The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-17
trrom the New York SUM-


,r,., Gentlemen were talking in front OF
,,e St lanes Hotel an evening or two ago,
and shabbily-drcssed man asked them for
= EttIe assistance to get something to cat.
10 had lust been repulsed by group OF
;our who stood near by, one saving, un-
frclinrlv, "Oh, get on, you tramp" "Fve
hecn there myself" said one gentleman to
the other, as he fished in his pocket for
= oua1ter. After the poor fellow had en-
pressed his gratitude and moved OIL, this
conversation enSued:
"You say you've been there yourself.
Uow's thats"
.Why. short time ago went out to
Chicago, and on my way back stopped over
in Cleveland. There I stopped too long.
/ had friends in Cleveland, but didn't like
the notion OF borrowing money. Having
enough to buy ticket to Salamanca,
bought it, and had few dimes LEFT over. l
had railroad friend in Salamanca whom l
had often favored, and knew he'd FAVOR
me. AS soon rs | arrived there I'd be all
r;obt So went. 1 reached Salamanca at
dawn the next morning only to learn to my
disgust that my friend was in Cincinnati. l
hadn't more than enough money left
for Z cigar and cocktail. / invested
Il. The New York train was just lcav-
ing. I had check for = large yaiise. so
| said to the conductor: Say, Captain, my
name is H: I'm connected with the
house OF r. & Co., New York. Pm unfor-
tunatelv broke. Take my check and I'll re-
deem nv baggage at Binghamton.' The
conductor was grabbed. Il don't do that
kind OF business he said.
"sWell, take my watch
".There are four conductors between
here and Binghamton.'
.Well, what shall / do:'
His only reply was, All aboard! anu
the train moved out. There ! was, DEAD
broke, stranger, in the meaneSt place IN
New York State, and as hungry rs tue
deuce"
"And what did you do!"
Il cursed that conductor to begin with.
Then / reflected. l had friends in Bing-
hamton; all wanted was to get there. l
didn't want my employers to hear was IN
such a fix. was ashamed. There was no
train going until night. SO l thought,
rarity for the fun OF it, Id walk on 4 few
miles, board the next train, lind somebody
that I knew. and get through. left my
yaIise at the express offce-aftcr putting on
a clean shirt in dark room ct the depot
and started of, angry, but as proud as Ma
poleon."
..Tramp, did. / walked from O'Clock
in the morning until in the afternoon.
from Salamanca to Portville, n. Y, near
the Pennsylvania line. That was twenty
eight miles, the longest walk OF my life.
cot thirsty and dusty, and was stared at by
the country-folks until was ashamed. Part
Of the way walked on the railroad-track,
but I found the wagon-road much easier
walking. I got to Portville, n. T., as l
said before, at ?. NJ, and thought l was
on the Erie road. Ifelt like swearing when
the telegraph-operator told me that was
on the line Of the Buffalo and Erie, and that
the Erie road was seven miles away. had
left it at Olean. ---~.
.rCan you send dispatch and receive a
telegraphic money-order here" asked.
.E No, sir; YOU would receive telegraph
monev-order at Olean, seven miles back
II hadn't enough money to pay my fare
back to Oleap, and I said I'd be blessed il
I'd walk back. So I asked if there was a
station on the road ahead where could re-
ceiye teiegraphic money-order. Yes, at
Emporium the stupid telegraph-opcrator
replied.
.:How far is it!'
"sForty-six miles,
"fGreat heayens!"
"But T was bound to 90 it or die. l
hadn't eaten anything for day and night.
Having two nickcls left, l invested one in
crackers ana cheese. TWAS nearly O'Clock
in the evening then. After feasting on the
roadside, I started off on the railroad-bed. |
hadn't walked a mile before n man over
took me, carrying basket on bis arm.
He was just returning from his work.
He babe me good evening, and we got
to talking. I told him that was on my
way to Emporium, and that had to walk.
He generously asked me to go home with
him; and when 1 saw he was sincere
went. There was treated like a prince.
They were poor people, but good ones. AT
II in the morning I resumed my trip. After
walked twenty-four miles, kind farmer
gave me lodging, supper and breakfast
He said: mo one in distress shall pass my
house, The third day I reached Empo'
rium-a tramp Of seventy-four miles from
Salamanca, through the mountains. found
that no money-order by telegraph could
reach me there. But I met friend,
former resident Of Binghamton, and became
his guest. Three days later had money
enough to pay my bill and to buy ticket
to New York. And resolved never to gel
broke again, and never to refuse to assist
poor fellow in distress.
:, ctoh1o