New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-11

Romance VIII simply not die out, and nj
rlasqucrade rs We still have q plenty. Did
not the National Association for the Pre-
rcution of AIendicancy expose the other day
: picturesque item of the negro race who
could out -fsi4na Sishr1-t Al the game OF
a7at7-? According 10 the lime Of day or
i the ueishborhood which he graced with his
III presence. he was successfully a sanity par
son. a prfzef1shter, an employment agent
q waiter or d jewelry salesman.
\ ceniusn Heavens. no, After the
glamour of newspaper publicity had faded
of there remained a second rate weaklng,
mere Jack Of all trades lie tried, il Is
true, TO collect some money for charitable
association which ca1eiessIy Endorsed him;
but he did it SO badly that he was prac-
fically harmless. He was not even an attn
lete: ne had merely figured in a couple Of
boxing bouts over little saloon IN Hells
Kitchen. As an exponent OF tie double
life, with Its lure, its mystery. its romance.
he proved distinctly disappointing.
There is fascinating ring TO the words
Ito 1eed & double life" due undoubtedly 10
;hs being associated in our minds with the
eir.e tbriIiers that delighted our young
hearts and the detective stories that en-
-zptured our youth. In our days. however,
q little detective work reveals cruelty. al
most every time. in connection with the case
OF a double life cheap trickery, common
plaoe eordidness. ephemeral deception.
Many people lead double life. but IN
sfats, az in other fields Of lawful or uniaw-
sul endeavor, Il is hard 10 leave the beaten
path and TO blaze a new trail. MasQuerad-
ers soon become cIoying unless the discre2-
rrr-y between their various identities is alb
sotutely startling. Deception practised on
q handful OF people deserves the meagre
ssur lines which newspapers devote 10 pc
lice court items
Eeadl,rers are IS rare in double life rs
they are on The stage. Take the case of the
millionaire beggar.- Once 4 month We
ere treated 10 consideration OF the death OF
some ancient beggar who either carried an
interesting handbook in his breast pocket
~ concealed between mattresses an obese
bundle of bills Double life? Not at all.
Only two classes OF the population can be
genuinely surprised or deceived by such
revelations Is -Old Beggar Left SIS, 600 ;n
Iz.h~-geen reporters or readers abso-
7rrteIv unfamiliar with sociology. Every
bonneville tu Henry street or Ridge street
where the millionaire" lived knew him or
.~, ~ De a'schnorrer." q professional beg
gar
uns.rIea at any trade. left alone in life
Of married children. some old alien takes
70 bessdns when his scanty savings give
s,1t No disgrace attaches to II IN Henry
o. Ridge etreet- -'Schnorrels" do not prey on
their nezhbors They pay the grocer or the
butcher promptly on the crumbs from the
-4ch mans table which they pick uP on tie
west Side They are harmless, frank and
open about it When they earn more
than they require. they may buy an equity
in tenement bonds on the instaiHient
plzn. No double life about this.
II Is only the East Side beggar who
e1inces such thrifty instincts The Anglo
Saxon r,sendicant spends his cash as fast
as ne gathers il. At Tom Lees. No. Bow
cry: IT Peg Legs" No. 20 Bowery, and
-7eishboring resorts, one-arneed or one
legged sports may be seen every night
eraptytng their pockets on the bar and
fe-stirg the crowd as long as they have
nickel left The real street besgar seldom
goes TO the trouble CT leading double life:
he seldom tiles 20 break out OF his socio-
logical circle a few. however. like 10 dress
realty ard have good time after working
ncurs"
Il, contrast with those who sQaander their
money stupidity on drinks or lose 1t just
rs stupidity ct cards there are those VINO
like q mice, social time. Take "Bili' An
Gerson. a one-armed boy, %ho dressed him
self up every night, put on an artificial leg
Enc was considered true sport at Coney
CT IN the Tenderi0i.i.
Women with q leaning toward the 70
mantle make excellent masauersders.
z5sven't you ever given 30 cents to that
serious looking young woman who. with a
very embarrassed expression. handed you