad that he was really an object
OF pity. He had sought secluded COR
ner at the entrance of cheap restaurant
near Herald square, and for awhile it
seemed as if be had chosen the spot
merely to escape the chilling blasts of
the cutting wind. Many men passed
into the place. but he spoke to none.
Finally one who had just completed his
| meal came forth. The man started for
ward, hesitated moment and then re-
sumed his former position. Soon another
man, apparently in a great hurry, came
from the restaurant, buttoning his coat
as he walked. In moment the poor
fellow stood in the way and barely had
he uttered his request for help when he
was rewsS,ed with dime
A moment later group of young
men in very high spirits passed into the
restaurant. To an ordinary student they
would have been just the right men to
approach for aims, but the beggar saw
them not. 1t was only to certain men
returning to the street that he made
himself known. 1t was but the work of
moment to pick an acquaintance with
the fellow, and when he found / was
interested he talked freely of his plan.
81 had to do good deal of thinking
about it when / first started in, he
said. II can't get work now. and when
have work I can only keep at it for a
little while on account of rheumatism.
When l saw I had to beg, I thought I
might as we'll do it right or not at all
If you know anything about men s faces
and clothes, You don't have to do any
guesswork at all. l can tell long before
l get near man what my chances are
with him, and if don't think that it,
ten to one will get something don't
try him, for there's no good in wearing
yourself out and getting common. Some
fellows 60 along the street and try to
touch every we'll dressed man they meet.
They couldn't do anything worse, for
everybody sees what they re doing and
knows they are professionals and steers
clear of them. The only time to go up
against we'll dressed men as a straight
thing, without regard to their faces, is
when they are full and feeling happy
over it.
"The average we'll dressed man or
woman is the hardest kind of person
to hit. They do lots for charity, but it's
in different way societies, schools
for kids, kindergartens and missions |
and they think they are doing enough.
If any one hits them ON the street. they
put them down for professional. You
have got to judge the we'll dressed peo-
pie by their faces and general manner
and let their clothes count for nothing.
Whenever I have to do any street
work, always select the people of the
lower middle classes, who don t put on
any front-women especially. I mean
people who live comfortably, but haven't
got any too much money to spare Say,
you may think I'm stringing you, but
would rather have one nickel from one
Of them than quarter from fellow
who could stand it and had it to burn.
Funny, but l feel just as sentimental
about that sometimes as if I was earn
ing it, and would earn it if had the
chance
"Now. you take this stand of mine
here today. There's three men who gave
ne something-two nickels and dime
have been here half an hour and I've
only struck five men. l missed two
Well, three out of five don't look like
BAD guesswork, if you want to call it
TO- does it? This is the cheapest res {
aurant in the neighborhood. There's !
he Imperial, Marlborough and all the
'ther big hotel restaurants / could {
lave taken, but I'll bet wouldn't have {
got thing from the people who came q
rom any of them. The men who go in
,ere don't pay over % or 80 cents for {
What they eat. and I'm willing to take
ny chances with them right along.
Il always wait till a man comes out.
some people think it ought to be the
'ther way, for the reason that man
Who was hungry would be more apt to ,
1--WE out of sympathy for the man who
vas hitting him for money for some
hing to eat. But didn't figure it out
hat way. You see, these are pretty
lard times. and there's more people in
lard luck than there ever was before.
Now, it's bad enough to be in hard
nck, but it's worse yet to be hungry,
md when man is up against both
James little things will bother him that
wouldn't affect him at all if he had his
tomach full. reason that pretty near
y every man who comes in here is eth \
r in hard luck or else he is miser
Who don't want to spend any more than
S actually necessary. If it wasn't SO,
ou know they would all go to the big
estaurants in the hotels, for you know
8 we'll as l do that the right kind of a
nan likes good things to eat and nice
lean service if he can afford it.
"Well, am onto the misers, and I
cave them alone. When the decent
nan comes out, he feels better for hav-
ng had his dinner. He is ready for
usiness, and life is a great deal bright
r to him than it was half an hour be-
ore. l ask him to help me. He says to
imself: We'll, feel pretty good This {
elbow is in worse luck than I am. /
now what it is to feel hungry. I won't {
Ass the nickel very much, and then / (
ct it. When he hands it to me, he feels
etter for it, and he looks it, too, and if