The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-24
WAS A PHILOSOPHER.
Z BEGGAR STUDENT OF HUMAN MA
TURE WHO HAD A SYSTEM.

Mendicancy Carried Out Upon Practical
Lines-Why He Avoided the Rich-stood
Outside IL Restaurant, but Never Begged
From n Hungry Looking Man.
He was wretched looking chap, SO
thinly clad that he was really an object
of pity. He had sought n secluded COR
ner at the entrance of a cheap restaurant
near Herald square. and for awhile it
seemed as if he had chosen the spot
merely to escape the chilling blasts of
tho cutting wind. Many men passed
into the place, but he spoke to mono
Finally ono 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 i'll great hurry, came
from the restaurant, buttoning his coat
as he walked. In moment the poor
follow stood in the way and barely had
he uttered his request for help when he
was rewarded with dime.
A moment later n group of young
mon in very high spirits passed into tho
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 tho street that he made
himself known. 1t was but tho work of
moment to pick an acquaintance with
tho fellow, and when no found was
interested he talked freely of his plan.
81 had to do n good deal of thinking
about 1T when first started in, he
said. II can't get work now. and when
l have work l can only keep at it for
little while OH account of rheumatism
When saw had to beg, thought l
might as we'll do it right or not at all
If you know anything about mems faces
and clothes, you don't have to do any
guesswork at all. can tell long before
get near man what my chances arc
with him, and if / don't think that it's
ten to one l will get something I don't
try him, for there's no good in wearing
yourself out and getting common Some
fellows go 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 arc professionals and steers
clear of them. The only time to go up
against we'll dressed men as straight
thing, without regard to their faces, is
when they are full and feeling happy
over it.
Tho average we'll dressed man or
woman is tho hardest kind of person
to hit. They do lots for charity, but it's
in q different way-societies, schools
for kids, kindergartens and missions
and they think they arc doing enough.
If any ono hits them on the street, they
put thom down for professional. You
have got to judge tho well dressed peo-
ple by their faces and general manner
and let their clothes connt for nothing
Whenever / have to do any street
work, l always select the people of the
lower middle classes, who don't put OH
any front-women especially. I mean
people who live comfortably, but haven't
got any too much money to spare. Say,
you may think Pm stringing you, but I
would rather have ono nickel from ono
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 was earn
ing it, and l would earn it if l had tho
chance.
Now. you take this stand Of mino