Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1911 — CADGING IS COMMON [ARTICLE]

CADGING IS COMMON

Even Wealthy English Peers Borrow Little Things.

Number of Remittance Men Is on Increase as They Are Being Shipped to Colonies to Get Rid of Their Presence.

London.—ls the “cadging" spirit—the desire to get something for nothing from somebody else —becoming Increasingly common among Englishmen of all classes? A case at the West London police court, in which a housemaid was charged with stealing money (In order, It was ascertained, to give it to her sweetheart, a Scots guardsman) gives rise to this question. Mr. Fordham, the magistrate, addressed some stern remarks to the Scots guardsman, who was in court, on the meanness of this form of cadging. “This la a dirty, mean, scurvy thing," be aald. “A meaner, mors scurvy thing could not be. . . . How a man. a creature, an animal calling himselx man could take money from a poor girl working as a housemaid I cannot understand. . . . "In my view, you are simply a parasite animal creeping about and getting money anywhere you'can. It is perfectly disgraceful, and if 1 saw my way to give you six months’ hard labor 1 would be pleased to do It." According to opinions gathered from prominent business men, social reformers end others, the "cadging creature" la to be found In all walks of life, particularly amongst tbe upper desses.'

“The case of the guardsman who would borrow money from a woman has its parallel in higher circles of society," said a well known city man. “The young, lazy, ne'er-do-well who Is well educated, but llvee on bis friends and relations, practises just the same kind of meanness as this particular Scots guardsman "His nets, however, ore gilded over by good manners sad polish. He cadges money from bis friends be cells it s loan—nut never intends to pay it beck. -

“The ultimate end of this cadging creature is that he is packed off to the colonies by his people, where he becomes a remittance man —a gentleman of leisure, who Is paid by remittances sent out from home to keep away from home.

“In South Africa, Australia and Canada the number of remittance men is always increasing. "Where does the fault lie? What is wrong with our system of education that it breeds such men?

“In my opinion, there is too much softness and kindness In the public schools and home life of the present day. “Men who live on somebody else and complain that they ‘do not know what to do with themselves’ are the products of this gentle system of education.”

"There are various forms of cadging." said a West End clubman who la keenly Interested in all social problems. "Men nowadays do not hesitate to accept presents in the form of cigars or wine from mere acquaintances. "Well to do men make a habit of cadging cigars and dinners, leaving you to pay the taxicab and performing other little acts of meanness. “Twenty years ago the spirit of English society was one of sturdy independence and Insularity; today a lord will cadge cigarettes from another man.

"The only method of exterminating the ‘cadging creature’ is a mors rigorous. disciplined education for our British youth."

“Women First, Please.’ Boston. —"Women first, please," will he the softly spoken request of derated train guards in Boston hereafter. Conspicuous signs bearing this polite request will de displayed In elevated stations. The courtesy crusade Is the result of complaints that men and boys Jump on the can In the elevated tunnel and subway stations before they come to a stop. This deprives women of seats for which they wait. The company Is going to stop the practice If politeness will do lt_