The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-18
A Sympathetic Conductor
Sadly Imposed On.
Bitten by the Man He Had
Given Money to Buy Beans.
How a Soft Hearted Policeman Lost
New Suit OF Clothes.

Almost daily warnings are published
against the practice OF giving money TO
the sturdy beggars who make business
OF mendicancy. IN spite OF these warn
ings, however, some kind-hearted people
will go into their pockets, Influenced by
the mistaken notion that they are doing
s-charitable and christian Gct. The
Gossiper has just learned oi case OF this
kind when is worthy OF recording.
There is in The employ OF the New
England Railroad Company conductor
who is very sympathctic and soft hearted,
and who generally listens to any appeal
for assistance, no matter who tho appii-
cant may be. His fellow employees have
ali along expected that his susceptibility
would sooner or later bring him To grief,
and the expected has happened. For "a
number OF days one OF the hoDoe tribe,
which is met with more often by rail-
road men than by anyone else, save
police, has been hanging about the rail-
road Office looking for work. lie was re-
gardcd by the men with disfayor, but
not by the sympathetic and soft-hearted
conductor, who chided his fellows for
their seeming lack OF appreciation OF a
fellow beings distress. To show his
philanthropy, he invested ten cents In
MIR. Tramp, and advised him 10 go and
get meal.
Mr.. Tramp, however, knew something
more TO bis liking, and instead OF ban
quoting on beans, bought beer, and ro-
turning, after which, TO bask IN the sunny
smiles OF his benefactor, who, In The
meantime, had been DONG little shop
ping on his own account, the result be-
ing goodly sized bundle, TO be taken
on the afternoon train up country. Alas,
for the bundle, Mr.. Tramp saw it,
coveted IL, and got IL. The afternoon
train up-country departed but the bundle
departed not, and the passengers ore
wondering why the usually smiling col
lector of tickets is so sad. His fellow en-
ployes hope ne has been cured Perhaps
after all lao has net done SO, FOR the
man who has a passion for indis-
criminate assistance seldom takes pessi-
mistic view OF the petitioner for aid. He
Is an optimist and as rule pays very
dearly Tor his fad o. fancy. As an Illus
tration of this, tho Gossiper recalls the
case OF city policeman who was bitten,
as the phrase is, about as badly and as
often by street menuicauts as any man
IN the city, and who, in spite OF his dis
couraging experiences, was, up TO the
latest accounts on the matter, still ready
to listen 10 the pleadings OF poverty
under any and all conditions.
Some years ago he was on a beat in the
him very frequently in contact with the
begging fraternity. Early one evening a
well-dressed and glib-tongued young man
accosted him and told a tale OF woe. he
was, he said, on his way TO town in
Connecticut where sister lay dying. He
had reached Providence only to find that
the last train had departed, and that he
would therefore be compelled to remain
over night. Unfortunately he had only
money enough TO pay his railroad fare
and had not the whorewithal 10 settle
for a nights lodging. He would like the
policeman, he said. to take him to some
hotel, explain the circumstances, and
secure him the desired shelter, for which
ho declared he would pay as soon as he
reacned his home. The policeman lis
tenen to the story, and was evidently i'm
pressed by 1t, for he told the young man
that be was sorry there were no hotels or
his beat. The young man was disconso-
late. He didn't want TO sleep among