The sun., 1898-02-20
-FOUR CLEVER BEGGARS.
lLL HAD eooD STORIES AND WERE
sUCCERsFUL-


who believe that IL is better to give money to
many undeserving professional bcggars than to
let one poor fellow go in actual want Each OF
the four men had had more experiences than
one with street beggars, and among them they
had met some unusual games.
The other night, as l came down of the
bridge at the New York end" said the merchant.
81 was approached by very good.looking
young fellow. apparently about 25 years old.
His clothing was all apparently tailor made.
and he looked like man in fairly comfortable
circumstances. His hat was good and his gloves
wcre not much worn. He wore little mus
tache, and had been shaved within thirty.six
hours. His overcoat was of this winters style,
and altogether his appearance was that OF .
man entirely unused to financial distress Of the
acute type that forces q man TO beg. He stopped
me by going souarely at tho point.
"'Im Mcdowell he said. John Mcdowell
Of Milwaukee. My father is John Mcdowell Of
65 Wall street, Milwaukee. 1 get remittances
at 1875 Broadway. but it hasn't come, and I
haven't cent He laughed an embarrassed
but pleasant littlo laugh. This is absurd he
said, and by that he won me. 'Idont know
what my father would say IL he thought had
had to ask any man for money He pulled out
q card case as put my hand in my pocket. IF
you'n give me your card. he said, I'm be very
glad to see you. There's my card He offered
me q card. but said didn't want II, II was all
right and was glad to help him out. Then
gave him q sdollar. IN be glad to send II to
you. he said, II you'll give me your card. Well
them as I said again that it was all right, 1
assure you I'll give it to some poor devil who
needs it worse than do ordinarily
Now, that's n fairly complete report of our
conversation. and realize as think 1t over
now that the least questioning probably would
have poked that young fellows story full of
holes. There was no explanation at all salts
factory Of his reason for begging. For the small
sum he needed to tide him over until that re-
mttance from Milwaukee came along, he surely
had something to pawn. There was no reason
apparently for his being absolutely without
money. 1t was his manner that got me. He
seemed 30 frank and honest and so genuinely
embarrassed that he convinced me. ! suppose
IL met him again I'd give up another dollar. 1t
has always been my theory that the man who
begs for the first time is worry much embar-
rassed. know should be. and II man began
to ask me questions should just go on. This
fellow acted just that way"
That isn't sure test" said the clergyman,
"as know from experience. There came to
my house not long ago a cleanshaven, smooth
looking. well.keptiyou Englishman who told
me perfectly STRAIGHTFORWARD story. But as
soon as began to question him he replied at
once that he wouldn't trouble me, but would
try TO get along in some other way. He had
been but a few days in the country, he said at
hrst, and he was en- route to little town near
Toronto. He had carried his money in n wallet,
and he had lost the wallet. He had letters to
persons in Toronto who might have been persons
Of Importance, he said. for all knew Well,
he won me, largely as your young man won you,
by his manner. though that was not the actuating
consideration. l was about to send him away
with the advice that he try the British Consul.
when the thought Of the possible situation of my
own boy came to me. My son had been in the West
for some time and was coming home l had
telegraphed some money TO him at Council
Bluffs. where he was to stop over 10 see his
uncle. Well. there was epidemic Of some
sort at Council Bluffs and while was talking
TO this EnSiishman. l suddenly thought What
II my boy should get caught out there and be
to a clergyman Of, his father church, as this
boy says he has done. and should be turned
l Just gave the, Enslishman the IN money n. "fn he
needed and sent him away. OF course he made
his srrival at Toronto. where he had friends and
relatives. he would return the money and of
course, he hasn't sent a cent and never will"
man. He didn't have to work it very often.
because every time he succeeded he got good
sars undoubtedly get good many sns eoppers oG end
other coins. but they have TO work too hard for
1t and endure too much hardship. It's the odd
story. the new game. that tells and produces
substantial results. There was the fellow who
had got JOB for that day but hated to go
shop before he appeared before his new EN-.
II met a man n broadway late ono night
who had very good game. There was hardly
one most persons would not notice. But to mo
IT was fatal. l saw him tirst when went up.
town after late night at the office. stopped
AZ restaurant FOR supper and when started
on In the gray early dawn I saw my beggar
leaning against lamp post and looking so de-
his suicide in the evening papers. AS I passed
him he straightened up a little and said:
isIei you let me- M have eUu 20 t cents 'n' TACT
Then he stopped as II that were all there was
"'Forty cents, said. what forr
o,,I Ihirfy'nve you'd do he answered. i
HE hesitated a BIT. and then he said. with a
nervous little cackle that was half q laugh.
s2 na SS
along with il. You see, he Went on. 7 I'm sIs
came n to town last hight W with my moneys. ana
We'll, Vel, the fact,i got to bpeking the tiger and
don't III lose my y place. aA IL ai' f'Rn' ou' II
condition that Would eansh 81 as srps
men and they would have given up to him. But
II made me suspicious. Somewhere ! had read
or or heard that gamblers never permit man to
know 1t. And II he actually had lost his money
In gambling house ii was certain that the
gambler would have staked him TO enough TO
get home. So hesitated about giving him any
thing, and for lack OF something better 10 say
said again. Hows thatl ! don't understand
lie went over the whole story again very
gently and smoothly this time, and put in few
little extra hourishes that convinced me that he
was fakir. As he talked he stepped little in
front OF me and noticed the badge of my college
fraternity which wore on my waistcoat. 'Ah!
said he, you belong TO that fraternity. ehi
was Psi Y from Columbia. He went on with
M lot about college fraternities that made me
more about them than had ever heard and l
had had foremost place in the rush line in my
senior year. He seemed TO be familiar with
them all. and he talked about them in very in.
teresting fashion for nearly half an hour before
Then / said:
mo. I shall not give you any money. because
believe you are professional beggar. But
you We got good game, and you probably make
good thing out OF IL. However should ad-
wise you to modify il n little. Gamblers you
know, will always grubstake man who has gone
broke In their places, so that's a weak point in
your story. Patch II up little and don't be SO