The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-15
THE NEW PANHANpLER.
New York Times.

| New York Times.
Ills attire was SO conventionally pic
turesque that it seemed modelled after
mat OF the tramp on the vaudeville stage
Soleless shoes planted with waverirg in
exacttude supported a trembling frame
trousers through which bits of flesh
dirtlly Ieered led up to buttonless vest.
Over all. in spite of the warm sunshine
/ tattered ulster fiuttered. A crushed
and shapeless felt hat leaned down to-
ward an eYilly smelling pipe cIutched
between nervous teeth. At the edge of
the little group of men talking together
on upper Broadway the stranger halted,
"lthout disturbing by so much as a
penny plea the conversation of the men
there. Finally the man with the Panama
nat noticed the stranger
Just IN from Bridgeport, Conn. Been
iooklng for work all day. Haven't had
d tnlng TO eat in three days, I suppose?"
Nope" said the stranger.
Wltnout shelter for widow and three
| children Family all on the ,idewalk. A
few, pennies to help them along
NAV"
Then it is a Travelled stranger that
seeks our assistance, thinking that re
VIM assist the untrayeled and the UNI
washed"
Nit
game?"
The stranger threw the skirt Of his III
ster over one arm in melodramatic dig
nifty You are wrong, all wrong [ am
not native of Bridgeport Conn look
ing for work; l am not the husband of
| WIDOW without shelter; I do not seek
assistance L support my family in the
utmost dignity, send them abroad every
year regularly. And yet l do not work
nor Go I ask such as you for assistance"
Inc Panama hat leaned back il the air.
From beneath it cane hearty laughter.
How on earth do you do ft?" asked
its owner.
The stranger dug a hand down into his
pocket. Then he held aloft a gIeamIng
silver dollar
Gentlemen, ne said irnpressfvely
that's my last dollar, and it's NV Cor.
tune, too. Each day when 1 return to
my family loaded with the spoils OF my
most original calling ! am careful to save
out one dollar. My family is equally
careful to spend that day all the rest.
so IN the morning VIXEN 1 start out again
1t really is my last dollar. Now, gentle
men, since you have been so good as 10
hearken to my tale, III develop my game
Who'll be the first to match me for my
last dollar and cent, too-the last cent
of bump"
The man with the Panama hat got out
a dollar.
It's CO." he exclaimed.
The stranger raised a voice of warn
ing.
Gentlemen" let me admonish you; 1
always win. In the end 1 am always
ahead Of the game"
The man with the Panama hat and the
stranger tossed their coins into the air.
I m watching YER, said the stranger
He won.
Il always do. told you so" he sad.
Nettled a bit, the other matched again;
then twice in succession. losing each
time.
That ends me for this" was mis- by
no means good-natured remark:
Others of the group tried the new pas
time with like result The stranger might
lose once or twice, but in the end he came
off ahead. Finally the party concluded
that there was more charity than amuse-
ment in continuing, and the stranger
wandered toward Fifth avenue, where a
fat man in white waistcoat and black
spots was speedily interested.
Since that time the new variety of the
'panhandler" has enjoyed quite an up
per Broadway vogue He isn't begging,
and the men with whom he plays are
too well known in Broadway circles to
make police interference profitable.
So there he is.