The Washington times., 1909-01-17
BEGGAR OF STREET
ALWAYS A PUZZLE
Kindly Disposed Never Can
Tell Whether Charity Is
Well or Misplaced.

The men who brace me for the price
OF a meal every night are a sad trial
TO my nerves." said a man whose busi-
ness causes him to be out late at night
on Park row, Il can't give to them all,
and how can I chOose2
II waved a fellow aside fmpatiently
the other morning-it was about a, m.
when he gave a sob and walled at
me- can't describe It. any other way
he simply walled. T don't want money.
Take me into restaurant and buy me
a meal. I'm hungry
We'll, i was I'm a hurry and didn't
/ have suffered Cor it's since. . can hear
that hungry voice, and I wish. / had
bought him a meal But a few days
earlier had a different experience.
"A voluble chap stopped me. and
swore he was dying Of starvation.
think he said he had only had s.
crust out Of a garbage can in forty
eight hours. He was so eager that I
couldn't resist him. but he didn't Inspire
me with complete confidence. I put my
hand in my pocket, but drew IL out
again. and steered him across the street
TO q beanery-
Marches to Counter.
81 marched him up 10 the counter,
and. Shaping down a half-dollsr, 7 said:
Give this man anything 10 eat that
this viii buy for him
''I was turning to tell him that IL he
couldn't eat Il all up at once ne could
come back and get another meal for the
balance when I was dumfOuudsd by a.
sort Of choking expression On his face
His eyes were fairly bullying out, and
he clasped his hands IN agony as he
entrested. oh. please. sir, don't waste
all that money on food. Then, as he
noticed my amasement. he whined, You
see, I need a bed to sleep IN tonight
ct seemed plausible. / turned 70 say
he might have the change after his
supper was paid for, when / caught
the cashiers eve. Tt said, Don't you
be fooled as plainly as the drOOp OF a
lid could sav IL.
Z" on, If you're so hungry I remark
ed blandly, you can easily eat half a
dollars worth and it's hardly worth
while going to bed at this hour Then
I aInbled out and as I looked over my
shoulder I saw my starving man sitting
down at one OF the tables, p8fpably the
worst hobo that ever sat down 20
square feed,
1'I had another queer experience out
side enc posJoffce lately. IT was. a
chilly, windy night and / noticed that
a low sized, elderly man coming to-
ward me had no OverCOat- This made
me look at him, and something very
SAD IN MS expression DelQ my dtNttfLl4bIts
His clothes were quite respectable ard
his gray whiskers were neatly trimmed
Wants a Little Aid
Just as We passed looked back al
him. He was looking back, too, and as
he caught me rubbering be hesitated,
then turned and followed me, saying,
81 wonder If you'd give a little holp 20
an old mRn2'
Il was IN a good humor. I answered.
TIL take a chance on yOu,' and tipped
him a quarter, al the change I had.
4" You're making no mistake this
time said he: I've fallen low when j
have to ask for Il, I'll hurry home TO
the old woman with it, And would
you believe Il, that old mamie can't
have been less than fffty-siX-started
on q queer shutting trotr and was 81
block of before 7 could recover my
establishment The last glimpse caught
OF him he was still trOtttng somewhere
alCAg ne city Hal! park sidewalk.
Nov wonder what the truth was.
Vysa ne making the fastest time he
could @or the nearest stale beer dive
or RGs he really making for some poor
room where there was an old Eife
waiting hungry on the chance OF his
bringing something homer prefer TO
think I was cheated rather than think
OF thaL"-New York Sun.