New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-29
RcGG4RS,

1,ho conoro, communication of the police for
TT, denomination TO drive the strect-bcggars
ont of business may be due to two entirely d'i'
roront ,mnulses On the one land, pure philan-
thropy may prompt rejoicing Oh Inc o'"e''
r,oro ro,6sbncss IL the latter feeling were to
be the prevalent one We should be inclined 10
cav that il would be better for the bcggar 10
have free course. even if he did make refuge
for impOstors go
Modern society is fastidious. 1t does not Ike
10 see misery Milford in his great coat anu
milady in furs do not spatter thee mnd from
thcir whecls over the ragamutfin with the cyni-
cal Indifference Of n few centuries ago. III
sight of shivering hunger destroys the deHgh.
in comfort whether or not it wakes forceiui
impulse for relief. An Irish or Southern Flu
ropean town is full Of fortunes for an Amerlcan'
who nav be fully aware that his own chiei CIT
les have slums as crowded and squaild as III!
the Old World knows. but who does not ehJo!
having his sensibilitics racked nj all hours
Here such a prevalence of bcggars wouid hol
be tolerated At least an outward aspect Oh
comfort and Of virtue IL demanded. How Tar
this is due to our desire TO humbug ourselves
with the notion that the evils we deplore 90 not
pxis. among us because we do not nave 10
face them at every turn Is question on WHICH
philosophers may differ 1t is certainly true
that we are prone TO fecitate ourselves over
our wise laws regardless Of their non-enforce-
mcnt. and TO consider those uncomfortable peo-
pie who insist upon holding the inside OF the
political and social dishes up for inspection as
pcstental aud un-Amercan nuisances.
The beggar is in nine cases out or ten
worthless impostor. He professionally trades
ON the best instincts of his fellows. His misery
md
dered to him is too likely to be encouragement
to willing vagrancy, If not tc crime. The ex-
Istence of mendicant class in city Is stand
ing bid to the lazy and vicious to flock 'here
from all directions. and the crowd so gathered
is kindergarten for criminals. 1t is wise
and merciful undertaking to drive these beg
cars from the streets. For the general goou
they should not be permitted to continue opera
TONS for they are Il centre OF dem0rallZihg III
huence. Those among them who are truly I'M
fortunate should for their own sakcs be turned
from a course that tends downward. ana those
who find begging a permanent and lucrative
occupation have no claim TO consideration. lhe
nlans drafted by the police and the Charity
Organization Society appear admirably calcu-
lated to avoid injustice. 1t is intended to deal
in helpful spirit with the person who honestly
seeks work. or is n beggar only by force OF
some mishap but TO repress sterny the I'M
posters and professional mend!cants who are
seen far more frequently. and who by their
cleverness reap 10y far the largest harvest
from the charitable public TO free the streets
of these characters TO make this city no longer
n Mecca for the shftleSs of the continent. 10
spread abroad the idea that New-iork is no
place TO seek trusting TO luck for living ana
at the same time TO provide machinery Tor
the relief Of all the real distress found while de-
tecting impOsture. will be a work OF great ser
vice to humanity.
And yet that good work may result In evil
unless the community possesses spontaneous
" charitable spirit. Who can tell how much
of true bencfcence has sprung from syinpi-
thies touched even by unworthy things! AS
pain is an index of disease, warning a sufferer
that he must not ignore his condition. so the
moral and physical ills Of our cities may be
warnings which arouse us to work for cure.
II we saw no bcggars some Of us might not
think so much of the worthy poor nor be led to
aid the charities which relieve them. IT Is
possible to drive away the sores from the sur
face Of society ard leave the poison In the sys-
TEN, the more dangerous because forgotten.
Our modern police regulations meant for the
suppression of misery and vice. are worse than
useless if they only hide away the evils. by all
means let us abolish the beggar, bnt while we
are doing II let lis be sure that we do not need
the tonic of his disagrecable pre- sence. Let us
be sure that we give to really worthy charity
all the attention and money that we gave 10
him for the purpose of smoothing our own ruff
fled sensibilties. Then when he Is out OF
sight let us not put poverty out of mind. but
be more than ever intent 10 do good not for
getting that there Is most need 10 be helpful
Of our own motion when insistent want as
reminder does not come knocking al the door.