The Washington times., 1901-07-28
DEGGARS In WALL STREET.
Brokers Annoyed by Many Kinds
of Persistent MeRdicantsl
The Trouble Grown Worse since the
Recent Boom In Stocks-Mistakes
Made In Bestowinx Chartty-Ex-
perts in-the Art of Holding Up.v

The Trouble Grown Worse since the
Recent Boom In Stocks-Mi.takes
Made In BestovfnE Charfty-Ex-
perts I'm the Art of Holding Up.v
In the higher ranks of beggardom ii has
long been saying that Wall Street is the
best paying place in America for the cali
ing. Every form Of begging game -four
ishes there, and since the boom In stocks
things have been worse than before.
So long as the begging was done with
some degree of art. Wall Street endured
1t cheerfully and gave freely. Lissome
young women with soft voices and ap-
pealing eyes who wished to sell tickets to
performances that never took place found
ready market; suave gentlemen in silk
hats. who nefi.-iy suggested subscriptions
to organizations which existed chiefly
within those hats, collected an occasional
bonus. while the hardIuck story. buoyant-
ly and genially presented. was almost
sure to be rewarded with the price Of a
drink. But the plain unvarnished tramp.
with a five-days' growth Of whiskers and
too well ventilated clothing. is not popular
on Wall Street and this kind has become
very prevalent OF late. Along with him
have come a horde of subscription agents.
So Wall Street is now in revolt
The publication of illustrated volumes
on Wau Street and its prominent men has
made it possible for the beggar to recog-
nize a Stock Exchange man in the street,
and 1t IL quite a common thing for one
of the board members to be approached
by seedy stranger and addressed by
name.
Mr.. Blink" began the stranger, II used
to speculate in your office and had a run
of luck, but l got on the wrong side OF
the market and now / am up against 1t.
l want to ask you for small loan until
I sell house own in the country. When
1 get the cash for this place shall be
back in your office rolling up the money
again.
The broker thinks he recognizes a casual
customer and the loan Is forthcoming. The
ups and downs of Wall Street life make
1t necessary for every one to be kindly dis
posed to the man vino Is temporarily out
at elbows. The borrower may be the
lender in few weeks time. But when
the same broker is approached a second
time with the same tale OF hard luck he
begins to be suspicious
At the same time, the broker must be
cautious in his dealings with the stranger
who accosts him on the street. There are
many varieties of spectators, and some
of those who drift in from the country
districts wearing clothes that would make
hit on the variety stage are too good
customers to lose. A certain member of
Wall Street firm had an unpleasant ex-
perience in this line recently. As he was
going to the Exchange an elderly man in
shabby clothes addressed him timidity:
Amt you Mr.. So-and-so?"
7
81 just wanted to ask you eff you
mo, sir, 1 cannot" said the broker en-
phatically.
AS he stalled away he was dimly aware
of some messenger boy laughing at the
figure his fnterlocutor cut as he stood,
later the broker came out upon the street
again only to run into the seedy little
man.
Mr.. So-and-so." began the little man.
II only wanted to ask you eff you
Now. here" cried the outraged broker.
II won't stand being held up this way.
If you do it again l will have you arrest
ed"
Then give me back my s2O,000," said
the little man patiently.
"What?''
I've got $4,000 with your firm in COM
mon Wheat, and l just wanted to ask you
eff you couldn't tell me whether I'd better
hang on or SELL
The seedy little man was a country mil
owner and considerable speculator 1t
took the broker ten minutes to apologize
in a manner befitting the occasion,
Another class of 1eggar that the stock
broker seeks relief from is the insistent
nan who collects for charitable institu-
ton, real or imaginary, principally the
latter He invariably descends on his
prey at the busiest time in the day. burst
ng in on the brokers study OF tire ticker
and reeling off a begging petition while
holding out book in which appear the
names of well-known men as subscrib-
ars TO the charity in question. Most OF the
nmes are inserted there without their
,wner's permission. but the list serves to
end emphasis to the collectors remark
that 1T viii look very queer when the
list is published if your name does appear
here"
1t is too late to recall the money when
the broker learns later, by comparing
notes with his friends in the Street, that
MS name as well as theirs has been used
n wholesale gathering in of funds, which
lever reached the charitable society they
we're intended to benefit
So persistent are some of the bogus COL
ectors of charity that it is all the door
keepers of the Exchange can do TO pre-
,ent their penetrating to the very floor
n search of victims. They are ousted
rom one entrance only to seek admission
II another: they lie in wait for brokers
,nipg and brokers coruiup o1ft thav
all in step beside their victim and walk
md talk until the money is
given as the easiest way of saving a
cene; they ignore the signs on private
loors. are pastmasters in the art of
,lufIing Office boys, and when not fatten-
ng at the expense of the broker they are
licking UP crumbs and whole loaves from
he customers who throng his office and
re always liberal and open-handed wnen
he market is going their way.
of late a new apparition has appeared
\ Wall Street. 1t wears a bonnet of coal
cutie shape, bedecked with scarlet and
old ribbon; 1t stands patiently outside
he entrance to the Stock Exchange hold
lg in its extended hand a tambourine. 1t
, a silent apparition SO far as vocal evil
ence of its presence is concerned, but
ne tambourine is thrust out in u way
nat explains its object very forcibiy and
le attention of the passerby is attracted
, the object by sign on hand organ
i the vicinity of the tambourine. On the
rgan there is printed appeal to the
orId in general and Wall Street in par
cular to help the homeless 1T is
,lf-denial week" the sign Informs the
rokers. Give to this worthy charity
nd help save the lost says another
IN.
The organ plays ragtime airs: the girl