The evening times., 1896-07-21
WANTED TO SELL HIS COAT
David Richards, a Manly Lad,
Applied to the Police.
AN UNUSUAL REQUEST
Poor But Proud Youth Who Walked
From CLrIisIe, Pa.-Driven by Ne
cessity to Part With His Clothes.
He Refused Help and Trudged Away
in His Shirt. Sleeves.

Poverty and independence marked the
manner of David Richards, u youth from
Carlisle, Pa, as he walked into police
headquarters today and asked permission
To sell IFS coat and vest TO u secondhand
He had attempted earlier in the day to
dispose of them, but being niiEor, tile
dealer would not buy from him without an
order from Detective Pfoctor, who has
charge of such matters.
The detectives ON duty at headquarters
dropped tHeir work and withdrew their
uipes. the better 10 look at tile youth
making this strange request
Iavld was without a cent, friend, or
breakfast. He could get no work. Tie
world seemed against him, and he was
faint from carrying on the contest with an
empty stomach. So he had hit upon the
plan of selling his coat and vest and had
found purchaser, if the police ccpart-
meDt would permit him TO close the deal.
His whole suit had, when new, cost him
So but he had slept out nights and roughed
it, so long in that one suit that 1T had be-
come some what damaged. Ii was not only
DANA ged thetrousers wcrepositively ragged.
The se,onu-hand dealer had agreed 10
give him 90 cents for his upper garments.
A MANLY LAD.
OF sixteen years, and it was the manliness
OF his bearing that caught the eye OF the
police. There was no whimpcr in his voice
Is he told his painful story.
His home was or has been, at Car
| Isle His home ceased when his mother
died. His father still lived, but their
relations were strained.
Stress OF circumstances forced him 10
leave home, and he came TO Washington
He thought lie would have little difficulty
in getting on in the world. He had read OF
the spie ndors or Washington and had heard
of the hospitality of her people. Many thou
sands OF people found living there, ana he
could see no reason why there vas not room
for just one more like him.
He walked TO Washington. Then he walk
| ed the streets OF the city. He could find
nothing TO do, NO help wanted was the
| sign he saw at every turn, and the answe
| he received from every one.
He reached this city two weeks ago.
| He slept at the Central Union Mission unta
| his funds sunk low, and then he found
| that the pubic parks and private. door
| ways We're cheerful enough for him. dc
| did not beg; he could not do that. All he
| wanted was chance to work. Show
him the opportunity and he would prove
| that he was worth his living.
SKIPPED HIS MEALS.
| His purse grew thinner, and then he
| began 10 economic by skipping his meals
! His courage did not begin to flag Till he
Z got hungry. He tramped the streets day
and night without enough food
/ Then il was that his determination re-
! gan to move When his last cent had van
/ ished he came to the conclusion that II
| would be best for him 10 leave the city
! and live by the w8yside I'LL times got
better He wculd sell his coat and vest.
| Last night his supper cost him cents,
and when he appeared at police head
| quarters today he had mad no breakfast.
! Detective Proctor issued the necessary
permit, and the youth, worn, weary and
| sad-Iaced, hustled out TO the D-street sec
ond- hand shop, where he realized so cent,
| on his coat and vest
He feasted on 1o-cent dinner, and, with
40 cents jingling in his trousers pocket
started in his shirt sleeves to walk out o
Washington. He would head toward the
South and walk till he found shelter al
some kindly farmhouse.
The police offered him transportation tc
his home at Carlisle, but David said:
Home is not there.
The boy evidently had been gently reared
He had attended school up TO the time OF
the death of his mother. He reads, writes
and speaks well. A collection would prob
ably been taken up for the lad at head
| quarters, but his manner forbade charity
All he wanted from the police was per
| mission to sell his coat I'D vest.