St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-09-14
UNiMAGINATIvE eEGGARs.
Novelist Howe'ls Says They Rarely Tell .
Good story.


Good story.
must say that his statement of his
own case is usually incohcrent, aud
sometimes seems even q little fabulous.
The poor fellows have very little imag-
ination or invention; they might al.
most as well he realistic novelistS
find that those who strike me for q
nights lodging, when they stop me in
the street at night. come as rule from
Pittsburgh, and are ironworkers OF
some sort; the last one said he was
puddler-"A skilled mechanic" he ex-
plaired. what is called . skilled me
chanic;" and. Of course. he was only
watching for some chance to get back
to Pittsburgh, though there was nc
chance of work, from what he told
me. after he got there. On the other
hand, 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 I have extended hospitali-
ty Il think that is the right phrase) to
two architectural craftsmen from Bos-
ton They were both entirely decent
looking, sober-looking young men.
who spoke like men of education, and
they each gratefully accepted quar-
ter from me. do not attempt To &C.
count for them, for they made no at
tempt to account for themselves: and
think the effect was more artistic so.
lam rarely approached by any pro-
fessed New Yorker, which is perhaps
proof of the superior industry or pros
perity of our city; but now and then
fellow-citizen who has fallen out asks
me for money in the street. and per-
haps goes straight and spends it for
drink. Drink. however, is as neces-
sary in some forms as food itself, and
a rich. generous port wine is often
prescribed for invalids. These men,
without exception, look like in salids.
and I have no doubt that they would
prefer to buy rich. generous port
wine if gave them money enough.
never do that, though have . means
Of making my aims seem greater, to
myself at least, by practising a little
cordiality with the poor fellows dc
not give grudgingly or silently. but
saw, if give at all, when they ask me:
why. of course or "Yes, certainly:"
sometimes l invite them to use their
feeble powers Of invention in my be-
half, and tell how they wish me tc
think they have come to the sad pass
of beggary. This seems to fiatte,
them, and it makes me feel much bet
ter, which is really my motive for 90
ing it.
Now and then they will offer me
some apology for begging, in a tone
that says: Il know how it is myself"
and once there was one who began by
saying: II know it's a shame for q
strong man like me to be begging,
but They seldom have any de-
vices for working me, beyond the sim
pie statement of their destitution;
though there was . case in which
helped a poor fellow raise a quarter up
on postal order. which he then kept as
. pledge of my good faith. Their main
seems to be lead-pencils. which
they have in all inferior variety.
find that they will take it kindly ii
you do not want any change back when
you have given them coin worth more
than they asked for the pencil. and
that they will even let you of without
taking tn. pencil after you have
bought it. In the end you have to use
some means to save yourself from the
OF pencils, unless yor
are willing to burn them for kindline
wood. and I find the simplest way is
not to take them after you have paid
for them. 1t is amusing how quickly
you can establish . comfy with these
pencil people; they will not only lei
You leave your pencils with them, but
they will sometimes excuse you from
buying ii you remind them that you
have bought of them lately. Then. il
they do not remember You. they IT
least smile palitely, and pretend to de
Do-W. u. uQYclls. in csptpyI