Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1869 — Selected Miscellany. [ARTICLE]

Selected Miscellany.

Begging as ft fine,All. It ia diffleußat fhte. .rpqment to determine what institution,London still lacks, since it is very one at all acquaint,- , ed wjth ihe city, to count upon bis fingers the one* it already has. Stealing,bcgginp, and pocket-picking are Systematically taught iu secret, hut up to a very recent, period no one had darea to establish upon > t'»e Thames a school where begging, as a profession, is actually taught, and where the pupils have the advantages of lectures and the use of disguises. '“ Wbatdo yowTUMBp, t» thajtjhqmbug, or notf I asked of my wiMd. WhO Was an adept, in city way* . “ No, that is the troth/' he replied, and continued making his toilet a#.though dis nifsljAg.iuw.of thinkuniwoffest questions ot tlw the name of the profeijor aenUbit- re»»deweeU'No. BY Bxincess stJeejM. Gileh” / £ VThft ishiaftfmo?’’, • S V ,? -fUihave tljb greatest 'desire to take a tier td jive to the sJ'-fiWby not do ft., then P\ n ** ”la«*WR tease f mtMH»u*y> Do you fear thatthe seats will be all engaged t * : “Not that, blit rather that the police will be apt to close the academy as soon as possible." *' The police ? Oh, no! Roonay keeps within the law, so as not to cotoe In couf tact with it."; On the next day I sought Prof. Roonay I did not in the least believe in his existence, but thought that the announcement of his having opened such an academy was one of those bold assertions so often made by the press in order to fill their 4 empty columns. After considerable hunting, I at last found myself face-to face with Prof. Ropnay.-wh ml found (fressed in elegant style. “ How can I serve you ?" he asked, on my entrance, rising from his scat The sudden question rather disconcerted me. “I wish to take a course of lessons in the art of begging with success," said I, after a short pause. At the words “ with success," I could not suppress a smile. “ You aid not come here to make the art of begging, in the true sense of .the word, a means of your future support; it was your curiosity which led you here, was it not?” “ Yes, that is so,” I answered. “ Nevertheless/’ continued I, “ I have sought you with the eaipcft genre of hearing you lecture, and securing a seat I can pay the required foe now.” Saying this, I took out my purse. * s “Keep your money in your pocket,” said Roonay, with: a gesture of contempt. “ I cannot allow your name to be placed upon the register of my academy, for I take none, here but. those having a firm determination to pursue for the future the paths I show them. “ But I will,” continued he, “ make an exception for once. I say for once, in your case, in order to convince you that there is not so much humbug in London as the foreign press would have it appear. Please follow me."

1 had scarcely time to recover from my astonishment at his words, when Ro'brifcy led me into a wide hall which opened into a large room -Hbe academy proper—[he rear of which was handsomely decorated, and at this end was placed a desk for the lecturer. On the wells were hung many well-executed paintings,representing many devices of beggars indifferent countries, from the earliest days to the present time. The collection was one of considerable merit in a historical point of view. “ That side of the room represents London only,” said Roonay, pointing to a collection showing the ways of London beggars. We then entered a second room, which contained appliances of the profession. Here were closets with glass doors, containing pieces of what appeared to be papietfnadie, representing shot and stab wound* in various stages of healing. These, by simple mechanical contrivances, could be applied to any part of body. In other parts of the room were to tye seen many disguises, coats, little wagons for the use of pretended cripples, beggar clothingtcovered -wlthkncdals for deeds of imaginary bravery and, heroism, boxes wish various Inscriptions on them, umbrellas which looked as though made in the early days of art, and which could be used as weapons of defence, &c. Upon the table ftgMWn certificates for the use of pupils; testifying to their poverty ,or misfortunes; these were all signed by Roonay, and had tne seal of the academy attached. Thpthird room we entered wap the most interesting of all Here we found kennels of dogs of various breeds. “ This dog alone cap earn more than a hundred guineas a month,” said the professor, pointing to a small hound whose ugly countenance would aloue move one to pity. ‘ “ Therer, Moss, beg of this gentleman,” continued he, placing on the dog’s back one of the'small boxes we had seen Wore. The dog began by loud yelps, which he soon changed to a low whine, at (he same time- ’approaching me nodding his head, then stood on his hind legs, and, reaching out his paw, pulled at my coat-tail. This lie kept up, and would not be quiet until I placed a piece of money in.the box. His neighbor, Armstrong, begs in a different'way from that,” said Roonay, at the same time opening the kennel and hfftlbg odt a large bull dog, tipoh whose back was a huge box on which was painted, “ Your money or your life.” “Do not be afraid,' he will Pot hurt jrou, if yot* only place your purse in the At a! signal from Mb master, the Immense dog showed bis teeth and snapped . 'at me, and as t did- not make a movement for tnymoney, made a grab at:my throat. “ That is not begging,” cried J, indignantly ; “ that is a modern highway robbery." Havifig no remedy, 1 placed the contents of my wallet in Armstrong’s box. “ Here tbo tw« i extremes meet,” said Roonay, shrugging his shoulders. “ This dog is a master of his ait* f Just then the bell rang. Roonay toas needed In the paHor. As we retraced our steps, he told me that it was his intention t< ■ establish a large factory Jn connection with thd institute, where he wodld manufacture everything required in the profession of begging. On reaching the door R >onay offered me his hand, but I drew back, experiencing at tbe moment the same sensation a traveler mast feel while lying on the grass and having a tbad crawl Ot<* his face. When in the street again, l was about

to call a carriage, but was reminded of my empty purse. The modern professor of begguigand highway robbery had relieved me pf my last penny, and t had no redress. On the contrary, had I commenced an action against him, I doubt not that, he would have recovered his tuition from me, for he had given me private lessons Leipsic Dahtim.