The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-14
UNMAGINATrE BEGGARs.
w. ID. Howell says They Rarely Tell
aGOOd story.

EIull me 1tuAAE--
must say that MS statement OF his own
case is usually incoherent. and sometimes
seems even a little fabulous. The poor
fellows have very little imagination or in
vention; they might almost as well be re-
alistic novelists. 1 find that those who
strike me for a 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 a
puddler, skilled mechanic he explain
ed-'what is called a 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-afJer ne got there.
on the other hand, 1 lind that most Of
those who ask BY day for money 70 get a
dinner are from Philadelphia or the rural
parts of eastern Pennsylvania, though
within six months / have extended hOspi-
tality { think thai is the right phrase
to two architectural draughtsmen from
Boston. They were both entirely decent
looking young men, who spoke like men
of education, and they each gratefully ac-
copied quarter from me. do not attempt
TO account for them, for they made no at
tempt TO account for themselves; and l
think the effect was more artistic so.
I'LL ely bg any Ia OAIpcN0
New Yorker, which is perhaps proof Of
the superior industry or prosperity Of our
city; but now and then a fellow-cttizen
who mas fallen out asks me for money
in the street, and perhaps goes straight
and spends il for drink. Drink, however,
is as necessary in some forms as food IT.
self, and a rich, generous port wine is Of
ten prescribed for invalids.
These men without exceptions look like
de al 4 hns . Hae how
would prefer to buy a rich. generous port
wine, # l gave them money enough. 1
never do that, though / have a means
of making my aims seem greater, TO my
self at least, by practlcing a little cor
diality with the poor fellows. / do not
give grudgingly or silently, but / say, If
give at all, when they ask me, why, of
counsel" or Yes certainly" and some
times l invite them to use their feeble
powers of invention in my behalf. and Tell
how they wish me 10 think they have
come to the sad pass of beggary. This
seems to fiatter them, and it makes me
fell much better, which is really my mo-
tive for doing it.
Now and then they viii offer me some
apology for begging. in tone that says
Il know how IL is myself" and once
there was one who began by saying, Il
know it's a shame for a strong man like
me 70 be begging. but" They seldom
have any devices for working me beyond
the simple statement of their restitution;
though there was case in which l help
ed poor fellow raise a quarter upon a
postal order, which he then kept as a
pledge of my good faith Their main re-
lance seems to be lead pencils, which
they have in all inferior variety. l 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 even let
you of without taking the pencil after
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 find the simplest way is not TO
take them after you have paid for them.
1t is amusing how quickly you can estab-
fish a comfy with these pencil people;
they will not only let you leave your pen
ellis with them, but they will sometimes
excuse you from buying If you remind
them that you have bought of them late
ly Then, II they do not remember you,
they at least smile politely, and pretend
to do so.