Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-16
A TRAMP WITH IN INCOME.
The Observations of a Peripatetic
Linguist.
New York Stal

The Observations of a Perfpatetic
LIaguist.
New York Star
A seedy-looking man, dressed in
what had once been a well>6ttlng,
fashionable suit of clothes of good
material, sat on a bench in Battery
Park on Tuesday morning engaged
in smoking cigar the stale 0dors OF
which polluted the atmosphere around
him. He wore dirty paper collar,
minus neck tie. His hat, a slouched
felt one, was placed beside him, and
his general appearance Indicated a
jaded order of gentility that betokened
the genias tramp. His wel1-shaped
head was slightly bald, although his
features were not devoid of certain
expression of intelligent humor. His
eyes were blue and bright. He wore
a full, carefully combed beard. 1t
was difficult to decide his age, which
might have been anywhere between
thirty and forty.
Approaching a Sunday Star report
er, who has newspaper In his hand,
the man said: 'Can you spare the sup
plement, sir?"
His manner of address was so polite
and the tone of his speech so distinct
" opposite to what might have been
expected from one Ia his position that
the reporter stopped and looked at
him in some surprise, and said:
Certainly, you can have the sup
plcment. You wish to peruse the ad-
vertisennents, I supposed"
"Preclsely, such were my inten-
tons"
''To look for work2"
An amused smile passed over the
mans face as he replied: ''Not at
all; [ haven't done any work in five
years"
The matter~of-fact reply sounded
almost as strangely as the request.
''Then may ask. what use you have
for the supplements"
"You would never guess" with au
exceedingly pleasant smiie.)
Indeed"
''No, SIR. I'd wager the price of a
days dinner, if had it, that you'd
never guess what want that supple
men for"
'FThinking the man was about to
get off "sell" at his expense, the per-
son addressed made no reply, but
handed over the paper, and said,
"There it is"
''Thank you. Your favor demands
an explanation. The ereason | wanted
it was to look over the advertisements
to see where I shall pass the sum-
mer."
The mans perfect GOODNESS and evi>
dent sincerity of manner was beyond
question, and the query naturally
presented itself to the writer's mind:
Is this man crank? At any rate he
was curiosity not often often met
with IN the streets of Ney York.
The tramp seemed to interpret the
thoughts, and, motioning
to the vacant space on the bench be-
side him, he continued: II suppose
it will soon be time for me to fit and
do the summer resorts like my betters,
though there was time in my life
when I was able to buy first class
ticket, instead of as now, having to
take my chance of beating the con-
ductor."
$50 you haven't worked in five
years."
with the exception of getting a
job here and there [ havn't had any
steady employment in all that
PERIOD"
"And yet, judging by your mode
of speech, your education has not
stood in your way?''
''That's perhaps a very natural
mistake of yours, but IL has stood in
my way very much. It's the first
thing that makes people suspicious of
me-people I mean who are them~
selves well educated. But I've got
over that kind of sensitiveness long
ago. The facE is, I've no inclination
to work-and don't think I ever had.
Isn't that good-enough reason for
not doing any"
"But how do you lye-not by beg~
ging?"
"Well, sir, not in the way you
mean, although the species of mendi-
cancy I practice practically comes
under that head. And yet manage
to make out pretty well. When [
first had to foot it in the cold, un~
sympathetic world I confess I had
my dose of the blues very often, and
have contemplated suicide more than
once; but to,.speak candidly, was too
much of a coward. Yes, life has its
attractions even for me, and [ don't
think that [ ana by any means the
only fool that's left to pay tie penalty
of his folly"
There was a strange blending Of
cynicism and pathos in the utterance
of this strange speech.
''Are you an Americana"
''No, am native of st. Hilliers,
Island of Jersey. You needn't ask
my name, for obvious reasons, be-
cause I shouldn't give you the cor
rect one, and it isn't necessary to tell
a lie gratuitOusly."