The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-13

BY W. H. McCLAIN. MANAGER PROVI-
DENT ASSOCIATION.
WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
We oppose giving to beggars. not to
save small sums of money but to save the
beggars.
The beggar Is a specialist. and it is
well to leave his treatment to special
lists.
There are cases which the philanthro-
pist applied to can handle better than
any trained charity worker. but the pc
culiar circumstances surrounding the case
mako ths citizen in such instance a
specialist for the time being.
Perhaps he knows more about tho Pc
ttioner and the best way to help him
than charity worker could learn in a
week of careful investigation: but the cit
izen is apt to go wrong nine times out
Of ten. II he acts on his generous impulses
the moment he hears story Of hard luck
coupled with q request for assistance.
st. Louis has the reputation Of having
. large number Of kind-hcarted business
men. who can be easily worked and
beggars have repeatedly stated, when
Proyident Association. that they came to
81. Louis because this city is considered
"a good graft"
Beggars have been classified under the
rived from John Yegg, who was the first
beggar to travel around blowing safes
in country banks, post Offices and stores.
SeSsnF and as oc
casion offera
The term is descriptive Of roadmen.
Intermediary between 'petermen" (pro,,
Cramps who will work occasionally for
a short time at high wages.
Then there are "foppers." class Of per,
ties. These beggars simulate or exagger-
ate various infirmities.
They arc either reformed in body nat.
urally or made 50 by some artificial
They are covered with sores, which in
many cases are produced by the use OF
They resort to the use of splints or
bandages, smoked spectacles or crutches-
TYPES OF IMPoSTORs.
Still another class are the throw
OUTS" impostors who are usually para
lyzed, or who have lost an arm or leg.
They claim to be injured railroad men
Or flood sufferers or that they have Just
been released from the hospital.
They usually distribute cards on which
are printed crude verses Of poetry.
1t Is generally understood that this
class Of mendicants Is now headed to-
ward St. Louis. and that we are likely to
Wo-ld's Fair.
throwing fits on the street, or by faint
ng In front OF residences Of prominent
,itizens.
Cases OF this kind have been known to
-eceiye large gifts from~the hands Of the
The children that are seen on the
streets begging late at night are very
much to DO pitied; not because they are
'ision is not made for them. They are
ound about the theaters. at boat land
ngs and on the street cars.
v They ~ usually San appeal for penny with
In most cases they do not live at the
addresses given end when they are To-
'ated. the family Is not In need:
They should not be encouraged to be-
ONE chronic besgars, but should be re-
moved from the streets.
The Ross boys Of st. Louis are types |
{ this elias. Of dependents Charles.
hronic besgars, but have q very un-
nviable reputation In the community in |
.hich they have lived.
These boys have been in the House Of |
er Of times for begging and for drunk
There arc q great number of persons
rho are making larry 8OOQ uV1n8 Oy l
IMPOSING upon generous public.
They beg. not because they are in need
nd helpless. but because 1t II easier to
make living in that way.
Many are the tricks that they use to
reate sympathy.
Ono win tell you that he has secured .
osition, but It Is necessary that he
hould have clean shave In order to
ppear respectable when he goes to work
nd needs 10 cents for that purpose, He
sually gets the money, but e doea not 70
Another. who will probably rvpressnt
imSelf AZ blind, appears at your door
nd gives a card, making his appeal, the
oeing verse Of which Is:
SO kindly give . trtnA.
That may b On my weyt
And blind man for you win pEay.
Another has Just written . letter which
eeds 2 cents for postage It II needless
say that ten appeals Of that kind viii
ct % cents: but the money received does
Dt pay for mailing the letter.
Another has work In EAst g. Louis o.
! Worlds Fair grounds, but requires Q
ckal for car fare or to get across the
idge.
Belne dasiroRs e SneegaGlng IL DaaI
ha4 disposition to cam Q itvoHAoQ4 ~
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