The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 4, 1898, Page 17

LEAVING ‘His LODG- INGS L m————rl e LOOKS BY DAy AS A BEGGAR. LIVING. Y night, a gentleman as to outward seeming; by day, an un- kempt vagrant, wandering from door to door with a lie and a whine for each; under the sunlight, cla in rags; under the gaslight, an exquisite. Perhaps you have seen him. His name is Jones, but he has taken the name of Nolan. He is young, probably not over twenty-three, and he is smooth, oh, very smooth. He has reduced beggary to a science and pretense to a fine art. Nolan is of medium height, inclined to fatness, for he lives well. He has coarse but not repellant features, for he reveals them fully by frequent shaves. He ha. an abundant suit of dark hair, somewhat wavy. His eyes are of a color hard to describe, giving the impression of being green. Beware of this man, because he can talk a suit off your back, or if you are of the other sex he can induce you to search the closet for one of your husband’s, and with winter coming on the old man may need it again. Nolan lives in a lodging-house on Mission street. He used to Jive at a hotel, but the proprietor did not like his style and asked him to seek other quarters. He sought them, and found them where no questions are asked. Pauper or prince, it makes no difference, so long as the price of a bed is forthcoming, and Nolan always has the price. The method by which he secures it is not devoid of interest. . o+ = Thursday morning of last week the doorbell rang at a house out on Jackson street, between Leavenworth and Jones. The place is specified so that Nolan may become aware that his game is known, and, in a sense, but good naturedly, that he is being coppered. The head of the house opened the door. The visit had not come as a surprise to him. In fact, Nolan had been invited to call. He probably had expected to see the lady of the house, for at sight of a man he did not look happy. Nolan was dressed to fit the part he was playing. His hat was battered and ancient. The rim lopped helplessly and through the crown the air percolated with the utmost freedom. “Well?” remarked the man of the house, who, by the way, had been waiting just an hour for the visit. The stranger was a bit disconcerted. While he paused a study was made of him. Oh! tramp forlorn. Oh! poverty most dire. The coat he wore was so old that the original color was not even sug- gested. The sleeves showed a tendency to drop off. There was a rip up the back. The buttons were gone, but as the buttonholes were also this was not a material point. " e pantaloons were far too large and frayed about the bottoms. Once they had been gray, but grease and filth had accumulated until a scarecrow would have shuddered to have flaunted them to the winds of a secluded corn fiell. His shoes were of the sort worn by a street laborer, but had long passed their prime, and were caked with earth which looked as though there for a season. Vest he had none, and the open coat displayed a shirt which had never known the chastening experience of the laundry. “Well?” repeated the head of the house. “A gentleman down at the Peniel Mission told me” said the tramp, “that by coming here I could get some clothes. I need some in which to look respectable.” “You would work if you had a chance, I suppose?” he was asked. “Indeed, I would,” was the response, “but a man can’t ask for work in such clothes as these.” He threw back the buttonless coat and made a display of sus- penderless, soapless poverty. “Do you belong here?” “Yeny “What do you work at?” Alas for the nerve to ask him not at what he worked, but whom h: worked. 7. “Anything I can get, but times are hard.” He sighed dismally, did this Weary, and there was a passing temptation to offer him a drink, which would have been done but for fear that he might accept. “Don’t you find it a pretty hard graft?’ was the next query. Nolan seemed puzzled. “Graft?” he repeated. “I only came to get some clothes.” “Well, are people generally willing to give clothes?” “I don't know,” answered Nolan, with a faint smile. “I heard that somebody here would be, and you see I need ’em.” The outcome of the conversation was that the tramp went his way with a bundle under his arm. He was very grateful; he said so himself. The clothes he received were not the best, but when the fact was called to his attention he remarked cheerfully that they were much better than the ones he had on, which was true. In the package was a complete suit, including an overcoat. As the offering was being wrapped up the recipient was eying it nar- rowly. Was he calculating, poor fellow, how it would fit? He wasn’t. He was calculating how much the garments would bring at a second- hand store, that's what he was calculating, so sympathy may be withheld. “You're not too proud to carry the bundle through the streets?” h> was asked, as he started away. “Too proud!” For the first time he smiled. “No, I am not and I'm very grateful to you.” An inclination to say, “Oh, rats! Nolen,” was repressed with dif- ficulty, and the bogus Weary got outside. Things looked cleaner af >r he had gone. Once outside and supposed to be out of sight he drew from some pocket a cigarette which he inhaled as though to kill the odor of his rag-tag garb. Then he struck for a place where there is a market for second-hand clothes. He sauntered along Jones to Market and darted into Fourth. There was no hesi- tation about his movements. . He had been there before. He threw the bundle down onthe counter. “How much?” asked the elderly person in charge. “Couple of dollars,” was the careless response. i “Mine Gott! Vould you ruin me?” and two deprecating palms ghowed. a depth of feeling that no student of palmistry was needed to interpret. \ As nearly as could be observed a compromise was reached, for the dealer seemed satisfied and Nolan had ‘coin to clink, - SINGULAR DOUBLE LIFE OF A SAN FRANCISCO MENDICANT WHO BEGS FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE DURING THE DAY AND AT NIGHT SQUANDERS HIS EARNINGS IN GAY So Nolan lives and thrives. He hangs about the missions, where he manages to get tips as to the whereabouts of the charitable, and his little