The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-07-30
Reply to the "Wandering Miner

l see that th> Wandering Miner" who
| has been filing your columns lately, in
| his article this morning refers to Jesus Christ
| "a tramp" and suggests that il he were
tn appear in Montana at this present time he
would be arrested as tramp and compelled to
work in the chain gang, and this springs from
the fact that in the capital city of the territory
he saw some tramps. who had been convicted OF
vagrancy, working out their sentences on the
streets. But it is q queer conceit to compare
| these pests of society to the great Redeemer of
| the race to imagine for moment, that there is
any similarity between these wandering vaga-
bonds who, as q general thing. were born tired
| and have never Ontgrown it, aud who have q
horror of earning their bread by any honest
labor, and the historical Christ of the Gospels.
Our friend "Miner' may have Travelled over
| many lands, but evidently he has not travelled
much through the New Testament. Familiar
with many things, he is fearfully lacking in his
appreciation of the history character of Christ
or he would no. attribute to him the habits of
"t'amp" In the first place las the preachers
say Jesus did a good deal of walking up and
down ,he Judaean land, but instead of lodging
work he was always looking for it; he event
about doing good out who would ever su>pect
the modern tramp of being on any such hunt
That Is not the idea that the common, practical,
everyday world generally has Of the genus
tramp. Some few of the dillitante, gospel
hating, world regenerators, may find something
in him that nj eds only q little educating to
make grand man, but this practical, busy.
working world, who earn their bread and but
ter, look with suspicion upon every tramp as
capable, If the chance occurs. of almost any de-
gree of turpitude The histori al Christ was
never charged, by even his bitterest enemies
with having any sch character or tendencies
Christ. instead of being avoided Except by
demoniacs), was made welcome because of the
blessings he brought to hospitable homes But the
modern tramp brings nothing but his "living
creatures" the horror of every good house
keeper but if he can lay his hands on anything
it most always disappears. What a jolly picture
that would he, of hard working family run
ming to the front door and welcoming with
happy hearts and words Of DELIGHT, the weary
tramp. and making haste to wash and feed him,
Such concelt would even take 'Nast'ss breath
away, and the realization of it would make the
word believe the devi 8 millennium had come.
believe it is true that Christ was 70 t trave.
Ter. for think we read of him as weary and
worn sitting by we'll, while his disciples went
othe city to buy bread" But it was only the
rich who in those days could afford to ride on
horses or Most everybody footed it
then; and Christ was one of the people, taking
his share of lite's duties and hardships. H. did
not "work' town until nobody would give
him 'grub,'' and then strike for s:me
fresh pastures. But when ne had fliisht "His
Fathers business" and soothed weary an
breaking hearts, comforted the despairing, and
a. in Peterss hou.e healed the sick, or at tie
house of Lazarus gave uack The dead with fresh
life 10 the weeping sisters or at Main, making
glad the lonely widow heart. He went on his
way to do in other places. His Fathers will.
The modern tramp. is ike barnacle or para
site; he is the leech of society. the more you
give him, the more he wantS-uuless it is
work. that always makes him sick-he won't
stay whe e he has to work He sticks as long as
long suffering public will stand it, and then
if he is wise he 'siides,' before the chain-gang
and fos't-bal! make him return some compenss-
ton. Meet him by the way-side ami he is no
helper to other. Bring him into the city, and he
has no words of counsel to stir the mass to a
no''ler, better, truer if, and make the people |
glad. Instead of building up, he pulls down; |
instead of adding anything to he common |
welfare, he is worse thalfa swarm of oflocusts,-a |
notorious idler, saturated with the lie that the
world owes him living--a disturbing element |
i'll, and demoralizer to every community that |
harbors him. 1t isl poverty -bah-that won't
take. 1t is not because ne can't frd work, for |
work lays all around; but it is because he won't
worE. |
The other day, melted at the recital Of one !
of these birds o: prey" and fed him, and paid |
for his .o'ging, aud hunted up place with a !
grocer-he wanted work you know-but he nev- !
er drove tat gr, GERS wagon; the next morning |
he was mon est inventus"
Again within mouth l fed tramp, and gave
him quarter for his lodging. and hat because
he had mt any, and promised grub and more i'll
the morning, if he would split little wood
He took the grub, the quarter and the hat, but |
that ". odplle is waiting for him yet. AS Saint
Patrick drove out the snakes from Ireland, 20 i
may deliverance come ON t'amps, is the prayer
of long aud patient waiting public; and bless
the Policeman, and bless the courts that have
mercy on the public, and set the tramps to
work.
PRo Bono PUBLICO.