The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-02-22
TRAMPS.
Some Interesting Revelations OF Tramp
Life.

some interesting Revelations OF tramp
Life.
The chief of the State detective force
of Massachusetts, says the New York
World, has enlivened his annual report
with an account of an expedition under
taken by two of his subordinates last
summer which reads like the skeleton
record out of which some of LIE Sage's
stories of the adventures of rowing Span
ish rogues have been elaborated. These
detectives set out early in July with the
intention of learning something of tramp
life through actual experience among
the jovial vagabonds who are picking up
living all over the country without
toiling or spinning, depending mainly
upon gathering into barns. They trans
formed themselves into members of that
careless fraternity whose anthem is the
old song with the ungrammatical refrain:
A light heart and thin pair of brooches
Goes over the world, my boys
and traversed Western Massachusetts,.
They had plenty of goodly company
from the beginning of their journey, and
soon fell into gang of twenty tramps.
They met ut a rendezvous in a certain
woods, forming a motley band made up
of all nationalities, and single extract
from the officers diary throws a CLEAN
of light over their vagabond mode of
life:
July 1--we divided into four squads, each
of which was to take its turn in providing food
for the gang. The Germans went ost to-day and
returned with a small pig, nine chickens a
quantity of eggs and bread. all of which, with
the exception of the bread, was stolen. They
carried with them fish-hooks and lines, which
they used for catching chickens, simply by
putting on kernel of corn for bait. In some
instances when they have enough rum, they
soak bread with it and feed the fowls, which
are in a condition to be easily captured.
On the march the gang divided into
four parties and pursued different roads,
moving for an appointed place of rem
devious, and using red and blue chalk to
mark the routes for the guidance OF stray
comrades. The whole tendency of the
testimony is to the effect that there is a
certain system and organization among
tramps, and that they live less 10y impos-
ing upon the credulity of honest people
than by petty stealing. At the time of
the detectives expedition, however, the
excitement attending the railroad riots
was at its height, and some of the wander
ing bands exhibited recklessness and
hardlhood that only needed an oppor-
tunity to break into violence and crime.
From the instances in which nationality
is given no bad pre-eminence can be as
signed to any particular class, and all
ages seem inclined to life of disreputa-
BILE idleness, though the old men are
most successful in soliciting charity, as
they have the most pathetic tales OF suf-
fering ever at command, and long prac-
tice has given them great dramatic skill
in the rehearsal of their woes. The con-
illusions of the officers on the point to
which their special attention was direct
ell, namely, the disposition of tramps to
earn their living by hard work, are very
valuable. They say:
During all the time we were engaged in
tramping we made it our business at the sug-
gestion of the chief detective, to ascertain
whether it was the lack Of employment that
caused these people to become wanderers and
Migrants. OF the entire number with whom we
conversed we found but two who did not scout
the idea of going to work for the purpose of
earning an honest livelihood, and we very mnch
doubt If these two were ready to engage III any
labOIious employment.