The sun., 1896-10-25
A TRAMP'S "REMINISCENCES.
HE RECALLS THE DAT WHEN HE
SMOKED CIGARS OUT OF 4 BOX.

HE RECALLS THE DAT WHEN HE
SMOKED CIGARS OUT OF 4 BOX.
Hia Rea-ietter spree Under the Direction
OF the Editor OF . Western Weekly
HE Attempt at Work. His Literary
FliEhts, and Hts Memorable Dinner.
A reporter for THE Sun who has been stopped
by begRars more times than he can remember
concluded to ask each man who approached
him FOR story the condition being that II he
! told ono that was at all likely he should be
| assisted. Out OF seven tramps ho found one
who related an experience worth writing. II
the bsggar lied. he deserved credit for a good
Imagination. Tho meeting took place In Vail
street, in trout Of the Washington statue. This
in the story:
II have begged In the streets Of New York, of
and on. for three years. Some days have al
most fallen from hunger. But In all the expe-
riences have had In New York, | never had one
that could come mp to that | had In Western
city one New Years day. went TO the Office OF
man who was running q weekly newspaper.
He was about the smoothest man ever saw.
want to say in the beginning that he was not
native OF this country, and he had the reputa-
ton OF living like prince but he had bad
record as to paying his debts.
HE told me the first day 1 asked him for
help to take tho coal scuttle and 90 out and see
II could borrow some coal with which TO build
up the fre In his crate. picked up the scuttle
and went into railroad ONCE and told the man
that the editor up stairs wanted to borrow a
| scuttle OF coal until the ton he had ordered was
delivered. Tho man said he had had that
played on him before. and he would not
have 1t any moro. l knew of n place q few
| blocks distant whore they gave wood and coal
on tickets furnished by relief aud aid
ciety. l went there and told q story OF
how l had been held up and had my
ticket taken away from me, and the agent be-
lievod 1t. He told me to fill my scuttle which l
did And when had filled 1t put several small
Jumps In my coat pockets. returned to the
sanctum, and when unloaded my pockets tho
editor asked mo IL could write for nowspa-
per; told himI could write some things. but
that did not pretend to have any style; He
which he named. and ho wanted mo TO go TO
him and ask him several questions which he
| scriboled on for me. was not very present.
| able. but went. sent a card and the list of
minutes he came down and asked the clerk who
| sent up tho card The clerk pointed to me, and
mo to vo back aud tell the editor II he published
his name, or a line about him. he would wallup
| :" / returned with tho information. and tho
| editor asked me II thought could write up my
90 forth % sa, down iG char at ats desk desk ant It
was luxury for me. had mol been in a chair
10 months except occasionally. for a short time,
| In n hotel Office. IL you have ever had any
| perience iu holding down chair in a hotel Of
hce when your appearance was against you
you probably know how much rest there Ia in It.
Il wrote my experience. however, and handed
It to the editor. He said the facts were all right,
paper. But h. said be would fx 1t up so as TO
use 1t. He bad several errands for me that af
WAS the first time In many moons that had un-
dertaken to work, About O'Clock IN the even
come around in the morning. had to smile il
| may not have been the sort OF smile that would
him had not known what a home wa. for SO
| long that IL saw one n the middl le OF the road
l would not know 1t. told him | was hungry.
| and that | thought had earned at least one
| meal. He said he had no money, hut II l wanted
to could sleep that night IN the lounge in his
said he reckoned woudn't steal anything. He
went away. and | eat there in a comfortably
the coal had begged. and / feli asleep i had
no use for tho lounge. chair before Crate
morning the coal was all gone. took tho
| scuttle and went over TO- hotel and
are when the editor came in. II told him ain where
got the coal. He gave me ten cents and told
hed ahd Ss hsa s! no
M Then returned ~ 10 the offioe' He kept me on
He seemed to think that sleep was all needed;
rh"%Id say he 90. quarter Of s,. ton OF goal goal
III had another night of 1T in a warm room
|
| came In ana did some worr. 1t WAS a bleak
day, can tell yun He asked me good many
OF my history as was necessary. Then he got
mp, put on hls great coat. and told me to come
sonS the s day !" lie seemed to be
known and had several drinks; but wa, not in
quarts Of extra dry. to be put ' up in nacEnst
and and M then he & bought a bII Of cigars saw him aim
paskase M IA, al and pf follow him. " iN' - 'A' 'A'
Il followed him. it must have been two miles
hoaEst my hnnds WSsId sFesze .hed tho
S. SSna kept up the cir Circulation. we went into
boss told me to sit down in the parlor. 1t was
well furnished, !, had been many day, since
the room don't know how many times. But
after long wait he told me to follow him again;
me &c n char. lf had been high roller he
couldn't have done It any better;
IL was introduced To a lady who was beauti-
fully dressed: noticed he only introduced mo
as his old friend. Bill who was having a hard
tralia That was dinner! Itwould only make
me miserable TO tell you about IL. But there
wt nns AND s It
tras he had for dinner! And then we smoked.
wesR ths es.r. S o S1
the strees. Thtt''s a fact, 1t is wonder
didnt get drunk; but somehow the ,st vine R didn't
then excused herself. Tho boss and sat there
We'll. Bill, you go to tho otilce and sleep
tonight. | guess you feel better III see you
tomorrow. thought would give you
prise to-day
He showed me to the door. He asked me III
thought could lind the way to town: went
ont, Of his house at midnight. The air was so
cold | could hear II crack. Lord! how cold it
was. And 1 trudSed back to the office full OF
wine and game and pudding. and not penny In
my pocket | slept In tho ofce that night. hut
the next morning left before the boss came In.
M ielt MN NOTE thankink i MINI i ssia 10 tho
he was furnishing me. didn't want 10 get the
gout and be laid up. And that day went back
TO my old bu- mess Of begging. am happier at
It than would have been with him. / want
help. hut don't want any more of tho kind he
handed out.
Now | hope I may fall dead this minute II
every word I've told you 10 not Gods truth"
SANDY NOOK An ISLAND.