The false poor

As I gave five sous, my God, don't ruin me! To a beggar who was pounding on the terrace of a café, my friend the philanthropist reproached me for my action:
You believe you are doing charity, you encourage begging which is a form of laziness and improvidence! If a man is hungry or cold, if he has no home, a thousand works are ready to take care of him. Let him introduce himself to one of them; after investigation, we will hospitalize him and give him work...
What if work bothers him? if he prefers to wander along the streets holding out his hand! if he prefers private assistance to official assistance? We are having a port, this man walks by and extends his hand; he seems to be saying: “I too would like a drink!” » Later, when ten consumers have imitated my gesture, he will be able to enter a bistro and drink to our health. Don't think this scandalizes me. He is free to spend the money I give him as he wishes. It would be nice to see that I also imposed on him the use of my nickel coin “Above all, only buy bread, and stale ones! >>
With men like you, society would be well organized and it would go far!
I claim to be neither an organizer nor an economist!
Have you not read the story of this beggar, arrested in Metz, and who was the owner of three houses?
Here is a pillar of your society and a poor example who made the most bourgeois and judicious use of his profits. What is deplorable about this arrest is that all the idiots will believe that all the poor people are owners. For me, I would rather give what I can to a false poor person than let a real poor person die of hunger.
My friend the philanthropist shrugged his shoulders and ordered a second port.

-D.