The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-03-14

REVELATIONS OF TRAMP LIFE.
The chief of the State detective force
of Massachusetts,, has enlivened his
annual report with an account of an
undertaken by two of his
last summer, which reads
like the skeleton record out of which
some of LIE Sage's stories of the ad-
ventures of rowing Spanish rogues
have been elaborated. These detect
ives set out early in July with the in.
tention of learning something of tramp
life through actual experience among
the jovial vagabonds who are picking
up a living all over the country, with
out toiling or spinning, depending
mainly upon gathering into barns.
They transformed themselves into
members of that careless fraternity
whose anthem is the old song with the
refrain:
"A light heart and thin pair of breeches,
Goes over the the world, my boys,''
and traversed Western Massachusetts.
They had plenty of goodly company
from the beginning of their journey,
aud soon fell into gang of twenty
tramps. They met at 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 yag-
abond mode of life:
"July 1--we divided into four
SQUADS, each of which was to take it's
turn in providing food for. the gang.
The Germans went out to.day and re-
turned with 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
fishhooks and lines, which they used
for catching chickens, simply by put
ting 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 soon in condi-
ton to be easily captured"
On the march the gang divided into
four parties and pursued different
roads, moving for an appointed place
of rendezvous, and using red and blue
chalk to mark the route for the guild
ance of stray comrades. The whole
tendency of the testimony is to the eff.
feet that there is a certain system and
organization among tramps, and that
they live less by imposing upon the
credulity of honest people than by
petty stealing. At the time of the de-
tectives' expedition, however, the ex-
citement attending the railroad riots
was at its height, and some of the
wandering bands exhibited reckless
ness and hardihood that only needed
an opportunity to break into violence
and crime. From the instances in
which nationality is given NJ bad pre-.
eminence can be assigned to any par.
ticular class, and all ages seem inclin.
ed to life of disreputable idleness,
though the old men are more success
full in soliciting charity, as they have
the most pathetic tales Of suffering
ever at command, aud long practice
has given them great dramatic skill in
the rehearsal of their woes. The con.
clusions of the officers on the ont
point to which their special attention
was directed, namely, the disposition
of tramps to earn their living by hard
work, are very valuable. They say
"During all the time we were en-
gagged i'm tramping we made 1t Oul
business, at the suggestion of the chic
detective. to ascertain whether it wa!
the lack of employment that caused
these PEOPLE to become wanderers ani
vagrants. OF the number with whom
we conversed we found but two WHIT
did not scout the idea of going to " worl
for the purpose of earning an homes
these two were ready to engage in an,
laborious employment"
We cannot say that we admire sucl
a piece of governmental machinery a
a State detective force, but since it ex
lists in Massachusetts it is well that it
members have been put to such orig
nal and advantageous uses. The dis
coveries that have been made do no
however, justify the proposal of tn
chief of the detective force to requir
poor people in search of employmen
to carry permits. They rather suggei
the propriety of putting in operatio
some such system as that proposed
Senator Robertson's bill, discussed
the World of = recent date.-(Ne'
York World.
The man who gives you the slip
the church usher.