A
tall blind man with a long staff, with which he would strike the curb
stones. He often sold penny religious tracts, usually for the Methodists,
although apparently for little use, as most of those who purchased them
went from beggar to a nearby gin shop (the blind man sometimes positioned
himself outside Mr Whitbread’s brewhouse, although the tall man
had no particular usual haunt in London). Many of those who had become
blind or disabled hated that they had to beg, and so would sell small
items so they could feel a little better about their plight.
