Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-05
CNIMAGINATIvE BEGGARs,
w. d. HoweIls Says They Rarely Tel
Good Story.

w. D. Howells Says They Rarely Tell
Good Story.
From the Century 49,
l must say that his statement Of his own
case is usually incoherent, and sometimes
seems even little fabulous. The poor fel-
lows have very little imagination or inven-
ton; they might almost as well be realistic
novelists. I find that those who strike me
for nights lodging, when they stop me In
the street at night. come as a rule from
Pittsburg. and are iron workers of some
sort; the last one said he was puddler,
"a skilled mechanic" he explained-"what
Is called skilled mechanic" and, of
course, he was only watching for some
chance to get back to Pittsburg. though
there was no chance Of work, from what
he told me, after he got there On the
other hand. I find that most of those who
ask by day for money to get dinner are
from Philadelphia, or the rural parts of
eastern Pennsylvania. though within six
months ! have extended hospitality Il
tectural craftsmen from Boston. They
were both entirely decent-looking. sober
looking young men, who smoke like men Of
education. and they each gratefully ac-
cepted a quarter from me. DO not at
tempt to account for them for they made
no attempt tn account for tbers eIvas: and
l think the effect was more artistic 50.
l am rarely anproached nv any professad
New Yorker. which IS perhans proof of
the superior industry or prosperity of our
city: but now and then fellow-ctizen who
has fallen out asks me for monev in the
street. and perhaps goes straight and
spends 1t for drink. Drink however. IS es
necessary In some forms as food itself and
rich. generous port wine fs often de-
scribed for invalids. These men without
execution. look like lnvalids and have no
doubt that they would prefer to buy rich
generous nort wine II gave then, money
enough: I never do that. though I have a
means Of making nv aims seem greater.
to myself 81 least. by practicing a little
cordiality with the poor fellows. do not
give grudginglv or silently but saw. II I
give At all. when they ask me, "Why. Of
0urse"' or "ves, certainly" and some
times invite them to use their feeble DOW
ers of invention in nv behalf. and tell how
they wish me to think they have come to
the sad pass Of beggarv. This seams to
hatter them. and 1t makes me fe much
It,
Now and then they will offer me some
apology for begging. in a tone that says.
II know how 1t Is myself" and onre there
was one who began bv saying. 81 know
It's shame for a strong man like me to be
begging. but" They seldom have any de-
vices for working me. bevond the simple
statement of their restitution: though there
was case In which helped a poor fellow
raise quarter upon a postal order. which
he then Kept as pledge of my good faith.
Their main reliance seems I'd he lead-pen-
els which they have in all inferior variety.
-! find that they will take it kindly If you
DO not want any change back when YOU
have given them a coin worth more than
they ask for the pencil. and that they will
even let you Off without taking the nencil
after you have bought 1t. In the end you
have to use some means toisave yourself
from the accumulate of pencils. unless
You are willing to burn them for kindling
wood, and find the simplest. way is not to
take them after you have paid for them.
It is amusing how quickly Won can estab-
lish comfy with these pencil people: they
will not only let you leave your pencils
with them. but they will sometimes excuse
you from buying If You remind them that
you have bought Of them lately. Then. If
they do not remember you. they ut least