The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-07

he has been supported, without expense
TO himself, he has been driving bargains,
making trades and carrying on business
dealings among his fellow inmates until
he has become veritable Croesus among
his circle of associates. His largely de-
veloped mercantile ability has gained for
him goodsized competence for one in
his peculiar surroundings, not only of the
glttering coin of the realm, but in a
stock of merchandise of a nature, sui
generis.
Trading, in small way, among the in
mates of the aims house. has been
recognized custom from the time imme-
oria; but when business is carried on
10 the extent that Mr.. William Mongrief
has been doing it, the authorities are
forced to step in and say word. The
inmates know this, and, as a result, the
merchant kept his transactions under
coHer as long as possible. The superin-
tendent was somewhat amazed, therefore,
when he made the discovery, recently,
OF the extent of the business carried on
by Billy and the amount of money he
accumulated, to say nothing of the large
and peculiar stock of goods he had on
hand, in the shape of crutches, shoes, col
ored eye glasses, smokers material. but
tons, clothing. etc. The result was that
the superintendent suggested to BILLY"
that it would be advisable on his part
10 change his field OF operation, and the
probability is that ere this the erstwhile
snrewd pauper has started business Oh
more elaborate scale among his old ac-
quaintances along the Bowery.
There is no article In such demand
among the inmates of public institutions
as tobacco, and to obtain it price is no
OBJECT As a result the unfortunates will
n Lot h Nt...ur
WITH cash. IL they have It, to obtain the
much cherished weed Anything and ev-
erything goes for tobacco IL 1t is possible
70 obtain 1t, and the individual who is
fortunate enough to have a supply on
mana does not have to look far for Gus
for him.
1t is q mistaken belief that paupers
90 not have money, at least coca sionally.
Al would scarcely be an exaggeration to
sIhte that the inmates of the almshouse
On Blaekwelrs Island have several hun
ulsd dollars. collectively.
many of the paupers have relatives
VINO frequently visit them and give them
money, and visitors to the institution
sho" their charity by contributing to the
Hleager eNchequers of the poor inmates.
Asiae from that small sums are given
tHeih at times by attaches of the aims
MUSE IN payment for small services.
nc pennies and nickels change hands
Nul-hIy and the medium of exchange IS
sVIuVIh missing. As a consequence. the
money gravitates to the pockets OF the
mates who show the keenest business
sagacity.
Mite burlesque business community
~ me poorhouse on BlackWelPs Island.
uauy OF the walks about the grounds
49, designated by names of well known
wy streets, like Maiden lane, where
cAeap tewelry and brass trinkets may be
"Nu from the inmates, who locate them
ives upon the benches and along the
I'm ana Park Row, where peddlers
"'"sact their business Of miscellaneous
NJ eeter IN keeping with the street for
winch Il Is named.
III william Mongrief, pauper mer-
vynaHt N on the shady side OF dfty.
Meh ne made his advent into the insti-
,u lhree years ago he was without a
10y III the world J0 did have a small
irp'y OF tobacco. That was his nucleus.
I'D small stock OF tobacco was bargain
49,, ' eash and always something ITO
clam the shape OF crutches. knives.
,.I,l shoes aud anything else OF
.'ine among the paupers. M be houeht
p.-.. himself II was always at the
Y"ett pauDer price, and n he sold
m, ~ was at she highest possible figure
80 'ssuh was that after Billy
psen In the Institution
U,.. months he was looked
pm NE same relative lEht a. Rus
"a. n'Ee is Looked upon by the out
4. world his pile ~ money ana his
p,... ~ miscellaneous faaapsr wares
- lhhi q came 20 pasa that whom
y Ne inmates wanted 70 make