The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26
ABoUT PENSION PRINCES.
Brief Periods of Extravaganza That Come
-Four Times q Year.

Four Times n Year.
They are generally known as pension
princes" said n veteran United States pension
examiner in speaking OF the men who get rid
OF their pension money in n few days after re-
ceiving It. THE other day l learned OF an old
soldier who is now n member OF the bottle
gang that is to say. he loafs with a lot OF fell
lows whose sole ambition is TO have money
enough TO buy a pint OF liquor. This
fellow has a strange way OF getting rid
OF his pension money. He Is tattered
and torn and unkempt. When he draws
his money the first thing he does Is to call n
cheap cab. hire II by the hour and then drive
about the city alone. He stops at various
saloons. spending a little here and there. and
keeps on until every dollar Of his pension al
lowance has been spent over the bar. He en-
joys this swell method OF getting AROUND and II
his allowance was 81. 900 a quarter he'd spend
1t In the same way. He says he is satisfied just
to have n days taste OF what other swells have
for n whole season.
Then there is a tailor OF my acquaintance
not far from New York who works steadily at
his trade until he draws his pension. and then
he ceases work and takes n railroad trip to
some point to which he has never been be-
fore. In this way lie has visited every point OF
interest within 800 miles OF his home. as he
takes four trips a year. He tells his friends
he'd be travelling all the time II he could. and
he always goes in the most expensive manner
possible. stopping at the best hotel and
using parlor cars and a stateroom IL
the sleeper wherever he can. When
necessary he adds some OF his savings
to his pension allowance for the trip he has
mapped out. l know OF another pensioner
who spends half his nights In charity beds. He
picks out the SWEETEST barroom that will tolerate
his presence and spends every dollar there all
on one kind OF drink. He is q vermouth fiend.
and when his pension money Is all gone he'll
fall back on the cheapest alcohol he can buy at
n hardware store. dilute it with water. and
shift along with that until his next pension
check arrives. When he is spending his money
he'll invariably drink to the health of Phil
Sheridan. because the Generals picture was on
his pension check. l know one poor fellow who
has better judgment. He cashes his pension
check. and then goes to a f~ive-cent eating house
and PAYS over Sl5 cash in advance to
assure himself Of food for as many weeks. The
remainder of his pension money he'll blow in
treating all the children on the block to candy.
There are three old veterans who are about us
selfish as any men / know. They have resolved
never to spend n dollar OF their pension money
on any one else. They pay their own bills. sit
together in the theatre. drink good wines,
smoke good cigars, eat the best meals they can
agree on, and in that way they keep it up
until every cent is gone. Then they'll
separate. 60 about their business. and
never see each other until the next
pension payment. when they'll como together
again for another Jolly but selfish time. They
fought in the same battery. all are widowers
with something laid by to keep them. and have
agreed together to spend Uncle Sans money
In the way they do. Each makes out a pro-
gramme and when they meet they compare
nptac md ABORT tba hact 7 lpnw N ooIosoa
man who spends every dollar OF pension money
he draws on clothes. He was a Captains cook.
and was wounded at Charlottesville. He's n
cook vet, and earns fair wages in n restaurant
or a coffee place. but he makes 1t u rule to buy
nothing but clothes with his pension check.
He has Q great layout of n%eckties. collars, and
pink silk shirts at colored cake walks ara quite
p" Another man draws his pension money.
gets a bundle OF new underwear. cheap clothes,
shoes. necktie and hat. and starts for the near
est BARRIERS for q hair cut and shave. Then
and take a bath. He'll come out brand new. and
every dollar that he, has remaining he'll blow
W"iil street, ,HS's 4 money < King With u the rest
day or two go broke again, He has a weakness
TOR financial matters. have yet to know the
imoneg g? IN s asH bling mso sTf!t eSpSrienc MT is f tSat an
most all the old soldiers want to be sure OF re-
crlNlnE something SubStantlal Tor their money.
or course. the general rule Is that pension
money Is put to good use in a thousand differ
cnt ways. I am only telling you OF some Of the
WEAKNESS U1"Isins runs to h onST r rSfs,Sn and w a cer'
tain liyerymnn gets P.ariy every dollar for
when in the saddle. nays cash, and. strange to
say meyer in al his years has he eyer asked
man would readily allow him a horse for moth
ing once IN a while. but the old soldier would
ypurS OF age. gets SO n month npnainn I
q mG @sn t Il al! ~ aSESnaI a FGsn teat dv assist st
Jersey. He has a mother in the coal regions,
Every lime he draws his pension money he'll
and "a It goes to the good old mother. who
doesn't need his pension money. But he does.
for half the time he's hungry and ,tattered,
] got back from the army. and she can have all
that pension graft He prefers to buy things.
STtIci 'ssef H. { w fnoM 81 RhliG s sister IN s f%iSiset tRs t apS
lady a good home. which he has not seen, how
EYER. Tor ten years He SAYS he'll get
to help him. some time ago we got an old
he public buildings. He's a great old cooky
n his way: Why. he won't work a stroke when
hen spend every dollar going fishing, And
he's Tx" the farmers wife that MIXED fifteen
r%vS eats Snts aasshh. II" NqmGers 'o Of pen 'sI'Hi
know who never have a dollar and 20
fellows who loaf around and pick M q
rrfG fh rIGn Se liy y IN %ai TI %S IiG 1nd r when ay thsy
body in sight. feed the gang az shoot UP
every penny before morning. was told Of
p"nsloner, who Is fairly well of and donates
every dollar he receives as pension to the
church. He wouldn't spend a cent OF H..
No; / never heard o. any one returning his
pension money TO the Government. did hear
Of n slight case or conscience. money. but can
not yonch for II On, poor fellow who Is blind
utic music that comes out 10 be sent TO him.
He has. u music machine OF some kind to en-
~terta!n him, Over in Pennsylyania there is II
pensloner who Is crazy only In the pension
season. When he draws his money he'll deco
rate himself with all the feathers from old mil
linery and the BARNARD, ribbons ana. rags and
colored paper, and then 60. around the streets
giving small change 70 the school children
70 his work as II nothing had happened. Moth
ing Is said about II because he is harmless. An
examiner some time ago told me OF a man who
spends all his pension on his cemetery lot"
Giving the Jury n Chance.
From The San Francisco ArgoH0u'.