Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-11
A TRAMP FOR THIRTY-sIx YEARS
Story OF Ezra FreebOrn, WhO Resolved
Nererto Pay for a Neal or Ride.
Nav York SIM ]


Neverto Pay for a Neal or a Ride.
New York SUM-
A tramp attracted attention on Broad
street, Newark, yesterday afternoon. His
figure was short and squat, his cheeks
plump and rosy, and his twinkling gray
eyes were keen and deep-set. He had
white plug hat that had seen years of
hard service, butternut coat and trousers,
a gray wooden shirt and stout shoes.
As he sauntered past the we'll
dressed pedestrians he twirled a
stout cane in his right hand, hummed,
"The White Cockade'' in low voice, and
inspected the goods in the shop windows.
To a person who stopped to question him
he said he was a native of Rutland, VT,
and was 81 years old. He had been a
wanderer for thirty-six years, having
failed in love and business when he was
81 years old. Since that time he had WIS.,
tied every state in the union. He said
that he had never drank glass of intox-
icating liquor.
"I've been tramp all these years, be-
cause I like the life," said the old man,
sand expect to die one. Before the
war found the South the most hospit-
able part Of the country. Planters were
open-hearted and generous. They gave
me old clothes and never interfered with
me. At one time took care of sick folks
in New Orleans and l left the city with
over 800 in my pocket. But soon got
rid of the money on a MISSISSIPPI steam
boat The slaves were simple and good
natured, and I never called at cabin with
out getting corn cake, bacon and shelter.
When l began tramping determined
never to pay for meal or ride either
on train or a boat, and l have stuck to
it, I've beat my way many thousands of
miles in the United States and Canada.
During the war was a camp hummer
with Thomas, Buell., Grant and Sherman,
but never enlisted. Tramping was a
high life just after the war, but of late
years it has been rough. People are
afraid of tramp because
wicked men have outraged decency.
I keep clear Of them, always going it
alone. No tramp can get me for part
ner. I've bunked in police stations in
every city and town Of any size. Phila-
delphia and Baltimore are the worst
places for us; New York, Boston and
Chicago are the best. The New Eng
land towns now are bitter against tramps.
Nine out of ten tramps are thieves and
ruffians. They will lie, steal and COM
NIT terrible outrages 1 never went
hungry, 1 will work for food any
time, but l won't work for money.
They call me The Great American
Tramp and say that Daniel Pratt amt
no more than tramp. I've been over
more ground than he has. My name is
Ezra Freeborn. My father was farmer,
and my mother schoolmarm. I've never
seen them since left home, thirty-two
years ago"
elbow many miles do you estimate you
have travelled without paying your way!"
sWell, I'll just figure it up as near as 1
can" was the reply, ''and 1 guess it will
astonish you. I've been thirty-six years
on the road. There are 365 days in year.
I was never sick day since l began this
life. Some days I've beat my way over
200 miles in cars. Freight trains are the
best racket. When got stuck in hard
town sold pencils until raised enough
money to buy rum and cigars for the
brakemen, conductors and en-
gineer. They seldom refuse such things.
Now, taking all things into account, /
think fair estimate of my daily travel
in all these years would be about sixteen
miles. There are 365 days in a year,
which would make Ii, 40 days in sixteen
wears. Now, let us throw off the odd 40
days in order to keep within bounds.
That leaves IL, 900 days, at sixteen miles
a day, which makes $4,000 miles that I
have travelled on foot and in railroad cars,
boats and wagons, without paying cent
in cash. Pll betno other man living can
say as much. never felt
better in my life. There is not an
ache or pain in my body. I'm healthier
than men who keep mutfled up and sit
by the fire. In police stations 1 keep
away from fires in the coolest weather
Coal gas Is poison. Fresh air is natures
medicine for the lungs Cold water is
better than hot tea and coffee. 1t don't
bring on dyspepsia or dysentery. Every
thing eat agrees with me. In the sum-
mer time 1 battle in a river or pond
every day, and in cold weather
I've stripped and washed myself out of
doors. Take cold? No, sir, never had
cough or chill. Leave your neck
open and free, and you'll never catch
cold IF vour feet are dry and warm I've