The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-06
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
Little Breadwinners In Great City.
Organized Effort In Charity.
Four Clever Sisters.
Especial correspondence

Few persons who have not given spe-
cial attention to the subject have any
idea Of the many methods pursued in
this city rs the means of earning live
1ihood. Many of them are unique and
have been described time and time
again, but the marvel Of it all is that
in many lines in which the field really
seems to DO overworked the reward is
really frequently very large. For in
stance, in the park are scores of boys
who sell lozenges and other cheap con-
fections The fact that it is against tho
law for them to be there does not seem
to interfere with tho composuro of these
energetic little fellows. On casual
stroll through the section of the park
frequented by them one would be in
clined to say that their vocation pro-
vided mighty little remuneration, but
just remain in ono spot for awhile and
you will discover that these boys sell q
good deal of candy in the course of q
day. AS the profit is large relatively 1t
will be seen that the money thus earn
ed might amount to n very considerable
sum in tho course of week, especially
when tho youth of tho vendors is con-
sidered. In fact, it is said that several
of these juvenile peddlers are tho entire
support Of their families and that upon
mt least one Of them devolves the care
of providing for blind mother, three
younger sisters and two baby brothers.
This particular chap is one of tho
shrewdest in tho park, and it is said
that he has often earned as mrch rs $40
i'll week, although his average is usu-
ally little below $40 in the same pc
Rod
Policemen Conveniently Blind
The policemen in the park, who are
perhaps the most unpopular of the many
thousands Of public officers in this city
and who arc generally supposed to be
devoid of sentiment, are nevertheless
sufficiently human to be conveniently
blind when these manly little bread
winners are near by. Many Of the vend-
ers have regular customers among the
children and nurses who visit the park
nearly every day, and these people will
never buy from any one else 1t is u
matter of curiosity as to where this ter
rife volume of bad sweetmeats goes. It
is certain that if it went into the stom-
achs of the tots there would be many
families mourning the loss of dear ones
i'll short order, for much of tho stuff is
alleged to be positively dangerous. But
1T is a fact, and surprising one, that
the children seldom eat their purchases
of candy, preferring to save it to feed to
the animals in tho mcnagerie, which
seem to expect it and to enjoy it huge
~. BY tho way, that brings up the re-
Election that there may be some connec-
ton between this candy and the fire.
quent sudden deaths among the zoolog-
lcal contingent at Central park But
that is another story.
Organized Charity WORK
Marghcrita Arlina Hamm, tho we'll
known writer and ardent advocate Of
organized charity rs opposed to individ-
ual benefactiOns. reminisccntly observes
that the national conference of charities
and corrections i'll Toronto suggests that
not so mauy years ago nearly every
mousse III the more prosperous districts
OF the Greater New York was visited by
bcggars 30 and 40 and 90 times day
Investigations by the police showed that
two-thirds Of tho applicants for charity
were entirely unworthy. Many had
money i'll the bank, others were the
wives or sisters Of prosperous mechanics,
others were deliberate social parasites,
ana still others, shIewd and thrifty,
kept cheap boarding houses in which
the food supplied was obtained by their
mendicancy.
Begging letters were very common.
Bogus schemes of charity were uni
versal and, to make matters worse, the
ward politician made it particular
point to distribute public aims in the
shape OF money, coal, food and clothing,
at the expense of the state, the city or
the private individual, upon any and
every opportunity. The change for the
better Is due almost entirely to tho work
done by these conferences and charity
organizations.
Four Clever Sisters.
Anna Belmont, tho pretty ingenue
who Will be member of George H.
Broadhurst's company that will present
What Happened to JONES' at the Man
haitian theater, is one of quartet of
clever sisters. A peculiar incident in
their theatrical lives is the fact that all
four camo before the public i'll the same
part and play, Hands Across the Sea-
When was with that company"
said Miss Belmont, 81 had an offer
from Sol Smith Russell, and it was
such a fine opportunity that l asked
Mr. Charles b. Jefferson, who was then
tho owner, TO release me. He demurred
at first. Then told him I had a sister
who, thought, might take the part
Nl,.t ccl.1 4