Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-12-15
BALTIM0RE'S ABLE BEGGARS.
Gentlemanly Panhandlers With Diplomacy to
Sell at Low Rates.

Gentlemanly Panhandlers With Diplomacy to
Sell at Low Rates.
Zone thing that q travelling man Of
intelligence learns in his first year on
the road" said an old timer, "is how
to deal with beggars and borrowers,
but it has been the experience Of good
many Of us that all previous defences
fail in Baltimore, Talk about Rome
and its ingenious beggars is weak com.
pared with the actual state of affairs
in Baltimore. The men who strike you
there are not deformed or ragged and
hungry looking. They belong to the
class Of those who live by their wits,
and their ingenuity brings we'll merited
rewards. On my last trip 10 Baltimore
l had made up my mind that would
not give cent to them. Just as / was
leaving my hotel rather smooth look
ing and apparently intoxicated man
stumbled against me, and then pulling
himself together, said:
"'Is it right, sir, that a man born
and bread in Baltimore should be
ashamed to walk the streets of his ma.
tive cityp'
THAT question fastened my attention
as he intended it should. and / said:
"'Are you ashamed to walk the
streets Of BaltimoreY'
"'That's what I am. Look at me,
sir, degenerate member of one Of our
best families. Ought not to be ashamed
to appear on the streets?'
II knew then what his game was,
but the man interested me. His attack
was different from that OF his prede.
cessors, and told him that was sorry
for him.
"'Yes, sir, he said, and my father
fought in the war
Ibid hep l replied. Well, 80 did
mine. What side did your father fight
on?'
This was leading question. After
looking me over carefully he evaded il
by saying:
"'Now, sir, as a gentleman, want
to ask you what you think of these fel.
lows who are running the Government
nowp What is your candid opinion Of
them7'
~ think that they are coming out
all right
His expression changed just bit,
as if he had suddenly shifted his base,
and he said:
"'That's where we do agree, sir, thor.
oughly. and am glad of it, My father
fought on the Northern side during the
war. Yes, sir, he fought, bled and
died. Hinc lilac lacrymae. But enough.
Your father fought for the flag. We
should be friends. Now l will admit
to you that did vote for Bryan in the
last election. / can offer no suitable
apology why son Of my father should
have done such thing, but he did
and he frankly admits it. lean assure
you. my friend, that I'll never do /,
again. Now there is just one little
thing that l want from you, because
our fathers fought on the same side
and that is the loan of ten cents.
have urgent need Of that amount
II gave it to him, of course, and if he
bad asked for more would have given
it He was type of large class Of gen
tlemanly panhandlers in the beautiful
city Of Baltimore, and their skill is phe
nomenal. Just consider the diplomacy
OF the man. He first got me to commit
myself, and then he made his father
fight under the flag that he suspected
my father had followed. There wal
ability sold cheaply. 1t is character
istic of his class in Baltimore to asl
for very email sums and l have met 9
dozen of them who furnished entertain
ment we'll worth the price. New Yorl
Sun.