Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-06-25
GBeUermont 95enit,
BRATTLEBORO:
FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 25, 1875.


what can be done for its abatement grows
daily more serious. There Is hardly any
thoroughGare in our larger villages and
suburban towns which is not traversed
daily by specimens of the tramp tribe; and
the reports we have from various localities
indicate that the country Is being canvass
ed by professional beggars with degree of
thoroughness and system simply astonsh-
ing. The nearly uniform formula which |
these fellows adopt, and their scorn for any |
gift except money and that which has
money value, point TO close resemblance |
which yerges on kinship. They are brolh-
ers all; with the same slouching gait |
and sinister expression low-browed, I'M
kempt, and ragged; and in their de-
meanor crlnging and insolent by turns. |
Some are eminently high-toned in their |
methods of approach; they ring the front |
door bell imperiously and nothing sat
isles them but personal interview with
the "missis," for, with rare good judg-
ment, they never ask for the master of
the house. They have been long journeys,
so they say and they kindly give the
number of miles they have Travelled and
the hours they have been without food.
They are pushing on a few miles further,
where they are sure of finding work and
friends and would like 10 be helped along
with little money for car-iare, or 'just
len cents for dinner Notwithstanding
their inordinate hunger, when once seated
in The kitchen they display daintiness OF
taste which would do honor TO an Epicu-
rean; bit of cold roast, accompanied
with axe, pie, and a cup of coffee, is their
favorite refreshment, and If some the ar
ticles are missing, they rarely hesitate TO
call tor them. They are deeply panied al
being out of work, according TO their rep
reservations, and in great hurry to en-
gage in some useful occupation; but
proposition TO do little bit of work about
the garden for a quarter or halfa dollar, is
generally declined with great promptness.
Their engagements are so pressing that
they really must move on.
We are not writing now of the cases of
real desttution which occasionally present
themselves, nor of those workingmen out
of employment who are sometimes driven
by hard necessity 10 ask aid of strangers.
Nearly always these deserving applicants
for charity can be told by their different
bearing, and where there is room for doubt
the offer of little work 10 do will usually
settle it. Nor do we eler to that class Of
peripatetic beggars who mingle little
business with their plea, and desire the
housekeeper for sweet charity's sake TO
purchase for twenty-five cents picture
which is dear at Eve. We write of the
tramp pure and simple; the man who begs
H. 4 l.oo. 4 bait 10 .nrl-
TO HON imposition and falsehood are as
natural as breathing; and who is ready to
supplement begging with stealing, and
stealing with arson or outrage at the first
opportunity. In some of lis aspects there
is a da sh of humor In this tramp nuisance;
in others there is much of annoyance. The
time has come now, however, when from
being an annoyance simply, it has grown
TO be source of danger, and constant
menace. This class of sturdy, desperate
beggars, is made up largely of criminals,
actual or potential. Given an opportunity
and reasonable chance of escape, and
there is no crime they will stick at. Loose
valua bles they lay their hands on with as
much boldness as if they were their own
poss essions by right and by gaining ad-
mission to a house on pretense of getting
something to eat, they are able to make a
survey of the premises which may assist
them in making another entrance at night
time.
Only the other afternoon, at Worcester,
young lady who CHANGED TO be left alone
in the house heard steps on the stairs, and
found thereon a tramp who was making a
promptly demanded money and then tried
to seize the rings from her fingers, and on
ly a single circumstance prevented the
commission of a crime which would recall
the East Boston tragedy. This circum-
stance was that the young lady had pis-
toll at hand and knew how to use it. When
she presented it, cooked, at the ruffian's
head, he backed down stairs and out of tho
house, muttering the name of his patron
saint, "the devil" as he went. Such an
occurrence should teach a lesson TO those
masters of lou seholds resident in the
suburbs who have TO leave their wives
and homes unprotected during the hours
of business. While this Vagrant, criminal
class infests all neighborhoods, no house
should be without an effective weapon OF
some sort; or if not this, watchman's
rattle, with which a prompt alarm can be
given. A pistol can be kept locked up in
some secret place, out OF the reach of the
children and of those weak minded peo-
pie who experiment with such weapons on
their friends; and an occasion might come,
in any household, when such weapon
might do incalculabe service.
As to the general view Of the matter,
much may be done by q vigorous enforce
ment of the yagrancy laws. aud especially
the regulation which compels tramp to
pay for the lodgings and meals which he
may get from the authorities by a few
hours labor on the streets or public works
next morning. The towns which have
put this regulation into force report rapid
and gratifying decrease in the number o.
station house dodgers. There is an instinct
among tramps antagonistic to work and
there seems to be sort of Free Masonry
among them by which the knowledge O.
such obnoxious regulations is speedily
communicated, so that towns enforcing
them are given q wide berth. Further
moro, tramps who make threats or com
NIT thefts should be punished with sucl
severity as to make them an example t
their brother professionals. Our civil au
thorities and our police can do much NOR
than they have yet done toward the sup
preston of This tramp nuisance Boston
Journal. 7h inst.
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THE NEW MOVE AGAINST THE N. Y
RINa THIEvEs.-The astounding revela
lions made to the authorities within tn