BEGGARS OF JERUSALEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3181, 29 March 1911, Page 7

BEGGARS OF JERUSALEM.

GREAT INDUSTRY OF THE HOLY CITY, A curious account of the u'ealthy organisations of 15,000 Jerusalem beggers is given in the Jerusalem “Truth,” a weekly journal published at Jerusalem in English. .... , These beggars, it is said, “thrive and wax fat upon systematic imposture, practised upon the benevolent and sim-ple-minded 0 f *every country on the face of the globe.” They “have made begging a fine art —a science—a perfect study, they constantly invent neiv stratagems, novel contrivances, and ingenious tricks bow to ensnare Die credulous into their traps.” Their transactions, avc are told, ‘are conducted upon strict business lines, with Avell-appomted offices, double; book-keeping, copying presses, and type-writers. The organisations, says the Jerusalem “Truth,” employ Avell-paid agents, ivh'otravel all over the world collecting thef names of all who. are likely to extend their -sympathies to the poor and suffering of Die Holy City. Millions of addresses are thus receKed, ivith minute descriptions of the nature of each individual, so that petitions may be drawn up to touch the right cord in the compassionate soul of the recipient. The petitions are generally accompanied by some, paltry souvenir of the Holy Land—dried flowers supposed to be gaDiered from the Mount of Olives, Bethlehem, of Gothsemane, or cheap olive Avood articles purporting to be made of trees growing in historic places. In reality many of ' these articles are imported from Marseilles. _ .... The nefarious business flourishes m spite of all revelations and warnings, and a large proportion of the begging letters sent out. are generously responded to,, often with a prayer-that in return the donor should 'be remembered at the Wailing Wall, Rachel’s Tomb, and Maohpelah. It is estimated 1 that these beggars send out about 50,000,000 letters a year.