Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-05-13
Curious Types of Human Nature.

curious Types OF Human Nature.
To study man, we must use the old |
adage of the cla' sic philot ophy-''divide |
and conquer" Here are races, sex,
color, language, country, size, age, edu-
cation, condition of servitude, develop.
ment of the nation, government, and q
hundred other scientific means of classi.
fication. These, however, ale terms
better known to science pure and simple
than to us who pursue the study of
mankind with our eyes open.
Suppose, among the people whom we
meet, we select the most curious and
striking of the classes OF them as they
appear and are known among common
people. Here slang may take the place
of vernacular, or rags and poverty be
the garb of some of their species. They
are yet mankind, despite their disguises,
and as truly belong to the rude classes
OF men as the barbarian and the savage.
Before us then pass in review five out
casts-the tramp, the "hoodlum," the
"beat,' the "gamin," the street Arab.
The tramp is demoralized man. He
is full grown, and has once been man,
with capacities for usefulness. with some
considerable education. I never saw
an ignorant" tramp, but his faculties
have by some excess, or by some waste
of vitality, slowly slipped away from
him. He is not capable of committing
any organized crime, or any mischief
requiring forethought and calcul alton
He is an impulsive animal, compare
lively harmless when not reused to
phrenzy, but utterly untrustworthy and
wholly good for nothing. There is no
hope whatever of his reformation.
The ''hoodlum" is boy. He may,
by slang language, properly be called
"kid." Irresponsible, genial, cherry.
cordial, witty, innocent withal, and
perfectly trustworthy when his affec-
tions are wholly engaged; he makes a
most promising pupil in any science
which he is ready to master, and is a
hopeful subject for reformation, il he
will stand the training. But he is ten
der, and will break down under too
strong pressure.
sThe 'beat" differs from the tramp
in that he does not wander from place
to place. He selects his field of opera.
tion, goes deliberately to work, plans to
get his dinner or his privilege-for
nothing, of course-and generally &C,
complishes his object. he can be easily
managed, and is rarely offended by
plain talk.
The "gamin," French importation,
stays anywhere, goes to the Theater
Comique, where he whistles, applauds
is delighted above measure by the good
things he sees. He sells newspapers.
blacks boots, tells the truth when to his
own interest, disappears at fifteen years
OF age, goes, nobody knows where; but
his place is speedily filled by another
crop, which is perennial. He can be
done very little. with. All boot-blacks
are not gamins, but very respectable
people generally.
Tho street Arab is wild animal. In
crowd, he is upon the edge thereof.
When fight occurs, he is either spec
tator or an actor. His clothing is thin
and narrow and miserably shabby. But
he is as cheerful as any melancholy
animal can be; philosophically makes
the best Of everything. If you catch
him, make q note Of him, for seldom
does he come out of civilized regions.
He can never dwell in houses; he loves
the pure air where he roves. Education
would ruin him, culture make him still
more melancholy. And thus five classes
of people may be found in every society.
Such is their character, as distinctly
stamped upon them as the die stamp
upon silver dollar.
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