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Show WHY HE STOLE. He had a wife. His salary was $2,500 per annum. But she complained. She wanted a better house, better clothes. Nothing fit to go out in. No country cottage. Nor carriage. Nor front pews. Nor society. She coveted a place on the ragged edge of the select five hundred. She kept it up night and day. And moaned and groaned and growled and wept. He lacked style, also. As well as new clothes every six weeks, and various other things. He knew how his employer made several hundreds daily on the street. A thousand or so would not be missed for a few hours. So he took it, went upon the street, and won. She got her sealskin. He took more and lost. More to get that back and lost. More yet. Defulcation discovered. He wears the penitentiary check. Others are going to. Beware. But if you win regularly, society won't be hard on you. But if you lose, society will sit down on you. Beware. Better is the modest room up two pair of back stairs than a cell in the Tombs. And a plain woolen jacket rather than a pair of prison uniform pants on poor Charlie's legs. -- New York Graphic. |