The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-15

ONE BEGGAR'S RECEIPTS.
Ten Dollars an Hour the Estimated
Income Of . LegIess Man.

Charity is not dead in New York Any
one with doubts on the subject would have
been convinced had he seen a richly dressed
woman drop quarter into beggar's box
the other afternoon and noted the things
which followed on Twenty-third street
The beggar was in the middle of the
block. moving slowly toward Sixth avenue
He moved on stumps only about eight
inches long. There was something plain
tive in the short steps he took and in the
way he rested for a moment after each,
like a tragedian crossing the stage.
second woman stopped and threw a
dime into the wooden receptacle for coins
A third instantly followed suit
The beggar was stout and bury. His
neck was thick and powerful-looking. It
seemed piteous that so strong man should
be so crippled.
A poorly dressed woman and a little girl
paused long enough to pity him and add
their mites to his assets. q
The beggar vas laboriously pushing a
little four-wheelad cart. In it was hand
organ, which he ground increasingly.
A shabbily dressed man paused 10 pay a
cash tribute 10 The beggar's misery
Sentimental strains poured from the
hand organ. The time was very slow.
There was nothing gay about that music.
II almost drew tears from the eyes OF the
pedestrians. II also drew their dimes
Three prosperous looking women opened
their purses and dropped silver into the
box.
The organ was pushed along st the rate
OF twenty-four feet a minute, and the con-
tributons fell at the rate of one In every
Four yards. The man with the rubber
snakes. the man with the toy balloons the
man with pictures Of the Dewey arch. the
banana man and the vender Of hot chest
nuts looked on with bulgfng eyes
dNsf rb1f
The organ man locked very weary, and
rolled Ria head from side 10 side. as II life
were Indeed burden. And the rain OF
money continued.
Tho thirty-eighth contributor within
eightsen minutes was a well-dressed youth
Above the organ was a banner upon
which was inscribed. ladies and gentle
men. having lost both my legs ard being
unable 20 obtain employment. I have taken
this means 20 gain support for myself ana
any family. and 10 raise Nancy 10 buy a
pair Of artiaclai feet" This appeal fairly
magnetized the dimes, a cabrnan standing
by the curb ran forward and dropped
something I'm the box.
Poor chap" he said. 'it's hard thing
10 be Ike that"
My friend" said a bys.ander. that man
VIII make more money In half an hour
than you win in a whole day"
The bexgar and hts organ had reached
Sixth avenue. He had gone $50 yards from
the point n wniCh he was first observed.
/: had taken him twenty-five minutes. Dur
ing tbs: time no fewer than ffty people
had dropped money into his box. Most OF
the contributors were handsomely dressed
women. Doubtless come a thern csntrlbut-
cd quarters. II is likely that the contrihu-
tions averaged 10 cents each, and II that
eas the case the bszsar cleared up s. -
while going half block; but IN case soma
OF thu women pat in only pennies Il Nigh,
be well 10 call X 81 Tor twenty-five min
utes or say SO an hour
THAT one box you see" said q special
officer. 'is emily one ~ his boxes He has
three Ike r.. one under the other. When
the money partly fills one II drops into
the others"
Hut the trsggsr was out Of sight He
rad gone tc conquer another world west
of Sixth avenEe-New York SIN.