The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-06-08
WAS A PHILOSOPHER.
A BEGGAR STUDENT OF HUMAN Ma
TURE WHO HAD A SYSTEM.

Mendicancy Carried Out Upon Practical
Lines-why He Avoided the Rich-stood
Outside Restaurant, but Never Begged
From a Hungry Looking Man.
He was wretohed looking chap, so
thinly clad that he was really an object
of pity. He had sought secluded cor
ner at the entrance of cheap restaurant
near Herald square, and for awhile it
seemed as if he had chosen the spot
merely to escape the chilling blasts of
the cutting wind. Many men passed
into the place, but he spoke to none
Finally one 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 in great hurry, came
from the restaurant, buttoning his coat
as he walked. In a moment the poor
fellow stood in the way and barely had
he uttered his request for help when he
was rewarded with a dime.
A moment later group Of young
men in very high spirits passed into the
restaurant. To an ordinary student they
would have been just the right men to
approach for aims, but the beggar saw
them not. It was only to certain men
returning to the street that he made
himself known. 1t was but the work Of
a moment to pick an acquaintance with
the fellow, and when he found l was
interested he talked freely Of his plan.
81 had to do good deal Of thinking
about it when first started in" he
said 81 can't get work now, and when
l have work can only keep at it for q
little while on account of rheumatism.
When saw had to beg, thought /
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
l get near man what my chances are
with him, and if don't think that it's
ten to one l will get something 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 any thing worse, for
everybody sees what they're doing and
knows they are professionals and steers
clear of them, The only time to 60 up
against we'll dressed men as a straight
thing, without regard to their faces, is
when they are full and feeling happy
over it.
1.-The average we'll dressed man or
woman is the haGdest kind of a person
to hit. They do lots for charity, but it's
in a different way-societies schools
for kids kindergartens and missions
and they think they are doing enough
If any one hits them on the street, they
put them down for professional You
have got to judge the we'll dressed peo-
pie by their faces and general manner
and let their clothes count for nothing.
Whenever 1 have to do any street
work, l always select the people of the
lower middle classes, who don't put on
any front-women especially. l mean
people who live comfortably, but haven't
got any too much money to spare. Say,
you may think I'm stringing you, but
would rather have one nickel from one
Of them than a quarter from fellow
who could stand it and had it to burn.
Funny, but 1 feel just as sentimental
about that sometimes as if 1 was earn
ing it, and would earn it if I had the
chance.
Now, you take this stand of mine
here today. There's three men who gave
me something-two nickels and dime
have been here half an hour and I've
only struck five men. missed two.
Well, three out of five don't look like
bad guesswork, if you want to call it
80, does it? This is the cheapest res
5aurant in the neighborhood There's
The Imperial, Marlborough and all the
other big hotel restaurants l could |
nave taken, but I'll bet wouldn't have
got thing from the people who came
rom any of them. The men who go in
1ere don't pay over 20 or 80 cents for
what they eat, and I'm willing to take
ny chances with them right along.
81 always wait till man comes out.
Some people think it ought to be the
,ther way, for the reason that man
Who was hungry would be more apt to
1--WE out of sympathy for the man who
vas hitting him for money for some
hing to eat. But 1 didn t figure it out
hat way. You see, these are pretty
lard times, and there's more people in
lard luck than there ever was before.
Now, it's bad enough to be in hard
uck, but it's worse yet to be hungry,
md when man is up against both
James little things will bother him that
Wouldn't affect him at all if ne had his
tomach full. I reason that pretty near
y every man who comes in here is eth
r in hard luck or else he is miser
yho don t want to spend any more than
S actually necessary. If it wasn't so,
GU know they would all go to the big
in the hotels, for you know
S we'll as do that the right kind of
nan likes good things to eat and nice
lean service if he can afford it.
"Well, am onto the misers, and I
cave them alone When the decent
nan comes out, he feels better for havs
ng had his dinner He is ready for
and life is a great deal bright
+ to him than it was half an hour be-
ore. l ask him to help me. He says to
imself: We'll, l feel pretty good. This
allow is in worse luck than am. l
now what it is to feel hungry. 1 won't
Hiss the nickel very much, and then
ct it. When he hands it to me, he feels
etter for it, and he looks it, too, and if
9 has been doing things that are not
ute up to the limit be consoles him
of with the fact that he aint such a
ad fellow after all And he amt eth
:. So you see there's two Of US happy,
nd if there was more of it the world
-ould be happier. Thanks boss
Then the philosopher went in to din