News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-12-11
THE TRAMP PROBLEM.
AN EARNEST EFFORT TO GIVE HIM A
START TOWARD AN HONEST LIFE.
some Practical PhilanthrOpy-CandOr of
the Professional Mendicant who Dlsiilkes
Work.

Some Practical Philanthropy-Candor of
the Professional Mendicant who DlsIikes
Work.
"We are trying practical solution Of
ohe tramp problem, said DR.. Jefferis at
the Wayfarers' Lodge in Philadelphia.
''The downward drift of the tramp has
already set IN, but the close of the cram
bury season in New Jersey will shake
him loose from his last legitimate occu-
patton for the year. Then he will come
numerously."
"What is the course of the tramp
drift ?" was asked.
cit tends this way from the South and
East. Strange to say, the current from
the great West generally goes to New
York through the Lehigh Valley and
Easton. Thence it works down through
the midland counties of New Jersey and
into the metropolis. 1t is remarkable
that the ferries have an influence in
keeping some tramps out of New York.
But it is the tramp centre, beyond ques-
ton. Our specimens will remain in
Philadelphia during the cold weather.
Early in the summer they pull them
selves together and flock into Maryland
and the Virginia peninsula to pick ber-
ries. The peach season brings them
back into Delaware and later to New
Jersey, where the fruit lasts about three
weeks longer"
"Do you encounter many professional
mendicants?"
mot so many as you would suppose.
They are generally able to beg living
without work; but we meet them. In
temperance lowers the tone of profess
sionaI beggar, as it does of other classes
of society. So long as he avoids stale
beer and bad liquor he can generally
keep out of the workhouse, for he is
necessarily plausible, discreet fellow, of
some ability and ingenuity"
"What is his temperament ?"
"Sanguine to a surprising degree,
was the reply. "He does not envy Jay
Gould or Vanderbilt their wealth as does
many an honest toiIing mortal. He is
without ambition-content if he has
enough money about his clothes to
insure him nights lodging and break
fast. His ingenuity is seen in the
admirable manner in which he can simu-
late candor. In his statements he often
impresses the most cautious person with
his frankness. He will generally men,
ton some really discreditable fact about
his life after reciting his good qualities.
The trick of asking gentlemen in the
streets for money to set a drink is quite
transparent. 1t is often resorted to by
penuriously economical beggars who do
not drink liquor. 1t is an appeal that
will touch the heart of man who likes
his drink quicker than almost any
civ lN,,l
suffering. / haven't had drink for
three days That is the general form.
The fellow finds out in a few seconds
what he has to hope for. There is no
question or quibbling. He gets, or he
don't get, the dime at once. He is not
wrestled with, or lectured, or abused.
The man appealed to either turns his
back on the supposed drunkard, or "a
fellow feeling makes him wondrous
kind
"Such specimens as come here stay
only few days. We detect them gen.
orally by their Discrimination to do their
task of work. About three days suffice
to tell us what the fellow means. This
is not refuge for professionals. After
We get the second lodge started the law
will come to our assistance"
"What is the new law ?"
San act of the Legislature, approved
by the Governor June Is, 1888, gives us
power to deal with the vagrant problem
one that has appeared impossible of
solution. The first section is interesting:
That whenever, in any city of the first
class in the Commonwealth, there shall
be established two or more wayfarers'
lodges, or places where homeless and
destitute persons can be fed and shell
tered during the night, by any associa-
ton of citizens for organizing charity, or
for charitable purposes, and such asso-
citation shall ask any person who shall
receive shelter and food in any such
lodge. and shall have been notified be-
fore their admission that they will be re-
qttised to{ labor an return therefors- to
perform work for a space not exceeding
four hours in return for such shelter and
food, and the person so receiving shelter
and food shall refuse to perform work,
and shall be physically able to work, it
shall be the duty of the superintendent
or any other officer of such lodge to
cause such person TO be brought forth
with before a magistrate of such city,
and upon proof before him that such
person has received shelter and food in
such lodge, and has refused to perform
work for space of four hours i'll return
therefor, and is physically able to per-
form the work demanded, his refusal
shall be evidence of vagrancy, and such
magistrate may commit such person to
the House of Correction as a vagrant for
period not exceeding thirty days.
"What are the formalities gone
through in receiving applicants ?"
''The man does not drive up In a
coupe, you may be assured, was the
good natured reJoinder. "He presents
himself without previous announcement,
though it occasionally happens that he
will give some military salute or
Masonic sign. An intelligent Prussian,
who had served through the war of
lS70-71, came in a short time ago,
saluted and said: Il have come to ask
lodgings until can communicate with
home. He was not professional hero,
nor shall 1 ever be able to convince my
self that he was a professional men
dicant. Yet, his was most discour-
aging case. He was bright and intelli,
gent, neat, clean, well spoken. We
kept him for two months. He did his
work well and faithfully, was sober and
honest. Finally he received $40 from
his home. babe us goodby and started,
as we supposed, to take the steamer.
He landed at the House of Correction
the following day with twenty cents in
his pockets. Drunkenness had robbed
him of his hopes and money. 1t is only
another illustration, if any were needed,
of the weakness of poor humanity"
"When the applicant presents himself,
what happens?"
"Our superintendent asks him to sit
down and places a blank before him
which must be filed out No; it is not
a pledge of any kind. He is merely
asked to tell us something about HIM
SELF Often the tramp will take up
pen or pencil and nll out the blank in a
neat round hand. Generally, however,
the candidate for shelter will deny that
he can write. A sample? Certainly;
here's one:"
NAME-James S. Darlington.
LAST ADDREss-B Baltimore,
-Thirty-eight.
characterization; born in Troy,
N. Y.
Way LEFT LAST PLAoE-Didn't like
The work.
MARRIED OR SINGLE Married.
How MANY IN FAMILY-None.
WHERE Is FAMILY-In insane hos
pital
"The man who filled out that blank
was oblivious to its ludicrous features.
Having finished his statement, the
tramp is told that he is expected to saw
one-eighth of cord of wood each day.
provided he is able to work or is not
crippled in any way. If he is manned
he can take his choice at splitting