The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-10-09
TRAMP REPORTERS.
vagabonds of the Press who Are Running
Around the Country.

Vagab0nds OF the Press Who Are Running
Around the Country.
The vagabond streak is very strong in
.he tclcgrapher and the compositor.
Like all skilled workmen. they are sure
Of living anywhere they lappen to
land II they only care to work. Both
profit by the sub system. which gives
them Il chance where regular employ
ment might be wanting. AS rule. it
is the best mon whose facility renders
them reckless, and whose habits are
loose and improvidcnt, who succumb to
the habit Of turning their backs on hard
work, and wander off to work deal
harder TO less profit, but with the sweets
Of liberty for compensation. I suppose
there is no reason that reporter should
Aot experience the same yearnine. But
his chances of earning a subsistcncy by
| the way are so much less that h s APP
pearance in the role of a gypsy is more
to be wondered at
At any rate, there is quite consd-
cradle number of these vagabonds of
the press now at large. met one of
them, well-known man on the Phila-
dclphia Press a couple of years ago, in
Cleveland. was breakfast,ng between
trains at the depot early in the morn
ing. He came in, dirty and shabby, but
he paid for his breakfast, aud ate q
lusty one, you may be bound.
He was on his way from Chicago to
Buaalo, returning from tramp
| that Il nd led him as far west as Louis
| l. lao In, fe, rl,t
train, and some drovers he had made
friends with were going to help him east
in their cabooss. The man. when first
heard of him, was editing q paper in
Western Pennsylvania, and was report
ed to be settled and doing well.
There used to be droll, dry genius
about Newspaper Row who worked for
the Sunday papers and wrote funny
stories that were really funny to read.
He disappeared suddenly, and every
one thought him dead. A long while
afterward, being in Baltimore, came
across a papt published on tho Eastern
shore that bore his name rs proprietor.
l learned that he had started on stroll
south, had drifted into Dover on foot,
met an old friend who possessed some
means, aud got him to set up paper
for him. They were doing well ut the
time write Of, but few months later
he did not report for duty one morning.
He sent note to his friend saying that
he was going West. BY foot and raj
he penetrated as far rs Kansas The re
lost track of him, acting rs sub-editol
on q paper in Atchison. He is probably
we'll on his way around the world by
this time. There recently returned t
New York pressman whom every OLE
timer ON the Row knows. He was re
garded fifteen years ago as one of thu
most able reporters in the city. He lI,
worked, and worked among the best, OF
, all the great papers, and done
some of the brightest and cleveres
reportorial work that ha
got into print in the metropolitan dai
lies. But he is confirmed rover, ant
can never be counted on from day t.
day. He makes periodical disappear
anccs from New York, and after month
is hoard of as being connected will
some out-of-town paper. He alway
Q gets good berths. for his ability com
l mands respect and has tangible value
/. Formerly he did not go further ava,
than PHILADELPHIA. Baltimore, Albany o
, Hartford. Then he began to drift t.
D such distances as Boston and Pitts
. burgh. Then his operations extende
D to Chicago, ST. Louis and into Mime
!. sofa and Dakota. When shook hand
with him the other day at the post-oiiic
' he was fresh from Denver.
ionce asked this man why he DELHI
) erately sacrificed his opportunities rs h
y did, and broke away from connection
l he could easily have made permanent
profitable. II can't help it," he re
: piled; "I get so Internally tired of Ne,
! York that have to get out"
! "Thcn why don't you stay out whel
! you get good thing?"
I ..Because get so tired of bein!
: away" said he, 'that l have to com
G back"
Here you have epitomizcd the creed G
the tramps of journalism Y. Jou,
,