Evening star., 1909-01-24

couple. and discovering that the son
was clever artist. the latter was en-
couraged by his patron to develop his
talent and succeeded in producing some
philanthropically undertook to find a
market. This looked like a splendid op-
portunity for the young man to extricate
both himself and his father from their
predicament- But. alas. for human frail-
ty! The parsons son borrowed a consid-
cradle sum of money. ostensibly for the
purpose OF getting the pictures framed
and decamped. taking his pictures with
him. Overcome by this last disaster, the
father suddenly disappeared from the
brigade" leaving no trace.
You see that man leaning against the
wall. said Mr.. Smith. as he stood at his
window and pointed down upon throng
waiting for assignments" "he was once
one or the most prominent policemen on
the London force. in the direct line of
promotion. We have had numbers of ex-
policemen here at one time or another
A man has often said to me, Don't send
me out now, gov'nor. please. There's a
sergeant standing at the crossing who
used to know me well when / was on the
force. He don't know I've come down to
this
You would scarcely credit some of the
applications we have. There are plenty
of people like The Parson' and his son.
Besides professional men, we frequently
have clerks who have occupied good posi-
tions. and also good smattering Of actors
and railway officials. together with a fair
number of representatives from the army
and navy
Pointing down the yard he indicated
men who had figured in such walks Of life
One, with broad shoulders an iron-gray
n1prcinR VIC rfrcy bad
cap. seemed to stand out from a group
of huIkins. slope-shouldered figures
That man was formerly the master of
ship" explained MIR Smith. He lost
one of his vessels. was never reinstated.
and finally took to drink. He does not
drink now; bread is hard enough for
him to get. Being too old to go to sea as
common sailor there was nothing for
him to do but go on the streets. He
might have gone into some sailors home,
but he seemed to resent the suggestion
He prefers making a shilling or two a
day to being supported by charity. We
have several men from the navy among
us now. two OF whom were midsdipmen
THE tall. rather pale-looking man with
the white beard just to the right of the
ex-captain." continued Mr.. Smith. was
formery moneyed man i'm the city. Fiji
teen years ago he lived in Manchester
square and drove carriage and pair
a bout London. He wears a beard today
as sort of disguise. for he often has to
trudge past the fashionable clubs in Pail
Mall. of which he was formerly a men,
Der. He lost his fortune In some COM
mercial enterprise"
Another victim of circumstances who
regularly attends the gathering in Ham
Yard was formerly prominent London
architect. He was wont to dine daily at
one or other of the gerat Piccadilly
restaurants. He lost his fortune, and
then his health: and finally put his neck
under the yoke. Every day this man
passes within few PAGES of his former
fashionable haunts. Occasionally he dis
appears for a time from the brigade"
but always turns up again. 1t is pre-
sumed that these periods of mysterious
are caused by the tempor-
airy aid OF some sympathetic friend, who
attempts to rescue him. An uncontrolla-
BILE failing-"the cup which cheers
however, always gets the better of him
and SO the pitiful tragedy goes on.
If YOU have ever watched a group of
walking along the streets
you will observe that they always keep
their heads bent down, their eyes upon the
ground There is an object in this. They
are ever seeking in the gutter. the road
way. or on the pavement. for some object
which may bring them temporary emanci-
patton. No unconsidered trif1e escapes
them. Like birds of nrey, they ever