Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/156



May be divided into two species; the bold beggar and the sneaking beggar. The latter is self defined; being no other than those who abjectly implore your pity, and receive rebukes with meekne&s. Some among them, however, attempt larceny, and if discovered turn rusty upon your hands: of these we will speak hereafter.

The bold beggar is he who, with vociferations of his hard case, intimidates the chicken-hearted, the women and children; men of stronger mould also are souietimes choused out of their pence, and so far as the intimidation goes (with either the one or the other), it is no less a robbery than if a pistol was placed at your head, or a dagger at your throat. Half a dozen sailor-dressed men, for instance, will accost you in Blackfriars road, or Goswell Street, or Toftenham court road, or any other outlet, with "God bless your honour! My noble Captain, drop a halfpenny in the hat for poor Jack; not a copper in the locker." On tht ground is his hat, into which if you fail to drop a few pence, like Gil Blas in his history, you perceive what is most probably to be your fate, with this difference, that that