Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-11-30
" The Bunmer. y

Ge Woru 'Bummer Is late acbulsi
tion to our language. Neither Wcbste,
nor Worcester, in their respective lex icon
have noticed the term. Nevertheless, it i.
one of much insignifcanc, and is compre
hensive in its meaning. 1t is used By
those who are adebts in slang terms to de.
note wretched, forsakon, dissipated man
Whenever a man has become lost to sense
OF shame, destitute Of the means of living
is an object of derision to the thoughtless
and of pity to the compassionate, he is
styled 'Bummer.' While the 'Bummerr
may occasionally be found in the country
village, be is peculiar indigenous to the
city where he and his conftereS abound in
great variety and perfection. His haunts
are the lowest and vilest localities, where
his bestial appetites are gratifod to excess
and where the lowest depths of degreda.
ton are reached in the easiest possible
manner. Hundreds infest this city, aud
can be daily seen creeping along the street
pleading for aims in the most importunate
manner, or sneakingly Oh the lookout for
some article which they may steal without
the probability of arrest. The hummer
thrives best near market house, ,and there
are several localities near the Centre mar =
ket where numbers of them rendezvous.-
No description can adequately convey
correct idea of the Bummer. Il is nee.
essary te visit his haunt to fully appreciate
him. Mrs G keeps groggcry in little
weather boarded shanty,tbat has vithstood
the storms of nearly century. Of course
1t has been necessary o repair the build
ing occasionally, and this has been done
in the most homely manner Externally
the shanty looks as though gust of wind
would tumble it to the ground, and inter-
nally the walls, and ceilings, and parti
tlons have the appearance of bed quilt,
being composed ofinnumerable patch work
The rooms are dingy in the extreme, and
the floors black with dirt The front room
is set apart as bar-room, One or two
benches afford the sitting accommodations.
Behind the bar stands Mrs. c., dirty, fat
and bloated, At times as high as fifteen
or twenty Bummers are oongregated in
the small apartment. Those who have
been fortunate or unfortunate enough to
secure during the day sufficient amount
of poisonous whiskcy to stupify them, are
stretched on the floor, amid filth and dirt.
The others are buisied in cursiDg, induIg-
ing in obsccnity, or pleading with Mrs. c.
for whiskey. She generally manages to
keep all in debt, and as soon as successful
begging secures few pepios they are han,
aed over to her, and credit is given tc the
amount paid At night the miserable
Wretches stretch themselves on tho floor, or
driven from the house, seek lodgings in the
police station. At early dawn they are
abroad, going from door to door, begging
monthful of victuals or bcsieging persons
IN the streets for money, frequently they
'etuan to the groggery with pockets filed
With cold meat and bread, and after salts.
ying their appetites, if any food is left, it
secreted in some crcyice, and in some
ases, when fears arc entertained that it
Vill be stolen it is buried.
# by accident or otherwise a respecta>
ly dressed person enters, the Bumuers
hrong around him, claim an acquaintance
nd insist on being treated. Mrs. c. is
aro to put in word, and in a sympa,
iedc tone assures the stranger that the
poor creatures have not had a drop du-
ing the morning" The Bummer knows
Q refusal. If the stranger attempts to
cave, he is seized by some portion of bis
arments' and finds at last that to treat is
he cheapest and easiest way to get clear.
lany Of these poor creatures once oscupi.
respectable positions in society, and no.
nfrequendy revert their former condition
= q nalliation fnr missonJ,.4 NJ. l.