The Washington herald., 1916-01-15
Begging.
BY JOHN d. BARRY.

none They explain that there are institutions
where the needy are always helped and that ir
most cases street begging is business illegal, q
kind of criminality They tell us that when we
encourage street begging by giving aims we rnerel,
give ourselves selfish indulgence. we yield TO
weakness, and, incidentally, we encourage Grim.
inality.
When we hear these arguments most of us are
impressed. Perhaps we resolve never to give aims
to a street beggar again. A very few of US may
even resolve to contribute to some worthy charity
instead
We are likely to forget about contributing to
the worthy charity
And we either harden our hearts against the
street beggars or, to keep from being mean, we
fall back into the old weakness of giving.
Street beggars are sometimes highly interesting
But far oftener they are nuisance, discomfort
a menace to peace. =
We have all had the experience OF walking con-
tentedy along the street, perhaps having enter
tanning amusing talk with friend, and sud
denly finding ourselves confronted with beggsr
It's hard to know what to do
If we go heartlessly, we shall appear heart,
less perhaps to the friend with us, perhaps only
with ourselves.
self and very much more unpleasant to seem heart.
less to any one else.
And yet if We stop and search in our pockets
for money we may seem ostentatious.
And if ask questions with view to being
scientific careful, to seeming either of these
credtable things, may become involved in ali
kinds of difficulties. In few moments we may be
in mesh of what may appear to be responsible.
ties. .
All that is very irritating. 3
In the end it is far more comfortable either
to give little money to walk straight on.
On the other hand it is possible to take ar
interest in street beggars that makes it almos,
worth while to give the money. l know mar
who takes this interest
He has become expert in distinguishing be-
tween the deserving beggars and the impostors
He gives to both.
He says that the impostors have a profe
manner as distinct as the professional manner oi
lawyers or doctors writer's 1t shows itself ir
method of approach, in glibness of appeal, in bold
ness of attitude, the less plain when it i.
ridden under assumption of hesitancy. Fol
these impostors my friend has a philosophical
sympathy as well as certain admiration for theil
skill in acting.
In certain parts of Europe begging has become
|1sablished as business Among the poor ir
many places.it is more highly esteemed than some
other occupations, where long stretches of drudg
cry are meagerly rewarded.
OF course, wherever it is known among the
poor that beggar is becoming man of means
he must receive the tribute of admiration and re.
spect that we all pay to success.
Some years ago heard of rather Ytiful cas-.
in New York City. -..
One day baker who was earning comfort
able living found himself few miles from home
without money in his pocket.
He told passerby of his plight and asked for
nickel -
He was astohished by the ease with which he
secured the money.
The incident made him decide, greatly to the
shame of his wife, to give UP his bakery and to
devote himself to begging.
This story may seem rather shocking. But
parent loss of selfrespect of the esteem of the
neighbors, devote themselves TO begging or tc
something very like begging.
Begging secures money without return by ar
appeal to the feelings
Many stock brokers appeal to the feelings o
the public and persuade the public to invest in
worthless stock.
Such stock brokers are beggars
All the nonproducers of the world who secur.
something for nothing are beggars.
Ali public grafters are beggars, all grafters.
All people who persuade others to buy from
them things that the others don't really want, OF
things of no value or of less value than the price
charged are beggars
Many street beggars realize these simple truths
And in the realization they find justification.
One Sport for Americans.
Recent reports that visitors in Canada must