Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-10-16

SgSGsisEgst tEyISS,. a7fE H.". - .--.., d
use Is Reporter On Beg
sing Tour Asked To Go To
Work.
the apparent passing Of the back
door food beggar an argument arose
Isas to whether or not the average
housewife in Grand Forks is kindly
= open-handed with the bum who
n casually asks for a handout,
To settle the argument q Herald
reporter. who championed the wo-
8 linen and who is a likely looking
aspecimen of the genius hobo, put
Nstten housewives to the acid test. The
Esrreporter needed little preparation for
.Ssshlis role. He donned a discarded
\ overall, a SLOUGH hat, a pair OF high
2 TOP boots, pencilled a days growth
OF beard to give the impression OF
lxinembership in the clan of the
HN.great ~.unwashed," and being averse
z p walking climbed into his fivver
t&sand started ont.
4 Calling at ten homes in various
n Eections Of the city he secured ten
A- - W. oao 800
manner of sandwiches. cakes, dough,
nuts pies and fruit-cnough food to
supply II whole hobo camp. He did
not sPncouDie or a single "hard7hearted,
tight listed" person and was not once
asked to do work to earn the hand
out. Here, is his story:
Housewives with the greatest So
licitude left their tasks long enough
TO feed a hungry man, and it is
with sincerest apologies and the plea
that I desired to prove their great
h~cartedness. that 1 reveal the sub
terfuge. They can be assured that
the God donated was passed on to
some truly needy persons.
The first woman visited lived in an
average home on North Forth street.
She was a kindly old lady. husily en-
gagged in doing the family washing. a
three-year-old younCster was todullnE
at her side when she camo to the
door in response to a 'timid' knock.
Madam, have you a bite to eat
feeling good lately. Just got out Of
bed. and am unable to work. ;
f. (Can the Fates forgive such brazen
fabrication
The lady hesitated a moment and
looked with despair at her untldy
kitchen. "Well, if you will wait a
minute I will fix o something. but
- III ~ =
she hurried into the house.
i had not thought of the consc-
; and the worst happened.
/ The kind lady invited me into the
I Kitchen TO partake of a meal.
] Thoughtlessly. I had eaten a big din
! ner not an hour before. inc though
leaving MY conscience at home. L
/ carried a well-1lled stomach with me,
! which ! keenly felt would not toler-
/ ate much abuse. For a moment l
was non-plussed. but happily extri-
/ Gated myself from the p~redicament
/ by casually suggesting that she
1 might wrap the food in a news
] further" I fear this suggestion
/ aroused her curiosity if not her sus-
+ picion as later developments showed:
I Calmly took the parcel, thanked
I, her and walked off. When got about
Il a. blocx Gown. the alley noticed
Il that the woman was watching me,
Il so Issat4down inSthe grass and began
4 munchInE a. d~Cughnut., She watched
y 4me for u%few moments, but appar-
n entity satisfied that the bum" was
n enjoying a much needed repast. went
Il back to- her work. l suspected that
+ she might have called the police. and
! as it was only two blocsk to the sta
III ton, 1 was not particularly anxious
II to remain in that neighborhood very
long. However, I went down an
other block III the same alley. and
81 came Upon a woman working IN her
Il garden The hard luck tale was re-
y .peated with slight variations and
d brought similar results. and walked
n OFF with another big dinner.
Generous Girl.
4 Th4 next hostess was a young cir;
Hyon North Sixth street. Indeed
will give you something to eat. ]
81 .sdust c~an't/bear to see a man hungry
b She's got the markings of a good wife
She evinced some curiosity in regard
81 to my past, and my tale necessarily
~ had to be extended.
AsaafalHer eyes betrayed pity as the tale
was spun. and it was with a feeling
Wsof relief that I shamhled down thu
Sidewalk to the alley. could no
q. resist taking a peep into the bag. I
81 contained q big piece of cake, tive
81 apb1es and a meat sandwich!
II M The homes thus far selected wer'
<ssOf the better class. There had beer
d no arguing or quibbling. the hand
81 outs being gladly given, as far a
could be determined.
Ms#SI then went. to a section of tow
M where I thought I might find home
El OF more modest circumstances, an
III perhaps families of foreign extrac
zion. The reception wa sthe same
II Twas given more cake and sand
witches and occasionally some fruit
After my initial discontinue, l al
l.! Ways took the precaution Of suggest
III ing the newspaper wrapping, n tn
ssWomen seemed as much relieved as ]
+ A Common Fond.
ssI only met one mar Oh the expedi
E ton, a~ndtthough outwardly brusk, h
aid d hesitate long in calling hi
wife. Say., Maggie. there's a hun
gryman out here. Get him some
thing to eat will you?" He 500
sbrOught out the feed" without
AEqlestion. My Thank you sir" jus
SArp1Ght an eloquent gesture and tn
ssfS1fXEk "tI'yei been there myself"
Thsifs went to Second avenue.
ET14bSFss0ld woman wa tie frstN''vic
3ttEHpis;'sss She looked about the kitchen
aHhen spying a loaf OF bread on
EStab1s.ss4 HE wrapped it up and CAV
$sftSstOs me. Where is your home?
ii1sked. Isthen began relating m
ssS[42gffa Shistpf Probably sensing m
kaxSas8nneTt she broke me or wit
Never mind. 7 don
&&lek6SSWho you are or where you,
2&4fn1gss You just asked me for SOM
to- eat, and I gave you som