The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-06-06
TRAMPS.
How Stranded Graduates Live
Without Money.
Sketches from the Frontier-"Give Me
Two Bits"-Progress and Poverty
Horace Greeley's' Motto
Want of Capital.

- s'iil
"Beg your pardon, sir, can you let
me have two bits? want to get a
nights lodging"
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 effulgence of the numerous
electric lights would have made pin
on the sidewalk visible, and gave him
ample time 10 take stock of the suppli-
cant. A slightly built man of about
thirty, dressed in an old and glossy suit
of black, that. to use the commonplace,
had "seen better days. A face that
spoke of culture and refinement. albeit
brutalized by piggish bristles and rem
dered coarse by over-indulgence in
strong drink. The old black diagonal
coat was buttoned up close to the chin,
as though to hide the dirty linen be-
meath, and worn SLOUGH hat formed
his headgear. 1t was in such state of
dilapidation as to recall the ballad of
Paddy McFadden. who was
''-greasy and fat,
Aud the hair of his head 81
1t stuck out through his hat"
Such was the ensemble of the man who
came West to the boundary OF two re-
publics, to hold out his hand to the pass
ing stranger and beg two bits for his
nights lodging. Drowning men, who
have been rescued, tell us that in the
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
to pass through my mind sad thoughts
of the increase of misery and poverty
the wide world over.
Poverty, think, is the greatest cos
mopolite. l have seen it chased as
crime from the streets of our great
cities in the United States; have seen
II selling its miserable match boxes
Containing matches that never would
or could ignite), as an excuse to escape
police persecution in the London stree Is;
l have seen it picking up the garbage
AFRO and the Halies Central in Paris, sun
ming its brass badge on the Piazza de
Spagna at Rome, and yet more recently
blocking the entrance TO the Cathedral
of Chihuahua. But surely, / thought,
this Southwest that is always asking for
immigrants ought not to have healthy
men round the streets of her town ask
ing for aims. In this connection l
should remark that this application for
1.-TWO bits" was only one of dozen to
which the visitor to FL Paso is subjected
nightly. and that the only cure the au-
thorities seem TO have for the evil is to
round up the poor devils like cattle and
drive them out of town with force of
mounted officers.
~ Thought Iwould interview the man
who wanted two bits for a bed, and so
dropping half a dollar into his out
stretched palm asked him to take a
drinks Seated beside awarm stove and
under the influence of q r.'hot Scotch, T"
my tramp became quite communicative
and required little urging on the part of
the interviewer to unlimber his tongue.
4 suppose you're going to commence
with the usual cant about why don't /
go to work and the rest of it. he COM
menced, ITO hear you fellows talk
about industry and energy. one would
imagine that all fellow had to do was
to goiright into the first store and ask
for job to get it. Well, YOU Just try
it and yeu'nidnd that your industry is
not wanted and your energy is wasted
on the desert airs
''But I'd imagine" broke in your cor
respondent, 'sthat man with some cul-
ture, education and address would
sooner or later drop into something good
and keep it. without much trouble. You
seem to be that kind of man."
We'll. sir, if instead of being COL
iege graduate had been.a graduate