VAGABOND LANGUAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 697, 8 April 1865, Page 3

VAGABOND LANGUAGE.

Persons indiscreet enough to open their purses to the relief of the beggar tribe would do well to take a readily learned lesson as to the folly of that misguided benevolence which encourages and perpetuates vagabondism. Every door or passage is pregnant with instruction as to the error committed by the patrons of beggars ; as the beggar-marks show that a system of freemasonry is followed, by which a beggar knows whether it will be worth his while to call into a passage or knock at a door. Let any one examine the entrance to the passage in any town, and there he will find chalk marks, unintelligible to him, but significant enough, to beggars. If a thousand towns are examined, thesame mark will be foundatevery passage entrance. The passage mark is a cypher with a twisted tail ; in some cases the tail projects into the pass-jge, in others outwardly ; this seeming to indicate whether the houses down the passage are worth calling at or not. Almost every door has its mark : these are varied. Ia some cases there is a cross on the brickwork, in others a cypher : the figures 1, 2, 3, are also used. Every person may for himself test the accuracy of these statements by the examination of the brickwork near his own doorway — thus demonstrating that mendicity is a regular trade, and carried out upon a system calculated to save time, and realize the largest profits. * * One gentleman writes from Great Yarmouth to say that only a short time since, whilst residing in Norwich, he used frequently to see them on the houses and street corners in the suburbs. From another gentleman, a clergyman, I learn that he has so far made himself acquainted with the meanings of the signs employed, that by himself marking the characters meaning gammy and flummuxed on the gateposts of his parsonage, he enjoys a singular immunity from alms -seekers and cadgers on the tramp. In a popular constable's " Guide," giving the practice of justice in petty sessions, I have recently met with the following interesting paragraph, corroborating what has just been said on the hieroglyhics used by vagabonds : — Gipsies follow their brethren by numerous marks, such as strewing handfuls of grass in the day time at a four lane or cross roads ; the grass being strewn down the road the gang have taken ; also, by a cross being made on the ground with a stick or knife— the longest end of the cross denotes the route taken. In the night-time a cleft stick is placed in the fence at the cross road, with, an arm pointing down the road their comrades have taken. The marks are always placed on the left-hand side, so that the stragglers can easily and readily find them. — " The Slang Dictionary ; or, the Vulgar Words, Street Phrases, and " Fast" Expressions of High and Low Society. Many with their Etymology, and a few with their History traced."

Following.—" Ah," said Dr. Boomerang meeting a patient, " I need not ask you the cause or your being' out .again; you followed my prescriptions V " No, I didn't, doctor. If "I had, my friends would have followed me to the grave.

At a club of which Jerrold was a member, a fierce Jacobite, aud a friend, as fierce, of the cause of William 111., were arguing noisily, and disturbing- less excitable conversationalists. At length the Jacobite, a brawny Scot, brought Ms fist down heavily upon the table, and roared at his advei^sary, I tell you what it is, sir,' I spit upon your King William !" The friend of the Prince of Orange was not to be out-mastered by mere lungs. He rose, and roared back to the Jacobite, "And I, sir, spit upon your James II." Jerrold, who had been listening te the uproar in silence, hereupon rang the bell, and shouted, " Waiter, spittoons for two !''

Feed Them Well.— A. story is told of a well known character being appointed governor of a colony, but after receiving: liis appointment he felt very nervous as to his capabilities of performing the duties of his office. He therefore determined to consult and open his heart to a dear friend, -which he accordingly did ; and after stating his doubts, his,»wise friend soon settled the question, and eased his friend's mind by the following simple advice : - " Cheer up, my dear fellow ; feed them well and often, and you can't go wrong." The recipe was successful. Not bail advice to an Irish viceroy.