account book is full of addresses. He makes long trips through the Western Addition, he skirts North Beach, and Pacific Heights are not too aristocratic for him. He is seen far out Valen- cia street. He is not proud. He will accept anything. It may be a stylish coat a trifle shiny, or it may be a baggy pair of trousers, old shoes, a hat. When the kind-hearted lady cannot find any of these useful articles he will even humble himself to take money. By doing this he escapes the trouble of visiting the second-hand dealer. It is a wretched article indeed which cannot be converted into money, per- haps only a trifle, but Nolan has learned that the world is made up of trifles. . e e In the evening a young man appears on Market street. His abundant curling hair is crowned with a felt hat of the latest pat- tern and most expensive make. His linen is spotless, his tie correct. A long overcoat envelops him. It is of good material, perfect in fit, a proper cut. His trousers are creased just sufficiently to make them set well. His narrow shoes shine so that at a glance they seem to be patent leather. As the overcoat opens there is shown a frock coat as up-to-date as the rest of the rig. To one who has observed Nolan, the tramp, on his rounds, par- ticularly to one who has donated a suit to him, there is a suggestion of familiarity about this faultlessly clad young man. But surely the tramp, who in the morning slouched along, a piti- ful wreck, can have little in common with this kid-gloved, cane- swinging, erect, quick-stepping specimen, who looks as though on his way to the theater or bedecked for conquest. But study the coarse features; gaze at the shifty greenish eyes. There can be no mistake. It is Nolan, the Weary Waggles of the early day, the men- dicant, the vagrant, the fraud. Concerning the fact that one half the world does not know how th> other half lives remark has frequently been made heretofore. Instances of dual existence multiply. Here is simply another one of them. There is no more complete metamorphosis when the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis than there is when Nolan lays aside his rags, washes off the grime and comes forth to dazzle. Where he gets his good clothes is somewhat of a mystery. Doubtless he could buy them, but there is hardly a probability that he does. Occasionally the vicissitudes of life compel men to take their best togs to uncle, and often they never get them back. Nolan’s relations with uncle are intimate, and as the harvest of cast-off apparel is steady he may be able to conduct a dicker in which there is no cash con- sideration. Then rich men have been known to give away new si0es because they infringed upon a favorite corn, or to throw aside a coat from not liking the set of it. To term Nolan a dude would not be exactly fair. Even after he has doffed his working garb he has an eye to business. Some- times he appears without the cane and discards the gloves. Then he visits the missions and seems to enjoy himself. He not only listens to the music, but joins in. He has a good'voice and the familiar hymns seem to appeal to him. He likes to have the active members of the mission talk with him, and while he does not appear to ac- cept their teachings, exhibits an habitual tolerance. He has little to say about himself, perhaps because he dares not tell the truth and does not want to add to the pyramid of lles erected during the day. ‘When the mission hall is closed Nolan has been known to go to his room, resume the tramp disguise and work the very streets where a few hours before he had paraded with :n air of conscious ride. 7 He does not always do this. Sometimes in all the glory of his best attire he seeks again the brilliantly lighted thoroughfare, and one would as soon think of offering alms to a banker as to him. Yet'it cannot be said of him that he toils not, for surely the as- sumption of a beggar’s aspect and a walk from door to door is not in the nature of recreation, while the ability with which he be- comes something else would bring him success on the stags. Nolan is no fool, so far as cunning goes, but a person of his astuteness ought to devote his talents to the production of better returns. His soul should soar above the discarded vestment and the sordid dealer therein. Another side there is to Nolan. He is not alone the beggar and the mission attendant, but he is a sport. The lighter side of life appeals to him. He is not averse to a bumper, fresh and foaming. H-~ likes to see a show, and he has a sense of humor, for with royal air he will bestow alms upon the applicant. This is a joke on us all. He is in reallty bestowing our last year's coat, our wedding trousers, or the shoes which hurt our feet. For at least eighteen months Nolan has been leading this double existence. He has proved himself an expert. To him life is a one- act play and he undertakes all the parts. It is impossible not to entertain for him a sense of admiration, not, however, that this should go to the extent of applauding him or refraining from throw- inz him out. This article is not written with a - few to disturbing th» happiness of Nolan. It is merely to show him that at last the public* is on.” Anybody desiring to contribute to the gentleman still has the privilege, but to this is added the still more blessed privilege of kicking him down stairs. People desirous of seeing Nolan may get trace of him at the Peniel Mission on Third street; ask for him at the Model lodging- house on Mission street, or if they wait patiently he will hunt’them out with a fetching tale of woe. As Nolan, the tramp, he will talk a little. As Nolan, the gentleman, he is reticence itself. As Jones, he is absolutely dumb. He has relatives across-the bay and they, being proud enough to earn bread by recognized and approved methods, might not be joyed to know his scheme. So good-by, Nolan. As a tramp artistically pitiful, as a gentle- man a successful bluff, as a singer of Gospel songs stirring the heart. When next in need of old clothes call agair. You won't get them, but a brief conversation with you might be utilized as a sequel to this plain tale of which”you are hero and -illain ReTORNING OME AFTER Edgoving THE