Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-09-15
TRAMPS.
How Stranded Graduates Live
~ Without Money.
Sketches from the I'rontlsr-"Give Me
Two Dlts"-Progress aad Poverty
Horace Greeley's Motto
t...Ut Want of Capital.

Reg your pardon, sir, can you let
mr have two bitSP want to get
nights lodging"
ou 1t was outside The door of brightly
lighted all-night saloon on San Antonio
Street that your correspondent was
stopped by this abrupt salutation. The
moonlight ellulgcnce OF the numerous
electric lights would have made pin
on the sidewalk visible, and gave him
ample time 10 take stocli of the suppl
cant. A slightly built m.n OF about
thirty, dressed in an old and glossy suit
of black, that TO use the commonplace.
had ''seea better days" A face that
spoke of culture and refinement albeit
brutalizcd by piggish brstles and rem
dercd coarse by oVer-indulgence in
strong drink. The old black diagonal
coat was buttoucd up close to the chin.
Us though to hide the dirty linen be,
meath, and worn SLOUGH hat formed
his headgcar. 1t was in such state OF
,lilapidation as TO recall the ballad OF
Paddy McFaddcn. who was
yuC"-greasy and fat,
Aud the hair OF his bend
Il stuck out through his hat"
Such was the ensemble OF the man who
came West 70 the boundary OF two 10.
publcs, to hold out his hand to the pass
ing stranger and beg two bits for his
u nights lodging. Drowning meU, who
{ have been rescued. tell MS that in the
y few moments that elapse between sur
cease of pain and absolute oblivion
their whole lives seem to pass in review
before them, and as my fingers sought
the coveted twenty-five cents, so seemed
70 pass through my mind sad Thoughts
of the increase OF misery and poyert,
the wide world over ~ u
Poverty, think, is the greatest COS
mopolite. i have seen it chased as 1
crime from the streets of our grea
cities in the United States; have seer
D it, selling its miserable match boxes
Containing matches that never woul'
or could ignite), as an excuse TO escap
police persecution in the London streets
have seen it picking up the garbag
around the Hales Central in Paris, sun
81. ming its brass badge on the Piazza d
Spagna at Rome. and yet more recent.
blocking the entrance TO the Cathedral
of Chihuahua. But surely. ! thought
this Southwest that h always asking TO
immigrants ought NOT to have health
mon round the strcetso OF her town ask
ing for aims. In this connection
should remark that this application TO
1.-TWO bits" was only one OF a dozen :
which the visitor to I'll PAsO is subjccte'
nightly. and that tho only cure the al
tlIorities seem TO have for the evil Is t
round up the poor devils like cattle an
drive them out of town with force c
mounted officers. t4Ld Et BJl.
Thought would interview the ma
who wanted two bits for bed, and S
dropping half dollar into his out
stretched palm asked him to take
drink, Seated beside warm stove an
under the influence OF hot Scotch.
my tramp became quite communicatiS
and required little urging on the part
tho interviewer to unlimber his tongu'
81 suppose you're going to commend
with the usual cant about why don't
60 to work and the rest of it. " he con
mencei. ITO hear you fellows To!
apoe. INDUSTRY anu SociSy' QUE WON
imagine that all fellow had TO do WI
TO go right into tho FIRST store and as
for n JOB to ct 1t. Well. you just II
1t ana you, una ~ your industry
wanted and your energy Is waste
on the desert air.
but Ia Imagine" broke in your co
respondent, that man with some GU
g.. ture' education and address won
sooner or later drop into something goC
and keep it, without much trouble, II
seem to be that kind OF man.
"Well, sir, II instead OF being a &C
lege graduate | had been gradua
From n mt hnnnh ara 1an