Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-11-17
SOME FORMS OF BEGGING.
I've, Once Familiar, Now Seldom
Heard and One That Is
Perennial.


doubt" said Mr.. Blinkinton, according
to the New York Sun, "just as there
are In all things. They come and 90.
"a fashion that prevailed not so many
years ago started with this formula:
Mister, I don't want any money, not
cent, but I'm hungry. I want some
thing to eat. Take me to some restaur-
ant and IL me something TO eat Don't
give me the money; you pay for 1t your
self. Only 81 me something to eat 3
THE theory Of the inventor Of this
form Of begging was the that nrst 1t
would appeal by It's apparent sincerity;
and, secondly, that the person thus
asked for meal wouldn't have time to
turn aside from his business TO take the
beggar to a restaurant, and so If he were
impressed would give the beggar mon
ey; which, Of course, was what the beg
gar wanted.
This form Of begging was very pop"
ular and successful for time. 1t even
came to have quite literature.
There was, for instance, the story OF
the hardy and able man who, held up
with this appeal, dragged the beggar to
q restaurant and there compelled him
to eat, standing over him with a club,
and, though the beggar had already
eaten four breakfasts, forcing him to
keep on eating until he begged for
mercy.
"And there was the story Of the beg
gar told by himself in a beggar's joint
of how In one short afternoon he had
been compelled by seven stingy giyers
to eat In quick succession seven meals
Of doughnuts and sinkers. Thus the
stories ran. I had one actual expert
of my own:
'T'm no Judge Of beggars, l frankly
confess; can't always tell by any
means whether beggar is worthy OF
not. But once, when this form OF beg
ging was common, met a tall, slim
young man who stopped me and. said to
me: Mister, I'm hungry, can't you 81
me something to eat? ! took chance
and took the young man to a restaurant.
'T couldn't tell whether be was just
a beggar who had learned the patter
or whether that request had just come
up out Of him spontaneously. but the
instant I had said Come along felt
sure he was all right; for that instant
he stopped being q beggar and smiled
I'D and walked along with me, not cring-
ing. but as II was his friend.
"And was he really hungry Well.
you should have seen him eat.
Son. says I to him, when we got to
the restaurant, there's the bill OF fare
Feed yourself and he did.
"T think he must have been II days
In an open boat without food, or some
thing of that sort; but certainly he was |
of tubular construction inside, hollow
all the way down, for his storage capac-
ity was something stupendous
Eat? I never saw man eat so In
my life, and I never saw man enjoy
meal so much. like to eat myself and
have been hungry at times, but don't
suppose ever ate anything that tasted
so good to me as that meal did to him.
Lucky It was a cheap restaurant, for
| only had about a dollar and half
with me. His check was $1.25, but
never begrudged him the money.
"But the Observation-Disclosures
money-but-I-do-want-something-to-eat
'orm of begging, once so common, has
now gone almost wholly out Of fashion;
It is now comparatively seldom en-
oloyed.
Another fashion in begging that In a
more limited way and for briefer time
prevailed and which also was celebrated
IN its day, was that which consisted in
asking a man, not for food, but for
money for a drink.
"'Mister' says this beggar, picking
IFS man, I amt hungry bit, but do
want drink. Can you stand dime for
/ drink
This supposed frankness Of this re-
quest, or its pure gall, or both combined,
unused some people and was effective
n some instances for time; but not
or long. It did not generally commend
tself and It has now fallen practically
nto disuse.
1.-THE perennial form of begging Is that
which consists in asking for carfare to
ret from the Battery to Harlem, or from
Harlem to the Battery; the way he
wants to go depending on where the beg
-ar is at the moment Of asking. Sonce I
aid to man in Harlem, who had told
ne that he wanted to get to the Battery,
ut he hadn't got any money:
"'Then why in thunder don't you
7alk?'
""Cause I got to get there at II
o'clock, he says, or lose my job
'Tt was then 1918, and what could l
ay to that2 I have never asked a man
lnce why he didn't walk.
"Only this morning I met a man at
he Battery who wanted to get to Har-
EN- and wanted nickel for carfare. .
Ionest, I don't know whether he was
'orth It or not, though I think be was,
ut anyhow gave him the money and 2
Q took 1t with smile, and:
"'Thank you he says.
"T'm much obliged to you. 9
"'The Lord may spare your health, ! |
ope.
"'Good luck to you
"And was glad to give the nickel for
UGH blessing" l