The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-05-14

vived within the past few months
and at the present moment pursuing
such belligerent campaign against
the unworthy mendicants Of the Eter-
nal City, that its work is beginning
to be known and appreciated not on
" by the native public but by the
thousands Of strangers who form the
floating population here, and who
are usually the preferred prey of the
"pezzenti.
The institution has a strong fnan-
cial backing and is spending large
sums in we'll directed charity, but the
thing which renders it unique and
calls down upon its head the bene-
dictions Of countless harassed tour
lists, is its crusade against that vii
famous worm, that larva, that human
vermin, the professional beggar, WHO
has so long been the curse and eye
sore of this beautiful classic city.
Unfortunately, the Bureau cannot
count upon the law for aid in its eff
forts to exterminate this plague.
Practically speaking, there is no leg
islation against beggary as a trade,
and consequently the police cannot
arrest or drive away beggar on the
ground that he makes four or five dol
lars day and owns real estate.
So the Bureau has adopted an in
dependent plan. Like the Partisan
"Beggars' League it issues bulle-
tins, and just as the French organiza-
tion classifes rich and susceptible cit
izens, this Italian institution "spots'
and exposes habitual beggars who for
one cause or another are unworthy OF
aid.
Luigi Antonio, a Srey-hairea old
man of medium height, with wLite
moustache and beard," says one Of
the publications, "who stands every
day upon the stairway in front of
Saint Peters and exhibits a shrivel-
ed, paralyzeA arm. has 4,CH) deposit
ed il the Bank Of Italy, from which
ne='draws i per cent interSt, and Is
part owner Of a restaurant III Pavla,
from which he has aH income Of &c.
per month"; .
"Paoi Scappoletti, the blind man,
who sits beside the fountain near the
entrance to the Pincio gardens, ha-
bitually passes his nights in debauch-
cry in one Of the lowest dives in
Rome"
"Sanna Cofari (deep, crescent
:haped scar on left cheeky, who fire.
quents the neighborhood of the Co.
liseum, and whose legs are apparent
ly cut off at the knees, is not Grip
pie; his legs are doubled under him.
with feet strapped beneath thighs.
He has served a sentence in jail for
burglary and is reputed to be rich.'
And so on runs the story. The bull
letins are widely distributed and the
newspapers which are in hearty SYM
pathy with the movement, frequently
produce bits of information regard
ing the frauds exposed by the socie-
ty. The means is limited and imper-
feet but it is having its effect just
the same, and more than one beggar
who has spent many profitable years
on a single street corner, has been
compelled to abandon his post, and,
as the Bureau keeps track Of these
vultures and chronicles their move
ments, finally compelled to leave
Rome.
Like every American or English
newspaper writer who visits Italy for
the fast time, I have had much to
sayfn former letters about this mis-
cradle nuisance Of beggary, and have
had my little - fling" at the author1-
ties for permitting such a disagree
able state of affairs to exist in pros
porous, civilized country. For that
very reason it is a pleasure to write
of this society, which, despite lack OF
government support, is doing its best
to chase the beggars out of Rome. 1t
shows that @blic sentiment is begin
ming to be aroused, that the COM
plants of tourists, who have been I'M
posed upon from time immemorial,
are beginning to be heard by the de-
cent Roman citizens, if not by the
officials.
But this charitable institution does
not confne itself to exposing frauds,
it recognizes the existence of another