New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-22
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
LETTER FROM ELIHU BURRlTT.

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The experience of the last few years has
proved that we not only have the poor always with
MS but also all e" the dangerous classes OF the Old
World. and even one unknown 10 European coun-
tries and which more than any that burdens them,
Is iufcting upon us increasing peril and annoyance
For the tramp in England and elsewhere abroad is
n solitary vagaboud and easily managed, but with
ne he is cregarious and formidable from union with
his fellows Theymove in bands through the coun-
try though they may deploy individual skirmiSh-
ers upon the community levying contributions OF
food and clothing under menace understood II not
EXPRESSED Thousands give to these sturdy ana
dangerous beggars as if commanded to stand ana
deliver for they dare not refuse lest they put their
own lives and property IN peril. And yet, with all
this voluntary and compulsory giving the houses
and barns burnt BY tramps every year amount to
value that would board them az hotel fare for the
same period
Undoubtedly It has been almost general impress
sion that tramps are only new and temporary birds
of passage and prey-that they will pass away and
disappear with the exceptional times that produced
them. But the wish is the father of tins thought
fer il can find no foundation in experience or rea-
son. The evil has had time and space enough to be-
come chronic. The habit of yagabondage has be-
come settled and strong in thousands who love to
live bv il without labor. There is enough of Incl
dent and adventure in it to make 1t attractive to
them II is a social life which they ENJOY with
satisfaction akin to that which bands of buffalo or
bear-bunters experience in the pursuit of their
game under difficulties and manifold risks. We Of
ten hear of considerable encampmeuts Of tramps
meeting here and there if TO cement the order of
tbcir motherhood with fellowship often renewed.
and IN recount explorations, discoveries adventures
feats Of skill and courage and all the attractive eXpe
renee oftheir Rjgbt-erTGRTy In England lew years
ago an interesting book Published under the IL
tic Of "The Autobiography of Nagabond, when
was widely read. But how tame would this volume be
to one which Shorthand reporter present at one oi
these tramp reunions would make ont Of the stories OF
tbcr varied adventures their midnight forays hair
breadth escapes and all tae incidents of their organ
lied vagabondagcl Ii such volume were pub
Iished and read it would convince the public that
the modified army of tramps viii never disband
Voluntarily for the pursuit of honest industry.
For the last few years the increasing bands OF
tramps have urged rGisOn dftre, which the commu-
nifty could hardly gainsay. They have insisted that
the sole reason for the existence of their order was
the lack Of lab0T-that they were travelling up and
down the country, hunting for some work to do for
an honest livelihood This was a forcbe argument
which few could rcpel refute. Everybody knew
that there were hundreds OF thousands OF honest
men ont of employment and condemned 10 cOmpul-
sorry idleucss One could not find il IN his heart to
saw that man should neither be allowed TO dig nor
beg to keep himself from starvation. When every
town and village was full of unemployed men ready
and anxious to do, cheaplyand faithfully, every small
incidental job Of work that offered, no person
cared to employ a strange tramp even to earn meal
of victuas or pair Of hali-wom shoes. 1t was
cheapest and safest to give him one or both, and
send hm off in the hope that he would never return
Bat in doing this, You did moi rcfdc his one, sole
argument. You did not and could not prove that he
was not willing 10 labor for honest living if he
could find work at small wages. You virtually con-
ceded the truth ana force OF his argument and
even recognized the necessity Of his manner OF life
Ii is quite probable that niue out of ten Of the
community believe that a revival of business and
the renewed movement o. all tie wheels of industry
will put au end to the tramps of the country by sup
plying them with the employment they claim to be
hunting for. But tie community will find that they
arc reckoning without their host in the indulgence
Of such belief If business prosperity increases 10
the full extent Of the general hope. shall find
that the modified army OF tTamps viii not disband,
OF return or rather resort. 80 industrial lie. We
shall have g. accept he situation, and make pro-
vision for it, As thev 30 in other countries. Wccan-
not shut our eyes 10 the fact; have with Us al
ready all The cTas,c, that vice. poverty aud jgnor
We must have tine Old World institutions to protect
society against them. We have uv9r all these iusti
tui0ns kept o.r and Eat one has become Urgent
outsp0kcn necessity. We must have the English
workiOuSc, with whatever Improvements we may
add - it, We cannot atf ri or need one IN every
haif-.ozen towns, a. ~ England, but sc ought 10
have one IN every county M Our pppuiouS Northern
States, OF oue ithil twenty-five miles OF every
town. and village. such an Institution - as much
needed az county jail! IL should not be % prison
or pOOThOUsC, neither for criminals nor nGigch N
valids, 0r uc.fai o-potcits. Ii should nc cspcc-
iallv fitted for the class Of actual prospective
lu clai!u bee ONLY because they cannot
find work. u should fully meet their case AID pro
vide sCiu amount aiiu variety OF outdoor ana In
door labor as sh'oil 40! on! PAY thrii po'I0 O,it
also something over i"t the pooTh"uS" OF asylum ~
like q similar class III japan they should he sent on
by the institution WIT, sl' OF cloI's "Ho niue
mOuey rs a reward fOT honest work, II would en-
hancc the merit of the system.
Such work house must De established in coun-
try town. with ploaty of land for Summer work and
as uiauy mechanical industries practicable for ia
door employment IN Winter. With such an unstitu-
ton every town and village could make a clean
sweep Of tra.ap for il could say 70 every Of the
ablc-bodied vagrauts There is the workhcusc
within "a day's walk ut the farthcst. There yOu VIII
find plenty Of work. aud better food and lodging
than You can get By begging This would test tie
motive of their yaprancy. II they refuse the work
house they must accent the prison. liicrel is no
dschargc IRON this war with voluntary Incidence
and vagaboldagc. We must supplement our lallS,
pOorhesrs and &Sylums with THIS English ldstltu-
lion II must bc a county establishment. ~ least an
our most popuOus States. And there Is hardly "a
county In them al taat has not Tad an amount ol
property destroyed by tramp cqcal TO the cost OF
workhouSe end three hundred acres % i"nli. re
location, erection and working OF sucb an establish
Incnt are matter, OF detail which the county would
decide for Itself It's authority 10 found sven an IN
siituiOu could ice obtained through an easy process
Of legislation What county. then, In THESE North
eri StaUs VIII lead the way and Sc. tht example al
Introducing te Lukiish EOrhAutse' W!tu A1.'-.cai'
Hcs-b britain, conn, Sept. II, 1877.