The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-02
A MAN SOLD FOR TWENTY CENTS.
4 CURIOUS CHARACTER CURIoUsLY DEALT WITH
IN INDIANA.


The following is from the Evansville (Ind.
journal of Saturday last, the 9th: 1--WE have
man in our minds eye who, had he lived
with Alexander, would have been the twin
Diogenes. He lived, however, in this century
nay. lives even now, though in state Of
humiliating occupation. His name was Ihos.
Ward, but he was called ''Old Tom Ward" by
the men andi rip Van Wrinkle" by the boys.
He was not over thirty-fve or forty, but he
looked seventy. His home was at Henderson,
and whenever he walked through the streets
there he was the passing wonder. Long and
lank, his shoulders STOPPING, giving him an ap-
pearance Of perpetual desire to sit down, he
shuf1ed along, dragging his feet after him
more from the reason that his shoes wonld
drop off if he raised his feet than anything
else. His face was dirty, and probably was
washed once year. When he washed his
face it was day of celebration with him.
His hair was long, ragged and unkempt, and
covered with the dust and splinters of many
improvised beds. One day, long, weary
time ago, he had it cut and his face washed
together. The consequence was he was not
recognized on the streets for long time, un-
til his hair grew out again, and the dirt of a
hundred soils had gathered upon his impas.
sive face.
As he would drag along he was the perfect
impersonation of rip Van Winkle," as he
appeared after his sleep. He shuflisd along
most of the time in the middle OF the street,
with stubby pipe in his mouth, and the
saliva dropping from the corners of his lips.
He never did anything in the summer time.
but spread his legs out in sunny spot upon
an unfrequented street, and sleep, while lean
ing his back against friendly fence. He had
lived SO long without eating regularly that
missing meal never. troubled him. The
boys about town would give him enough to-
bacco for his pipe to bride him to the next
street. He begged enough to eat without any
trouble. He was never seen to do any work,
except when there was once legless man in
town, who went about in little wagon drawn
by two goats. One day the goats broke down,
and Old Tom was employed to take their
places. So he went trudging off down the
street in his usual manner, never looking up,
while the small boys followed in crowds, as if
and pelted him with dirt, but he never looked
up, and was never heard to speak to any one,
excep! a. rare intervals.
Ia fact, he was the perfect mortal who,
after the advice of the Arkansas father to his
son, ''never keered d-n tor nuthin nor no.
body"
Old Tom Ward had reached the ecstacy Of
Incidence; but, alas it has come to an end
We copy this from the Henderson Reporter Of
Thursday
MEN SoLp.-Last Saturday Tom Ward was
sold at public auction under the vagrant act.
He was purchased by Mr.. Lewis Fisher for
the extraordinary sum of twenty cents. Mr..
Fisher is a kind provider, and shortly after
his purchase clothed his new Ward in a suit
of new shoes. We hope that Tom will be
Disseminated from the practice Of PERM
cious habit
Thus, for the paltry sum Of twenty cents, a
man has been thrust into life Of misery,
when his freedom was no inconvenience to
any member of the community. We weep
one tear for thee, Tom Ward, thou philoso-
pher of the nineteenth century.