Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-20
Tramps,


Social Science Association at Sara
toga, an interesting paper on
Tramps was read by Professor Way
land, of Yale College. The profess
sor gave an instance from his own
experience, while in London in
1870, showing the disinclination of
the tramp to do any work unless
compelled to. While visiting one
of the casual wards in London, at
the hour when the tramps apply
for nights lodging, he was struck
by the mild, modest, rather intelli-
gent, and generally prepossessing
face Of one of the applicants. The
professor took an interest in him;
found that he was a translator"
or, as the professor afterward
ascertained, that his occupation
was that of "translating" old
boots, begged or purchased for a
trihe, into shoes. The young
translator" confessed to having
been con the loose" but said he was
tired of leading the life of a tramp
and would gladly go to work again
if he had money with which to
purchase the tools of his trade.
There was so much pathos in the
tone, 30 much sadness in the tear
full face, so much apparent sincerity
in the profession of a desire to re-
form, that Professor Wayland could
not help believing that he had
found at last, a genuine case de.
serving assistance. The officer in
charge of the ward cautioned the
professor against throwing away his
sympathy but the professor was not
to be moved from his design, and
accordingly informed the youth that
if he would call on him at a given
hour ON the following day, with
any one of the numerous testimo-
mails to his previous good charac-
ter which he stated his ability to
produce, he professor Wayland)
would give him such assistance as
he needed to set him up in business
once more. The tramp was pro-
fuse in his expressions of gratitude,
but did not keep his appointment,
and the professor has never seen
him since.
The conclusion which the pro-
fessor has reached with respect to
tramps is that they should be placed
in a situation which will, first, pro-
vide for their necessities; second,
compel them to perform useful
work; third, prevent them from
committing crime; fourth, render
it impossible for them to propa-
gate paupers. This involves the
idea of confinement, with enforced
labor. The professor advocated
State laws on the subject, having
these ends in view, and cordially
commended a bill prepared ard
offered to the last assembly of the
State Of New York by the State
Charities Aid Association, which
provided for the establishment in
Judicial districts of the State of an
institution for the confinement and
employment Of vagrants. One of
the features is a provision for the
opening, by the managers of each
institution, Of an account with all
vagrants duly committed, charging
them with all the expenses incurred
by the manager for their board and
maintenance, and crediting them
with a fair and reasonable compen-
sation for the labor performed by
them, and, at the expiration Of
their terms of sentence, paying to
them such balance as shall be found
due to them at the time of their
discharge.
The professor thought that such
a legislative enactment, rigidly en-
forced, would drive from beyond
the confines of the State so protect
ed all tramps who succeed in escap-
ing arrest, and disperse them over
adjoining States, where no such
laws had been adopted, and sug-
gested that, alike on moral and
economical grounds such an exper-
iment was well worth being put to
the test of a thorough trial.