The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-29

past that never was. In his letter the
CRATER says he is an ex-convict who
has been trying very hard to reform,
but though looking for work night and
day cannot secure any, owing to the fact
that the hard world will not loosen up
and take chances on a man just out
from behind the iron bars. The letter
usually winds up thus: knowing by
reputation of your manifold charitable
acts / appeal to you to assist me finan-
cially In order that L may be tided over
until l can secure work OF some kind. L
wish to lead a better life, but it seems
that the world will not give a man a
chance to be better This is an excel
lent thing, for oftentines the CRATER
can secure as much as $40 after paying
a personal visit to the victim. OF his
experiences, Munro says:
In working this graft one day 1 came
in contact with a woman who lives near
Twenty-first and Mt. Vernon street. She
seemed to take a great interest in me,
answering my note personally, and asking
me numerous questions about the prisons
l was in and my crimes, the treatment
of prisoners, and as | know the rules of
Joliet, Sing Sing and the Ohio state
penitentiary, also the names OF the super
intendents and chaplains, l was able TO
answer all her questions, although l have
never been in a prison in my life. Finally
help you until tomorrow, and then you
can come around again about 5 O'Clock"
1 called again and found the lady and
o fine looking old gentleman waiting for
me. The 'old guy" got my story and
then said: 81 will help you and will give
you fine home. You will be able to re-
form and at the same time not be in the
debt of any one" The old gentleman
then took me to West Philadelphia, to
fbaxy
and other particulars. That night found
for the first time that I was in the ex-
convicts' home, and was kept there two
days before could get away. The way
In which I expressed my gratitude to that
man was enough to make him think hard.
PANHANDLING.
While the above graft is good, my
nainstay Is stpanhandling," or, to be
more explicit, begging. At this l am
past master, being known throughout the
country as the "Prince of Panhandlers.
I have earned this title simply because
I can tell a lie better than Ananinas
himself Of all the cities in the United
States, Philadelphia, without doubt has
more "panhandlers than any of them
not good ones, but cheap gags" who
hit every one in sight. They give a story
that must constantly ring in the ears
of citizens:
SAY, mister, would We help a bIoke
to git a meal?
A man must be easy, after taking
look at their bloated faces and catching
Whit of their rum-reekfng breaths, if
he gives up to them; but they are go
ing every day. Why? Because an
American, no matter what the appeal,
is always ready to open his purse.
OF all Americans, however, Pfiladel-
phians are the hardest to get money
from, unless you can convince them that
you are really in need of 1t. AS an ir
stance of this I will give an experience
of mine two weeks ago. I approached
a man near Fourth and Minor streets
with this appeal:
mister, would you please help a man
to get something to eat that IS really in
need of it?''
He looked at me from head to foot, and
said:
'sHow is it that man Of your appear
ance has come to begging on the
streets?'
Because" I said, 4T am out of work,
and / am forced to beg by nature, for I
haven't had anything to eat for two days,
and Cooking at the ground1 am almost
famishing.'
We'll, come with me-" he added. "and
I will see If you are hungry"
He then took me to his place Of bust
ness, which is printing plant, and sent
an office boy for two Ioaves of bread
down at a table, with the bread and q
glass of water, and simply said:
Eat
pitched in and ate a loaf and quarter
of that bread. You can imagine how I