National Republican., 1883-08-25
First Experience Of One Who was Forced To
Take the Road.
A Walk on the Turnpike TO the Old
White Springs.
Incidents on tho Way-Ohor Tromps Whom He
Met and Their Stories.
A Snatch of Conversation Heard Outside
of n Ballroom.
SneninL Lellfr.

4
exception at least. when applying the term
"All the worlds akin" in the great hue and
cry against tramps; that they're lazy, idle,
worthless set and eternal shirlSers Of work.
Like Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, possible dem
ocratic nominee for the next presidency, II
object" and beg leave to say from personal
experience that tho tramp is very much
harder worked than the average pampered
pet of polite society, and more practically
observant person of mon and things or
course l do not refer to tramps in the strict
application of the term. Some knights OF
the Turnpike" are as great rascals and rs lazy
louts as ever went unstretched; but there arc
others who from cruel force of circumstances
are forced to take the road, and few
who pad the hoof also through an
uncomfortable spirit of adventure. am a
tramp myself of the latter class, though per-
haps better Off in worldly goods than other
brethren of tho craft, and if your readers do
not object desire in n limited space to lay
before them facts of what have heard aud
seen since first started 10 press sap out of
the ties over the Washington and Alexandria
railway. That event was something over
ten days ago. /, like other tramps, was forced
into it. Out of money and employment, with
no prospects for the future, l wandered around
Washington aimlessly--lost Yes, lost in the
fundamental enjoyment of mere existence,
and | finally concluded to branch out, TO
scatter myself over the face of the earth, as it
were, and did. l started in the very prime
and glory of summer; the woods were at thor
fullest untouched by any symptoms
of decay. The broad fields were
more wealthy and glorious still in
their flush of scented clover. They were
all lighted up between green bushes with fan.
tastic streaks and bands of color blazing in
the broad sunshine, and haunted by swarms
of bees which made a hum in the air almost
as sweet and all pervading as the murmur OF
the sea. That was the first day out, and
made me poetical. 1 slept in a charcoal
burners abandoned shed just beyond Fair
fax Court House that night. 1t rained. l was
drenched and felt cheap and nasty next day
All the sentiment was washed out, but kept
on and 1t was not long before L struck up
with and formed the acquaintance of u gem
une Knight de Hoof," who was working
his passage, as he expressed it, to his home in
Richmond. His romance had been few
weeks experience with a circus which
collapsed somewhere up in Pennsylvania
and he had had enough. But" he explained
with some pride, &c / wouldn't swap my ex-
perience for thcr boss elephant or thel
seasons receipts Of ther show" In explain
ing the cause of the collapse he added
y
thar in Pennsylvany haint no chumps. Their
boss didn't give ther jays wot % advertised
so they done him up. We opened big II
Jersey on lots o. velvet, that is money, but
ther boys begin to sing Hey Rube' afore We
quit Delaware. Their old man wuz fur
quittin' then, but three or four slick guy
around ther show pulled his leg, guv hin
taHy, yer know, and persuaded him to g
inter Pennsylvany. He went in, and cum
near not glttin' out agin. She busted, and
that settled me. Wishin' ther main guy goot
mornin', au sayin' ia ta to their gang
lit out for home, and when l git'
thar thar I'll stay, you bet"
night and after snug forty wInks in some.
bodys uncompleted house l continued my
Journey, striking for the Greenbrier White
Sulphur Springs. | hadn't struck much fur
or company, and felt sure I'd find excellent
society and good tables there, to say nothing
of the superior healing benefits of the famous
waters. The army of Virginia, nor indeed
amy other army, never trudged over the his
torical mud, clay and sand of the Old Do
miniOn with more energy and zeal than your
truly, and what with stolen rides, lifts" and
long weary marching l finally landed ut the
"0ld White" and was warmly welcomed. BY
VAe people? No. By a dog2 Y Yes, and o real live
earnest, business like dog,too. remained ovel
night, the dog having been convinced that
wasn't bone, and "did" all there was t.
be did" except attend the hop at the hotel
i was around though, and while enjoying @
smoke down by the bowling alley l over
heard some snatch of conversation between
two swell looking gentlemen, like this:
'"N Not much, certainly. But there is the
house and grounds fortune in them
selves"
"You wouldn't sell them" the older of tho
two observed
81 would if had tho chance"
"Then suppose you'd send that poor lit
tie girl adrift and spend her money on thai
Richmond woman" the older man said
sharply, and drifted nearer in anticipation
of food for rich scandal or dime novel
Continuing the last speaker added: well
jack you have got wonderful decision
about you, to put it mildly"
But, old fellow" the younger replied
Matte is is a fine girl, though she ought tC
have taken some other name than Matildi
Dobbs before she started out ON her career
AS for my oouson Jennie, you know l shall
be compelled to get money somewhere, and
sac has got such a id smooth temper she
would stand almost anything" They sud
denly seeing me, Get out of that, you internal
tramp" That is all | heard, but it wa,
enough to suggest many things even to
tramp. And the most probable theory of til,
aim Of this conversation which | had heard
was so mean and repulsive and depraved tha
at the time it delighted me- Thest
grand people, then, were occasionally il
straights, like others. They were not i'm
maculate, either. They had their mean
nesses-perhaps more absolutely gross ani
mean than was possible with lesser people in
lesser circumstances. To be looked upon as
tramp was bad enough, but there are more
despicable beings in the world than tramps
The next afternoon | turned northward and
"moved on" again, my intended goal beinl
this town. / tramped leisurely, and tha
night was passed entirely ION the hoof'
About midnight l reached comfortable
frame house which invited q halt, and after
sampling the well water | rested awhile. Th,
spot was charming. The garden paths front,
ing the house were clearly indicated
by feeble, yelled moon and tn,
trees which thickened in clouds upor
tho horizon. There was not sount
anywhere in the tranquil place, excep
the occasional bark of n dog, which, some
where, far or near, alwayJ indicates existenc,
in the country. The stiffness fell upon my
soul and was dropping into state of senti
mentality again, when tall, gaunt, Ions
haired figure stood up before me, springinI
from goodness knows where, and / began
suddenly to stir up the remembrance of I
prayer learned in early childhood bu
didn't "remem," worth c3nt. wa
scared. So was my gaunt friend. We both
began begging each others pardon at the
same time, aud then to laugh, and finally
shook hands. From that out we Travelled in
company He was an artist looking fol
work, an artist like the unbelieving Jew