The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-03-12
MAKES BIG MONEY.

MAKES BIG MONEY.
g Money! be said in reply to a
question. Sure, there's money in 1t.
| Do you think I'm in it for me health?
/ / make sometimes as high as ten dol
lars, a day, and l never run below
five. Because why? Because keeps
me mouth shut and plays for the big
game. generally gets it. You notice
that am always neatly dressed. That
is a part Of the game. See this stick?
Another part Of the game. With these
clothes on, with this stick and pair
of blue glasses I'll bet that can
make more money begging and not
asking for cent than some Of the
best business men of the city can
make.
g MY game is simple put on the
glasses, take my stick in one hand and
feeling before me with the stick, walk
down the street. OF course, am all
right. have had forty people on the
verge of nervous prostration through.
what appeared to them to be my
danger, that is a favorite trick Of
the game I am working. For in
stance, I go slowly into the middle
OF street, feeling my way with a
stick, allow myself to get in the path
Of a heavy wagon or something COM
Ing toward me, and betcherneck I
know how far away it IS OF coufse,
always at the proper moment. [ move.
Meanwhile some half a dozen men
will rush out from the sidewalk to
save the poor blind man.
s'This trick always arouses sym
pathy. People ask me where | am
going. I always say that I am going
to some place know to be mile or
so away, butthat I have no money and
can't ride. Sometimes it is necessary
to tell how the boy / had hired to
lead me about deserted me IN the
street and left me to go by myself.
These appeal usually arouses a mans
sympathy and he will give me quar-
ter or a half dollar, and once there
was a pretty woman who gave me a
five dollar bill and enquired my name
and address. / was ashamed to take
the money-but i did 1t.
g Usually, however, merely walk
along the street until l reach cross
street, where i stand until I see some
one who looks easy coming along.
Then I ask them to help a blind man
across the street and in forty y-nine out
OF fifty cases they will do it. They ask
where I am going, and there is usually
reretition ofzthe scene I have jast
mentioned. have had them time.
after time take me and put me on a
car with a quarter and my fare paid.
It's easy money when you do that as
often in a day as I do.
Then the supposed blind man talked
of other begging games.
Think he said, and he spoke
with the air Of experience which was
convincing, that the blind game is
the best Of all the begging games.
But there are some other good ones.
One is the deaf and dumb game. This
requires a great deal of care and train
ing, and is much more difficult than
the blind game. One is always liable
to look around at any sudden noise or
to speak sometimes, or to show that
they understand what is said In their
presence. Those things, of course,
always give away the game.
met man in Baltimore who is
the best deaf and dumb player ever
saw. / saw one man try about twenty
times to trick him into some sign of
comprehension, but it never faxed him.
Yet be can hear and talk as we'll as I
can. He usually worked with printed
cards.
BY the way, there was a man who
tried to trick me here the other day at
Eighth and Broad Streets. He drew
coin out Of his pocket and dropped
s it on the ground and| walked away ]
couldn' t afford to give myself away,
felt for the coin two or three times
with my stick and went up the street.
A woman picked it up. and gave it
to me.
The cripple game is good one,
but it means considerable pain some
times to the man who works it. A
man must train himself to hold his
hand or leg in certain position, and
this is very trying. Then the man who
has recently been hurt is another good
one. This is done by croton oil bis
teling, and when one doubts the injury
it can be shown. 1t makes a horrible
looking spot and one which is always
effective. have worked that game
several times myself. There is a
place in Division Street, in New York
where they teach all these tricks.
.9The child game is always good
one, but it is hard to get a child who
has enough sense to work it. 1T is.
story of hunger, and sick mother