New-York tribune., 1901-01-20
SCHNORRERS.
PICTURESQUE JEWISH TYPES OF REG.
CARS WHO APPEAL TO THE READY
SYMPATHY OF THE EAST SIDE

now searching for his reputed wealth with very
Doubtful chances of finding it. The little para
graph setting forth the strange fashion of his
life and death calls attention to of the most
interesting classes in this city of queer types
that OF the East SiGe begGar. A passerby would
find on the streets little evidence of the ex-
istence OF this class. and. indeed il differs rad-
caily from that of the common or garden beggar. |
who seeks to charm money from the pockets of
the Well to do in other districts
First of all, TO a paradox the beggars are |
not always beggars. Frequently they are men
OF considerable intelligence and dignity, who |
have found themselves, through al health old |
age unable TO cope with the strange conditions 1
of this land. They DO not actually beg; /
they may be selling matches c. rather ques- |
uonable fruit, but the warnhearted East Side /
sees through the poor devices of pride and buys |
and overpays with the tactful generosity which |
is one OF its most admirable characteristics. |
This type is common enough wiring the heart |
Of all who know ;he East Side-the beggar OF
the accompanying photograph is good repre- |
sentative. He is sick and poor but nothing has |
yet broken his self-res7ect, and an! thing that !
he can do 10 make a return for the money given /
TO him is most eagerly undertaken lie had
accepted some money from photographer. and
then, looking around the studio said: Can't
] do something for you? Would my picture be
of any use TO you?" The photographer seized
the idea and secured a negative Of jeremiah |
whom accident Of birth misplaced by some
$500 years.
FUN IN RETURN FOR AIMS
A second type less common and calling for
laughter rather than tears is that Of the merry
fellow. the ne'er-do-well, who has brains a
plenty and makes them for all his wants
He is, rule We'll enough educated. and could
earn his living if he tried, and he might say
that he does, indeed, it, in his own fashion.
CHI, -
or in East Side parlance, 'schnorrer" The
.'schnorrer" as Zangwin drew him. is rare
enough nowadays. While he amuses his neigh
bors, they do not approve of him, and the true
"schnorrer' presents usually case OF artistic
temperament gone 10 seed, as ii were-the man
SO visionary and averse TO the practical that
he will forfeit the esteem Of everybody as long
es his nimhle tongue can work for his lazy
hands. Doubtless he considers, in his self-satis-
fed SOUL that his company deserves the small
tribute ne exacts Sometimes he is not far
wrong. The third class is that Of the miser who
recently died, but its members must be put down
as exceptional. There professional beggars
on the East Side, although more rarely found
than elsewhere, but they must be unusually
clever 20 Outwit their neighbors. who are ex-
tremely well informed in regard TO one an
others affairs.
The happy hunting ground Of all these people
Is tne Gales lNey make mouse 10 NeuSt NiSiAd-
tions also; but their chief places Of business are
the restaurants, where they may offer their 4
wares crack their jokes make their moan,
each according 10 his kind. Into one cafe at the +
hour few days ago there came less |
than half dozen of these people, for the most |
part small pedlers. whose stock in trade invited !
patronage for the very sake Of its pathetic un- |
attractiveness. The first IF a distinc-
lively superior type His high forehead and bright
eyes, not without furtive CLEAN Of huTnOr in I
their honest depths bespoke Wholesome and /
intelligent soul clearly as his hollow chest and
white face told Of health bI oxen 10y sweatshop /
toll, and barely permitting him 10 carry his little
basket of shoestrings. There was a welcoming /
smile ready from the proprietor, followed by a
click Of the cash drawer and the man passed .
cut with bow which full Of dignity as
OF gratitude. THAT man" said the proprietor, /
Lives on - cents a day, at the most, and has !
delicate wife 10 SUPPORT but you could trust
him with a million dollars for Il year and not lose
a cent. He has no strength 10 work, but he viii
always do what he in return for nything |
you give him. He has been eYicted Oftener than
any man in NeW-York, j think. His rent is - a /
month, something like that, but il is usually /
too much for him, and out he goes lie has
credit however, at several stores they know
. l.H h..