The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1915-07-02
BECCARS or CHINA
They Are an Impudent and Az
gressive Set of Rogues.
BRAzEN FRANKS THEY PLAY.
Some of the High Handed Schemes
They Use For the Purpose of Extort-
ing Money From Their ViotimS-one
Clever Method of Robbery.


ing Money From Their Viotims-one
Clever Method Of Robbery.
Begging is in the nature Of an art in
China, and the various sorts of suppl
cants have been classified until now 1t
is known that there are at least thirty
classes Of travelling mendicants who
regularly go from place to place, plying
their profitable vocation. The passen-
ger boats know them only too well and
do not attempt to collect passage mon
ey for they sleep on the open deck
and, curiously enough, pay for what
ever rice they require. This being the
case, rather than have any trouble
with them and gain their enmity the
boatmen allow them free passage.
When the mendicants reach the city
they put up at the beggar hotel near
the big pagoda and let the beggar
headman know of their arrival Soon
the regular allowance is forthcoming
from their victims, and the beggars
spend few days in pursuit of pleasure
aud then move on to another place to
repeat the same proceeding.
There is one particularly obtrusive
and disagreeable class trained to bal
ance various objects on the nose, which
usually selects a victim Of means.
These fellows may walk into a house
and pick up chairs and balance them on
their noses as they prance around the
room. They then take these and place
them just outside of the door, possibly
on the street, much to the satisfaction
of the large crowd which has followed
them, as they have possibly just done
the same thing down the street bit.
If the money is Immediately forthcom-
ing, the show may soon stop and the
things will be returned to their proper
places.
If, on the other hand, the residents
refuse to comply with their demands,
they pick up one article of furniture aft
er another, skillfully balance each upon
their noses, and, amid the roar OF
satisfaction from the street rabble,
they carry them outside to the street.
This may continue till the whole of
the rooms contents have been piled
upon the street, and then the beggars
olR VA dhAO lhc OuA5lo VI dPRldub6
that follow their action and leave the
victim to move his belongings back
into the house.
Again, there are others who are
beggars pure and simple, who walk
in the middle of the street, beating
the pavement with a small bamboo
stick. They turn neither to the right
nor to the left to beg, but keep their
eyes fixed ahead Of them and take
only what Is thrown to them.
In quite another class 1s the wretch
who shams ailment or physical defect,
and who is clever actor, willing to
60 to considerable physical discomfort
in his efforts to arouse sympathy. He
makes n practice of cutting himself
when his demands are refused. He
will appear before family and de-
mand fee. If this is refused he
Cruws knife and cuts his forehead,
and the blood begins to flow, much
TO the horror and confusion of those
In the house, especially If they are
only women.
The sight of blood quickly changes
the matter, and the beggar begins to-
yell in u most distressing way at the
same time, attracting a crowd. 1t is
now easy with SO many witnesses to
open negotiations for a much larger
fee, and he Is usually paid consider
ably more than was at first demanded.
Having carried his point, the beggar
now tours the entire street, where
the news Of his actions has preceded
him, and he finds no trouble in col
lecting a handsome little sum from his
one cut. for the blood, still fresh on
his face. strikes terror to the chicken
hearted.
There is also a class of criminals
to beg for certain period of time in a
province long distance from their ma
tive places. This does away with the
necessity of the governments feeding
the criminal and puts him out upon
public chaNty.
OF very different class are the men
who have p1tiful tale OF starvation to
tell, which, they bewan, compels them
to sell their wives or sons. Few IN
deed would think OF making purchase
Of this nature, and the story almost In
rariably results in the bestowal OF
money on the unfortunate man.
However, If he finds some one who is
willing to make the bargain and take
the child he is inwardly delighted, for
this means full bag for him when he
finally hauls In his net.
The son goes with the new master
and proves himself an unusually satiH-
factory lad, doing his work with hfI
whole heart in it and thereby gaining
his masters approval and entire conf
dence as he had planned. In due time
the dutiful son slips the latch and al
lows his fond father to enter and Sc
cure all the goods possible, and to-
Eether father and son leave with all
10 ,f..., L.. 4.