New-York tribune., 1900-09-09
VAGABONDS IN CHINA.
BEGGARS AND THIEVES CONTROLLED
BY KINGS" WHO THRIVE ON
THEIR TRIBUTE.

washington Sept. (speciaD.-Beggars. thieves
and lepers in China have a certain place In the
public affairs of the Empire. They are controlled
by no laws except those made by the king OF each
clan" and vagrants they are allowed to roam
where they will. Like other classes OF people in
China they formed into guilds. the most power
ful having headquarters at Nanking In PeKins
and Tien-Tsin also fraternities OF these degener-
ates a great nuisance TO foreigners
The beggars in Picking and other large Chinese
cities divided into two more districts, each
OF which is presided by official head called
the king OF beggars." The so-called king re-
ceives large percentage of all the charitable gifts
made 10 his subjects and also demands enormous
from the shoppers and from merchants VINO
wish keep beggars out OF their shops In this
way the king becomes wealthy. He usually hVes
in the best of Chinese dwellings and commands the
respect OF his fellow
There are many frightful sights among Chinese
beggars as they often MAIN and disfgure them
selves order to excite the sympathy or passers-
by In this respect they resemble the Italian beg
gars who are noted for manning and Gripping
themselves TO become better beggars Many OF the
Chinese beggars are blind. having themselves de-
stroyed their sight. a will put live cock
roach In his eye and then bind 1t up securely The
insect will out the entirely and the man
viii then go out 10 beg Frequently these horrible
looking men go around in droves; in fact, on GER
tain days of each year they may be seen IN gangs
of one hundred or one hundred and fifty When
they go in large numbers IT is their purpose
10 demand aims from the shoppers and merchants
and upon these occasions the king" receives mucD
tribute for the shop owners will gladly pay 20 him
the required sum II he will only forbid any Of his
subjects to enter their stores. Should a drove of
these beggars go into there would be little
stock left when they vacated it,
They are always persistent and seldom cease to
annoy you until some contribution has been made.
A state Department official to-day told how Chi
girl hal
mile and merely touched the end Of his coat, not
once speaking 10 him. He said the touch was so
soft and gentle that it bearly noticeable. but
II was repeated until he compelled to give her
q coin
Thieves in the large Chinese cities are also d.
vided into districts and controlled by so-caIled
king OF the thieves" The king" knows every
thing that goes on in his district He knows just
where the stolen articles and by whom they
were stolen. A new thief could not come into
district without the king" knowing of it and hav-
Ing him brought Immediately under control The
king OF the thieves gets large percentage Of all
property stolen by his subjects. Cinnamon are
skiful pickpockets and do not hesitate TO rob any
one who passes by. When foreigner is robbed
the money property is generally returned. He
must first make complaint TO the local magistrate
demand tba tbe stolen aTfcIe e e be retEned
don't know anything about it,. is the usual reply.
1 he magistrate then has the king" soundly
course, he has to be rewarded for the recovery,
and the owner must pay 10 him nominal sum OF
impossible TO recover stolen property for neither
the magistrate nor the king" will listen to the
complaint
Every Chinese city kSs leper house outside its
gates, and most Of them have two more. AS in
the cases of the beggars and thieves, there is an
executive head, called che king OF the lepers,"
who controls all lepCTs and makes rules and COM
pacts, which must be observed. These unfertu-
mates are numerous throughout the Empire. When
in the first stage of the disease they brought
TO the leper houses. Good care is taken of them
as long as their relatives can meet the demand OF
the king" But no matter how wealthy their
families may be. the king eventually drains them
Of every cent and both the lePer and his relatives
often have to turn beggars. The poorer lepers are
assigned TO miserable, unclean huts. providing poor
shelter against bad weather
These classes Of people have been great draw
back TO China for many years. and missionaries
have devoted much time in trying 10 break up the
clans