The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-24
1rrnnAnr nrvn on rnp nono
n wa Harder Work Than ne Expected,
Though He Made Hls Education Pay.

His voice was tuned to the regulation pro-
fesslonal whine OF tho p~anhandler. He was
ragged and shamblinR and sickly. He entered
the Ship News ONCE. whore half q dozen re-
porters we're virulently and moro OF less hypo-
thetically discussing the place Of japan 80 .
naval power, and began:
Would any Of you gentlemen help q poor
man that's had nothing TO eat this day"
Sc trite was the appeal that nobody even
looked around.
II amt asking you for money" continued
tho ragged visitor. All / want is''-
Same old game" remarked one Of the re-
porters. g~lancing around. II suppose you
want us to escort you to q restaurant and buy
you q meal"
NO, sir" was the reply. I'm get the meal
myself IL somebody will lend me . pencil and .
bit of paper"
Here's a new breed Of panhandler, boys"
said the man addressed. Drop the Japs and
turn your attention hither. This 10 moro curl
GUS than the japanese Navy. He's begging for
pencils"
mot begging, exactly. sir" corrected the
visitor. "Ill return the pencil. but the paper
I'd want for myself"
What are you; an artist In the costume OF
POUR kind ~ somebody asked.
I'm q tramp" the man admitted frankly.
"A regular hobo. I'm no good, but this time
I've got a scheme to make a little honest money
without working too hard for IT. I'm going to
make my education pay" he added. know
how to WRITE"
60 ahead and write. then" sa1d one Of the
men. handing him q pencil and some sheets Of
paper.
Much obliged" said the hobo, tn DO 10
right here"
Placing his paper on q desk he began With
much writhing of the lips. donoting severe
ST. A. 49, l.A 1A-on lhOH
acters upon the sheet, while the reporters re-
sumed their discussion. Presently the visitor
interrupted them to ask; =,
One in az Ordinary blue plum" ansYered
somebody: What are you doing. writing .
'"Poetry Amt a paying graft. I hear. said the
tTanEpti o % vda ts, Z just ordinary common writ
*k'when'' You get, it finished show IT up If it
HsSre van: ! can S trust y9Sp gs1StS not to
money money maker. this had" - 'OAD'
After ten minutes Of toll the hobo drew q long
On the desk were spread out the sheets Of
lRstRFsF:. 'H Sno bearing Fsad. . : lsSEsRa 4 Il r 3 Big' u Ds1sRSssS
"B~enanners,. 20 apiece p, a third. "PlumS., ct
Apiece, 8 fr 5" and 30 on through Q considerable
list OF such wares as the street fruit stands
Starting in the fruit business, eh ?" said the
s"Gnd where would I get my st9ck p, asked
the composer Of OF trade a legends. No. sir; that
Out he went across the rough pavement Of
grants stumble When ny mskS fhsiE sn #
vicinity. What passed between them the r.
ylously a matter Of barter. Nothing else would
r rapS sd aT pitch where M4t'f It was As distinctly audible iii
across the street as she ,shrieked out:
Fifteen cints fer thin four bits paperl
The tramp said something which couldn't be
mo. nor tin." cried Big Maria. There's but
four Q, thin. An how do I know they're wrote
10 this the signmaker must have proposed
that the reporters be asked to pass on the 1T
ness of his work. for the pair came over to the
duly %attested, Thereupon the fruit woman
agreed to pay ten cents for the lot IL an apple
sign were added. and this was quickly done:
Now" said the tramp. as she went away to
ranged them 50 that she might not get them
y w5Grf pencil back With thanE X S'ai'e'' A't'S
oh, keep the pencil. and tell US how you
membered them" said the, tramp. The no
an old guy kick because he had to ask so many
questions nep t o to find %b out s What t6 hs T SIm sn6 to b Seta SO
her into taking the signs."n
Told her if she didn't take them somebody
else would. and folks would buy their fruit
/ where they could see the prices fair and open.
That's what fetched her. Now, I'll tackle that
Dago there on the same principle"
terry front was the possessor Of a set OF the
hobo's handmade signs. and that ingenious
great satisfaction.
More dough than I've made since I stopped
| working" he remarked as he stepped In to ex-
press his thanks before taking his leave. I'D
ought 70 get q patent on this. It's a great graft.
Guess I'll try 1t uptown next"
"'They have regular printed signs up there"
said one Of the reporters. You wouldn't find
much OF a market. I'm afraid"
THAT so 2" said the tramp. well. it's no
odds. Igot enough to give me a good time.
anyway. Besides, he added. this literary
life Is harder work than what l thought it was.
RECKON III have to pass it up. So long"
He strolled along the line of the fruit vendors.
son OF superior attainments, and made a bee
line for the nearest saloon, within whose por-
tails he disappeared to he seen no more.