The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-18
THE IRISH REGGAR.

The number of beggars in Ireland has largely decreased within the last quar- ter of a century. They are only to be found, in any large numbers, at show places much frequented by tourists, such as Killarney and at the large fair and race meetings. But even in the streets of cities and towns begging is winked at by the authorities, and there are many mendicants who follow it., though they could do at least as well otherwise, as an easy and congenial means of making a livelihood. "Cou'd you help poor fellow to-day and the Lord save yez?" said a beggar to a Dublin publican, Get away" cried the shopkeeper. i've had a dozen of your k,nd here to-day already" "Shura and it's meself that sadly knows how the profession is overrun." replied the beggar.
 Quite recently also, the following conversation was overheard between two old crones: Good mora to ye, Mrs. Fogarty," said one. Good mor- "a, kindly, Judy" replied the other; "I hope I see ye well this mornin'!' "Oh, very well, entirely, So, Mrs, Fo- garty, ye married yer daughter Kate. Did she get good match?" "Divil a better, praise to to God! She got Blind Darby Driscal on the Dyke, that makes hno- pc i1, Corh.' "Ah thin, but it's me that's glad to hear yer news. And did ye give her anythin'?" 'Faix, I did, thin! Didn't give her the best side of Pat rick street, which if well begged is worth siyen an sixpence week. Upon me word. but tis you that was generous exc, aimed the other.
 Maria EdgeWorth, the novelist was driven one day into the town of Long, ford. An old beggar woman hobb'e ed up to the carriage and asked for char | ity. You know I never give you any | thing" said the lady Quick and ready | came the answer: "Oh, the Lord fir. give ye, Miss Edgeworth, that's tht | first lie ye iver told!" A lady relieved a beggar who called at her door There, now, go away" she said, "anf don't come here again" 'Ah, ma'am, replied the beggar don't say tfe likes | of that. If we're not to go where the! do give us somethin', where will we gt | at aIl?" Two old crones asked a lad, | for charity. She gave one of them six pence, telling her to divide it. "I will me larlint," said the beggar woman "and may the blessed God divide tn
 heavens wid ye." A lady gave platt l of cold meat and a glass of stout to { bsggar who called at the door Th' man, with a twinkle in his eye, ex claimed "Ah, shure. me lady, if ye feet Wor as big as yer heart, 1t wouldn' 1 be me corns I should like ye for to b threadin' upon"
 But sarcasm and not hattery is tn return the Irish beggars usually giv to those whom they appeal to in va'n l "Get a'ong with you" said gorgeous | ly dressed footman in Stephens Green Dublin, to a beggar man, "and talk your rags with you.' Never mind m clothes, me good man., replied tn mendicant, they're me own.' A red haired tourist was sitting on 'the lon l car'' in Eyre Square Galway, awaitin l it's departure for Connemara. "Throy me penny, yer homer" said begga1 man. T will not replied the tourist emphatically. "Ah, thin" retorted tn
 vagrant, remembering how touchy red haired people are to any allusion t.
 their hair, maybe you'd leave me lock to light me pipe with" There i
 often poetry and epigrammatic point as well as intense bitterness in thei impreoations. May ye melt off tn earth like the snow off the mountains,
 a beggar at Killarney was heard to ex
 claim. May ye never die until ye SC yef own funeral" is favorite expres
 sion with vagrants who are refuse
 charity. It sounds like a wish, good
 natured, if extravagant that immortal
 ity may be your portion but it is all
 a prayer that you may be hanged for
 condemned man on his way to the gal
 lows sees his own funeral. Indeed
 hanging seems to be, in the opinion c
 the beggars the most awful fate tha
 can befall a person. It is the end c
 their titterest and most epigrammati
 curses May yer last dance be
 hornpipe in the air. And again, Ma
 we die Wid a caper in yer heel!"-Th