The Morning herald., 1877-03-13
WILMINGTON, March Is, 1877:
TRAMP. TRAMPS.


With the opening days of spring, as the
crocus and violet effuse their perfume on
the air, the tramps come to sniff their odor.
We may look out for them any day, as
they are now due. 1t is curious fact that
law has been found strohg enough to break
up any organized body of men, whose
conduct, habits or customs have been held
to be pernicious to the State or public
morals--the tramp alone excepted. At all
times and in every condition Of civilized
society he existed. The statute book OF
England groans with acts Of Parliament,
intended to stamp out the tramp, or wan
dering vagrants, but all have been found
inehicacious The great difficulty is how
to discriminate between travellers in search
of employment or settlement, and they
who have become itinerant mendicants by
profession, and wander about the country
as such during those months that it is
pleasant to be in the open air. If some
law could be devised to summarily punish
the idle vasrant, who is in fact a quasi
highwayman, without subjecting the honest
poor, who are seeking employment, to
annoyance, it would be great boon to the
country. He that will draw and have
passed such an act, will live in the grateful
roco1 Ioof;op IF IL, collouu ~; t;u,., IL.
all matters Of great import, the way TO
commence an intelligent treatment of the
tramp nuisance, is to get at the history Of
say one hundred Of them, taken indiscrim.
inately, one could then learn the cause
and growth Of the system, and be meas
urably prepared TO apply remedy.
The highway in the olden time was only
travelled by persons upon lawful business.
The farmers home was safe even if un-
guarded. The honest husbandman paid
little attention to locks and bars, as thisv-
''g was practically unknown. It is not
now. The tramp has spread himself
J. the country, and he riots in the COM
yer freedom which he enjoys, afar
aratlv> Cheat" Of the policeman or the
rom the The high-road formerly ira
'atchnan' countryman only, on which
,ersed by she miles would meet M M.
he 'faVeief ~, y, 49, know personally or by
whom he did ,,aGae, nSt \ by strange feet, and
s'gn'' 'sS na" ,sss famiA 'ar than of yore by
IS. IS fsnusl @ W. ~. nee Of stra!z,s. faces Tramps
pass along it, s.:.'sl7 Or by two'. 0 'D.ees .;an
and thew form an .'ver-ending proces~' 'lon'
The residence on the bigh'road and the
farm house lying off at distance from it
the only access to which is by means OF
the long lane-are alike exposed to the
visits of this human pest. To beg is tine
normal habit of the tramp; to steal is
native accomplishment. To obtain what
he wants by whining or pretended civility
the presence of the sturdy farmer, or to
demand it in rough tone, and even with
threats if only women and children are
present, is indicative Of his manner OF op- |
GRAFTON, His wants are few. He may be
REQUIRED to ask for something to eat or
drink if there is nothing in his way to
steal; but as for lodging, it is scarcely
necessary for him to indulge in any cere-
mony. He can easily see where the barn
is, and he calculates taking his rest there
as calmly as does the wealthy tourist pick
ing out his hotel. If the premises are de-
Tended by cross dogs, he mollifes those an
imals if be can if not, he passes on. he