Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-24

becomes a little too dencate JOB then.
Crooks Need Nerve
"All a crook needs is his nerve. Ev-
cry man is dishonest to an extent.
That's what makes honesty such a val
liable trait--its scarcity. One half Of
the world is working the other half
and making It pay, so all a crook needs
is his nerve. Then he Will always get
along we'll"
Upon being asked for demonstration
where little chances we're to be taken,
the former pickpocket invited The Her
aid reported into q nearby saloon.
There were several persons standing at
the bar. The pickpocket suddenly
drlfted into a conversation about the
building of an immense bath house at
one Of the popular beaches. He talked
necessarily and in very dignifed tone
ordered the beverages.
After drinking he most haughtlly
called to the bartender:
Where's my changer"
Calls for his Change
How much did you give me?" asked
the bartender almost bowling to the
pickpocket who looked him calmly in
the eye.
"One dollar"
The bartender Immediately handed
him as cents, whereupon the former
pickpocket treated again, including the
bartender, who still believes that he
was really given 81 to change.
After remaining In the bar room
few minutes longer the former dip"
purchased a bottle of liquor from the
bartender. When e handed him So
bill to change the bartender was par
ticular in making the change.
Buy your wife a pretty bouquet for
thot - he nfn1rnnClrnf n a g
he slipped him dollar over the bar.
Outside he said:
catlsfles Curiosity
Don't you see how easy human ma
ture is? l handed the bartender the 81
tip because knew he would have to
make good the shortage. 1 have re-
formed and merely wanted to satisfy
your curiosity.
mo matter how bold and successful
a pickpocket may be his life is always
zone of fear of being captured, tried and
sent to a long term behind the bars.
Among the plckpockets there are few
who desire to take human life or even
do injury to man. For that charac-
teristic 1 say that pickpocket at best
is a coward.
II saw the dangers that were ahead
of me. l saw little boys growing up
that were quickly developing the steal
ing habit. Although my life while
was much younger was one which
now reflect with shame, / was never
theless a student Of human nature.
Philosophers on Past
IT was a kind Of philosopher. At
night / would go to bed, sometimes in
one of the finest hotels in the country
and other times in box car. 1t all
CALLED me.
II saw pictures of happy couples
with little children about them and 1t
made my heart sick. 1 always thought
of my good mother. Thank God she
never knew the life led. In my own
meditations / often told myself that
boy born of a good mother will always
turn out to be at least a respected
man. I made up my mind to give UP
my dishonest life and begin over again.
"One thing l wish to say Is that no
outside influences worked on me toward
my betterment, except the conditions
in other homes where a father went to
work in the morning kissing his own
wife and children goodbye.
Child Love Changes Life
"I believe that my love for children
changed my life as much as anything.
L wanted home of my own. 1 realized
that there was only one life worth liv
ing, a life open and above suspicion
of my fellow men. This sort of life
I assured myself CO Id only exist when
the man himself did his best to make
it such.
IT am happy today, far happier than
! could have been were 1 the cleverest
rogue in the world. My little home, my
wife and my two little girls are all that
1 possess. have had the good fortune
to have good health. My wife and
children are endowed with the same.
In another few months my Oldest
daughter will begin going to school. My
fondest hopes are that both of them
shall always be brought up in the best
manner, to gre W into model women and
honor me in my old age.
Past Is Forgotten
"Only my wife and another friend
know my secret. NY children shall
never hear of it. l am as certain of
that as / am standing here today. My
past is never referred to. We have
agreed to forget about it. Today l am
as happy as any man in the world.
Could have been thus had not given
up the old life? No. 1t, is absolutely
impossible"
Here is hint to those who would
avoid having their pockets picked:
when you are on the back of car
and see man with newspaper, or an
overcoat on his arm while you are in the
crowd, lookout, watch your pocketbook.
your watch and your stickpins. IT
you don't you might miss something
when you get home"
The reformed crook then took his de-
parture.
I'm going home to my wife and
children" he said. II have little
garden want to fix up tonight. Good
bye"