Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-11-18
The Tramp.
SOME OF MS IDIosYNcRACIEs.

'tramps" here-the people who apply
for casual relief, in lodgings, food and
money, to the local authorities, and the
results are very interesting and instruc-
tive. He found the great majority, at
least nine-tenths, habitual vagrants, with
no home, leading an idle, vagrant, disso-
Lutte life, never working, and making no
effort to obtain work. Their story, in
the words of some of them, is this:
sage 20-Do not know his parents
has always been tramping since he can
recollect." cage 40-Him and his mis-
sus generally tramp it; had job Of
gardening at Guilford; not lately, twas
nine years ago; to tell the truth he new
er did much else but tramp, and does
not suppose he ever shall, but it is on
ly for lie. Three young men They
state that when they were boys they
worked in a lucifer match factory, and
they had enough Of it, work did not suit
their compilations, they never knew any
one to get fat on work. Age 45-Did
not think be could get work if he tried
for it, he had been too long on the road,
it was true he never tried much now
Got on pretty well for food, did not get "a
goose every day for dinner, but there was
always something to be got hold Of if you
keep your eyes open. Father and son,
81 and 21-Could not tell how long it
was since they did any work, had been
on the tramp, more or less all their lives,
and the son was born while on the tramp.
Had been tramping all over England;
generally in winter they applied for cas-
ual relief, slept rough (out Of doors) in
summer, and generally got food by beg
ging; going into Hertfordshire now, but
did not know that they should get any
thing to do there. Age A-Should
not like to emigrate, did not see why the
bone and sinew of the country should
leave their homes, there was room
enough for all, but the aristocracy want
ed the country to themselves !; had not
had constant work for sometime, could
not tell why. Age 21-Should not like
to emigrate, liked London too we'll for
that. Age 24-Thought it was no use
trying for work, might as we'll take it.
easy, it would be all thesame by and-by
Age 4S-Had been in the dragons and.
in the East Kent militia years ago -
could do stable work, but people would
want 5s worth of work for Is out of such
as him, and he did not quite see that
had been tramping now for years, thinks
these tramp houses ought to be made
more comfortable; should like to have
shy at the big 'uns,' they were bad
lot Of men like himself"
1t struck the officer as remarkable that
these men really do not seem to have
the least idea Of trying to get employ
ment in order to better their condition
they are satisfied with their mode Of life,
and apparently unconcious that any
thing like work is expected Of Them
| When discharged from the casual wards
in the morning, they wait for one anoth-
er, form parties. evidently not intend
ing to seek for employment. and betake
themselves to regular haunts. Some
were observed to resort to the parks, and
there meet others, women and men, as if
by appointment, sit under the trees
romp about, take foot ball from child
and play others idled about the mar
kets, begging and picking up food some
would be off to the Dark Arches. They
are men in the prime Of life, but they
would not work, even il sure that ordin-
ary daily labor would secure comforta-
| Bile competence. During the time that
foundation was being dug for wall
at Kensington Union the casuals were
employed upon the work, but they only
stayed for day or two; as soon as they
were able to draw little money they all
decamped. le
At Westminster, in the winter of 1867
the inspector of nuisances applied at the
casual ward, and offered 2s Sd day for
work in cleansing thestreets Of snow, the
parish finding the implements; theward
was full, and most were able bodied pau
pers, but only two would accept the em-
ployment. Fresh applicants for casual
relief catch the contagious influence of
association with such men, and lose ev-
erything like energy aud self-respect.-
The officer fell in at st Lakes with one
honest hard working man, applying for
relief for the first time, and evidently
stranger to the customs of the casuals.
The simplicity Of the man seemed great
ly to amuse them.
As the result Of whole inquiry he de-
clares his conviction that the casual poor
will never work unless labor is made in.
evitable and compulsory, and that seems
clear enough. One of these casuals, .
man of 20 years Of age, who admitted