RESPECTABLE VAGABONDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 160, 8 July 1871, Page 4

RESPECTABLE VAGABONDS.

(From the Liberal Review. Vagabonds may be divided into two ; classes — respectable vagabonds and dis- : reputable vagabonds. The respectable vagabond is, in a general way, a brokendown scamp. He has the same intense hatred of honest labor, and the same capacity for swindling. But his opportunities have not been so favorable, or he , possesses some absorbing vices. Fe is often a tippler, who, when he has money, cannot keep away from the dram-shop, or he so vicious as to openly frequent the haunls of vice. He has not got himself under any control, but must indulge his passions at all times and seasons. Thus he becomes known to be a vagabond, and is scoffed and jeered at. But vagabond though be be, he is not always avoided. He is an amusing companion, for in " loafing " about he picks up plenty of scandal and news. Those who have not known him previously he will lead to believe that he has the riches of a Midas and the wisdom of a Solon. But he cannot keep the deception up loDg enongh for it to be thoroughly successful. You meet him one day dressed in the pink of fashion ; a week after and you meet him in attire which , would almost disgrace a cpun.ty court bailiff. He' has .a. somewhat, infciniate acquaintance wiih the .^interior, and business of a pawn-shop;, and this may, perhaps, enable us to accqunt for ; the metamorphosis. Give him a first-rate' situation, and he won't keep it. Nor will the salary you/pay .'him suffice for his immediate wants! He lives upon the fat of the land, and runs into debt with his land-, lady. How... he- -manages- to dp .this is a mystery known only to (himsojff, for. laudladies are, generally s!pesKiug ? .difficult people to get into debt vrapi. ' He , wall also , run. into debt with all^PMesmen. who. w.ill give him credit. Eyrwill raise shipiiey on the goods he prarores from their shops. For instance, if he wants a pair ot ■'boots, " he/will send to a shop' for-foißf pairs to/choose <froro, and then keep the\n>t. Itl must be distinctly understood '|hat he rarely, if ever, pays his * creditors. But. what does he do with the money- .he', obtains ? . He " stands " champagne and oy\ter suppers to friends as disreputable as Tbimself, for he loves to be thought a great ,man, and he thinks by these ; means v to obtain admiration. Arid then he drinks, and plunges recklessly into the : vortex of " fast " life. But it is,ni>tTrequp<ffly ? thatf' 'he'shas got money in hia poolret. Often when he gets up'in the j^fningVhe does not know ; Where,' ; h^^nn6r-f—riay,, his breakfast-rris tq cornifvroNm, aiid he would • be^pujzzied if;yottva*sked -llims -where he was ; going to slee^the piglit. H& has 1 to " sponge"' 4 for 'the first, aßd rack his brain' for 1 some scheme which will obtain him a bißd. He likes to gatthqld pf;a;,.rich young fellow, the sillier the better, with whom . he will be so frie,ndly.,/ Jjle wilt go about everywhere with himjlpian delightful excursions and amusemenjts-r-aud let him pay , all expenses. /He loves to be invited to a hospitable ho bsei, where tie 'will cbnteWtedly hng'to'keep^'hinr. 1 v * We'are iuclined to believe that the respectable vaga^tfd/jpjm We despicable than he who is disreputable.- He is often a man of education, (of manners,! of intellect, but he turns all to un'vortby ends, because he is lazy and yici^^rr^^^iiA .' '