The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-08-09
THE REGULAR TRAMP.
4 Vivid Pen Picture Of the Wandering YnE.
nbond--IIIs Habits and Finger.
boards for Followers.

4 Vivid Pen Picture Of the Wandering vnI-
nbond--IIIs Habits and iiuunts-.FInEcr-
boards Tor Followers.
The visitor TO the country, this sum-
mcr, who happens to be Of m observing
turn Of mind, will notice lounging along
the highways aud byways Of almost any
neighborlood he may resort to in the
Atlantic States, slouching figure clad
i'll the motley Of mendicancy, with Ger
tain uncertainty Of manner, fnrtive,
half.dciiant, half-cringing air, and n
stealthy, sidelong glance that Mt once at
tracts attention and rcpcls interest.
This creature is the tramp. New to
our country side, he is yet fast becoming
u familiar object even i'll the most re-
tired and out-of-the-way places, where,
but few years since, his very name was
unknown. He exhibits the same char
acter everywhere, or, rather, tho same
phases of character under similar condi.
tons, for, though he can fawn anil whine
where he thinks abasement will be safer
or more scrviceable, yet Mt some lone
farm house, where hc has only fright
cned women to deal with, the buster OF
the low-lrowcd brute is savage and i'm.
FORTUNATE.
He is generally seen alone, though n
chance encounter with an old pal occl.
sionally leads to temporary partnership
in vagabondagc. But the tramp is natur.
ally uusocial, his being form of misery
that does not love company, and drink,
or bad temper, or both, generally forbid
friendships extending beyond n few
days. But he sometimes has another
sort OF companion, one who cannot leave
when drink makes him disagrceable or
dangerous, one who has no refuge from
his rago but the grave. On summer
evening the tramp may happen to be
seen stretched at full length on some bit
of grass by tho road side, smoking n
stunpy blnck pipe, while forlorn,
limp and haggard semblance OF woman.
hood bends over tho brands OF chip
fire, or gathers in greasy old kerchiei
the munclIed and mumbled remnants OF
n beggar's mcal-a secondhand and
third.hand saving That stands, in the lie
of this wretched being, in place of all
the sweet uses OF household economy,
Unless there is something in the pres
ence OF the approaching party to forbid
such M exhibition, the chances are the
tramp will take opportunity when two OF
three people arc passing by to display
his brutality by hurting foul words, or n
stick, or n stone ut the unhappy slave
who would fnin hide herself behind him.
Ii such M assault comes, she bears it as
one used to similar attacks, shrinking
and clutching her rugged shawl closer
about her throat, perhaps, but making
no moan nor raising her head. Her face
is rarely seen her eyes, never. Whether
those windows Of the soul hide the con-
seriousness Of awful depths of degreda.
ton, or whether the light of expression
has gone out, none will ever know.
Our observer, if faithful to his calling,
will find the tramp has curious habit
Of poking about the roots of tree by
the wayside, or the foot Of n telegraph
pole or gate post, and, if care is taken in
watching him, he may DO frequently
seen engaged III this occupation either
quite early or quite late IN the day.
Examine the place where lie Inns been
searching, and close scrutiny may reveal
three or four cabalistic characters rudely
scratched on the wood Or stone, n cross,
or a dot i'll tho center Of circle or
square, triangle, signs resembling pho
biography, or other signs looking more
like printers proof marks. These are
the tramps' guideboards, the blazed
trees OF the path, the trail OF his hunting
expeditions. They tell him that the
next turn leads to rich place, where he
can safely ask for money; that tho poor
soldier is good dodge to try in another
direction; that the farmer on the right
keeps n savage dog, that n Gully crib, or
house Of resort for tramps, can be found
in tho village on the canal. The tramp
not only studies these Indications for his
own instruction, but he is bound by
"the rules OF the road" to record such
of his own experiences rs may be OF use
to those who follow.
GRITTY, shifty, sly, cunning in all the
tricks Of his trade, tho tramp will beg,
steal, live in tho poorhouso, take II turn
in prison, or starvc if it comes to that,
but never will do n stroke Of work in
this world. lie is here in our midst,
and our community Inns got him to pro-
vide for. We ought to sec about the
work by proper legal enactments forth
with. He should DO taken care of by
such means as will prevent the increase
OF his tribe md the waste Of his tepre-
dations. His destructive thefts, his ter.
riblc rccklcssncss in the use of fire, and
his occasional outbreaks of spite, render
his methods Of taking care OF himself al.
together too costly to be endured. Be-
sides, he is disgusting and II dreadful
nuisance, aud ought to be abatcd.