Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-01
THE MUSE is AN AID TO MENDi
CANCY.
Poetic Appeals Which Have Been Used
BY Professional eeggars.

paflnc verses Mhicn beSSarS nanti
| about on cards. The same poetry,
which has been used by generation
after generation of beggars is likely Ia
be thrust in the prosperous-l looking
pedest rians face tomorrow at the fac
tory door or on thc elevated Stairways.
MANY a bright good hearted fellow
Many a nohle-hearted man.
Finds himself in water shallow;
Please assist him if You can.
Though the name of the writer of
this gem is lost in the shadows Of the
past his work has lived after him. and
is probably the most popular appeal"
of the kind ever written. HoraceS
simile more enduring than brass is
particularly appropriate in reference TO
the beggar's calling. To continue the
poem
To-day poor cripple appeals for your
aid,
Don't turn with sneer or frown:
For Coo in His wisdom Is the only One
knows
But loved ones Of yours may go down.
This version, headed Happy
Thoughts" and printed on one Of the
Good Luck cards. which seem to be
more effective than the plain request
for aims. was handed to factory hands
by a beggar who was working the
New Jersey factory towns systemati-
caliy a year or two ago.
The haunting beauty of the lines
about the bright. sood-hearted fellow
evidently appealed to other beggars
who would scorn to plagiariZe IL with
out some change in dress A neatly
label Of the Allied Printing Trades
Council. has arranged the classic verse
in another way.
\ SIMPLE REQUEST.
Are you n father mother.
Have you cares without alloy.
Please take pity ON a stranger.
A clippled motherlesS boy.
For years I've been afflicted.
And my pleasures they are done,
So take heed unto cripple.
For you may also have n son
Many a bright. good hearted, ctc.
The man who used this card was Il
"fakeI'' He affected paralysis. and
really weakened his left arm consider |
ably by never giving it any exer4se. !
bur he was as fit for a days work as
most liborirg men.
Next in popularity. perhaps. is 4 |
verse which was evidently i. sued Il |
few years ago in large edition. for the |
Charity Organization Society'S agents |
and the police save obtained copies |
from fully Il dozen beggars. II also il |
intended to act as Il taliSman. Good |
luck In the purchaser Of this card il |
is headed. This is probably as efiectual
as Mr. Gilbert's blessing with my
latest breath Here is the poem:
] once was happy the same as you.
But now | am cripple with nothing IL
do
| am compelled to ask strangers some as
sistaDce To give.
So please give me somcthing-"I.ivc ana
let live"
pray God Will reward you. my wants to
relieve,
And remember il is more blessed To Civ.
than 10 receive.
Give if You wish
"A. G. p. r. canadian Pacific Rail
wayl newsboy cripple's appeal is the
title Of a hright-red card marked:
Price: Give what you can.
Please return this card il you do not want
IT,
There was time not long ago
When from pain was free.
\ happy boy at home was /,
AT school none as gay rs me.
From school | went to labor hard
As News Boy on train.
To battle with the mighty world.
My daily bread TO gain.
/ little thought as time flew by
That trouble thick and fast
Would on me fall and make me go
cripple I" the last.
But here | am as You can see,
Drawn out of shape by pain.
A sad reminder Of the night
] fell beneath the tram.
Here is the verse from pale yellow
Good Luck" card
An. not for me are the joys of youth,
The rpmp, the song. ana the game.
My years are young, my heart not old,
But fate has deformed my frame
Do a sood turn while you can.
And v hen life on earth is spent.
The reckoning angel will not forget
You needed n criprles lament.
Edward Walker travels about the
country. cleycrly Stimulating paralysis
and handing out a card with a picture
Of an eagle II the top. Why an eagle.
no one knows. as the national bird Is
! not commonly. represented either as
| crippled or appealing. The verse. as Il
careful study will show. has drawn
part of its inspiration from the more
fertile authors Of the appeals already
| given
When you meet poor brother on lifes
rugged road.
Who is struggling to carry lifcs burden
some load
Remember the maxim. good and so
| true.
Do unto others as you would have thea,
do unto YOU
Once was happy. joyous and gay.
No sorrow or sadness ever darkcned my
way
Bat, alas. am crippled for life as you