The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-08-19
Native Wit Makes Mooching
a Science as Other
Countries Bar 1t.

New York. Aims, aims, for the
love of Allah !" has resounded
throughout Palestine since Mohammed
first went to Mecca; but if the au-
thorities in Jerusalem have anything
to do with it, it will no longer din in
the ears of the tourist For Jerusalem
has turned thumbs down on begging
and the picturesque and nondescript
loafers who heretofore importuned the
faithful and the unfaithful alike must
seek other fields where their solicita-
tions have not aroused the authorities
against them.
Spain has also notified the beggars
that, starting Immediately, they are to
become useful citizens. A roundup is
now in progress and those of the aris-
tocracy of aims who are too proud to
work will be sent to the warehouses.
The rest will be given opportunities to
learn trades, and the minors will be
taught to read and write.
Hamburg, so the authorities say, has
solved its problem. When "stem-
mer," ''moocher" or "panhandler" ac-
costs the stranger on the street, he is
handed ticket which permits him to
have his case investigated by well
fare society. If he is found worthy,
he is taken care of. If the society de-
cides against him. he is advised to
hustle for a job or leave town.
In Hull, England, the city corpora
tion has taken somewhat novel steps
to eliminate blind beggars from the
streets. 1t has decided to pension
them. Those who now enjoy pen
sion will have it increased to Is shill-
ings week, while those who have no
allowance whatsoever will find them
selves on the city's pay roll for like
amount. The city estimates that this
scheme will cost in the neighborhoOd
of $4,000 a year.
Age-oId Problem.
Begging is coeval with history, and
every nation and people has had this
age-old problem to solve When corn
and wine were plentiful in the land,
the gates of Rome were lined with the
INDECENT and shiftless, who called on
all the gods to witness their singular
and collective ailments and misfor-
tunes as they asked the stranger APP
preaching the City of the Seven Hills
for few spare coppers.
When famine swept through the
provinces, recruits f1ocked to the thin
ming army at the gates and swelled
its ranks. Their argument was that if
there be plenty in the land, those who
have should give from their abundance
to those who have not; and if there be
famine, those who have should give
all the more to those who have not.
Rome, drawing on the richness of the
conquered territories, opened its cof-
fers and handed out doles to the city's
buns, and more buns flocked to the
city.
Jerusalem, in the days of the kings
and the prophets, had its lepers and
its loafers stretched out in the sun at
the walls of the city. There they
begged and blessed and cursed the
opulent traders coming in from Egypt,
Syria and other points, in successive
breaths, according as they gave or
did not give.
Begging thrived in the Middle
ages. There was an aristocracy of
loafers whose fathers before them for
generations had been loafers. They
raised large families in rags and squa-
lor to the glory of beggardom, and the
mendicants went begging down
through the ages in sunshine and
storm, in summers heat and winters
cold, at palace door and prison gate.
Paris. the home of social graces, had
its hordes of unwashed unfortunates.
London had its quota of loafers. Ber-
lin had its army of buns and Petro-
grad had its percentage of ,paupers
Scarce in Colonial Days.
Just when the advance guard of this
ancient army established itself In
America is uncertain. During Colonial
times begging was practically unheard
of. Even after the Revolutionary war
there is little or no mention Of men
delaney. There were abolitionists and
whiskey rebels, but no buns, as such.
In 1923 it was estimated that there
We're $4,000 beggars in New York city.
In 1925 this number, it has been said.
was reduced to 1900.
- .<.w :