The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1895-06-22
NO STORY TO E
A Beggar In Of out Little Account to
an interviewer.

4 BeRgar I. of but Little Account to
an interviewer.
I must say that his statement of his
own case is usually incoherent, and
sometimes even a little fabulous. The
Door fellows have very little magma
ton or inventions; they might almost
as we'll be realistic %novelists . l find
that those who strike me for a nights
lodging, when they stop me in the
street at night, come as a rule from
P%ittsburg, and are ironworkers of
some sort; the last II said he was a
puddler. "A skilled mechanic" he ex-
plained-'what is called a skilled me
chanic"; 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 mana,
l find that most Of those who ask ny
day for money to get a dinner are
from Philadelphia, or rural parts OF
Eastern Pennsylvania, though WITHIN
six months l have extended hospltal-
ity Il think is the right phrase) TO Two
architectural draughtsmen from Bos-
ton. They were both entirely deceht-
looking, sober-looking young men,
who spoke like men OF educatlon, aho
they each gratefully accepted a quar-
ter from me. l do not attempt to ac-
count for them, for they made no at
temnt TO account for themselves; and
/ think the effect was more artistic SO.
am rarely approached by any pro-
fessed New Yorker, which is perhaps
a proof of the superior industry OF
prosperity of our city; but now and
then a fellow-citizen who has fallen
asks me for money in the street, n
perhaps goes straight and spends 1t
for drink. Drink, however, is as e
essary in some forms as food itself,
and a rich, generous port wine is often
prescribed for invalids. The men,
without exception, look like invalids,
and 1 have no doubt that they prefer
to buy a rich, generous port wine IL l
gave them money enough. l v do
that, sthough 1 have a means OF max
ing my aims seem greater, to myse!f
at least, by practicing a little cordial.
ity with the poor fellows. l do not
give grudgingly or silently, but l say,
if l give at all, when they ask me,
.Why, of counsel! or eyes, certainly;;"
and sometimes l have to invite them
to use their feeble powers of invention
in my behalf, and tell how they wish
me to think that they have come to
the sad pass Of beggary. This seems
to fatter them, and it makes me feel
much better, which is really my mo-
tive for doing it.
Now and then they. will offer me
some apology for begging, in a tone
that says, II know how it is MYSELF"
and once there was one who began by
saying, 81 know it's a shame for a
strong man like me to be begging,
but" They seldom have any de-
vices for working me, beyond the sim
nile statement of their restitution;
though there was a cas- in which I
helped a poor fellow raise a quarter
upon a postal order, which he then
kept as a pledge of my good; faith.
Their main reliance seems to be lead
pencils, which they have in all inferior
variety. 1 find that they can take 1t
kindly IL you do not want any change
back when you have given them q
coin worth more than they asked for
the pencil, and that they will even let
lou off without taking the pencil, af-
I ter you have bought it. In the end
you have to use some means to save
yourself from, the accumulation of
pencils, unless you are willing to burn
them for kindling wood, and I find the
simplest way is not to take them after
you have paid, for them, 1t is amusing
how quickly you car establish a 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 the lately.
Then, if they do not remember you,
they at least smile politely and pre-
tend to do SOW. D. .Howells, in the
June Century.