Omaha daily bee., 1886-08-22
TAe IRAMP PRIMER.
A Chapter Upon the Life orThat Re-
mnrknblr individual

st Paul Pioneer Press. Very peculiar
is the printer. And the tramp party is
n wonderful being. lie possesses in an
infinite degree that inborn quality which
never permits Il man to lose confidence
in himself. The tramp pintcr calls it
progressivcness People whom he causes
to become familiar with this quality
designate 1t immaculate concentrated
extract of gall. The tramp printer has
two violent antipatmcs-work and re-
naming in one place. His disposition
causes him TO be constantly on the move
When he strikes a town he is without
funds. He is, of course, union man,
and he Immediately "panhandlcs the
chairman of the chapel for n b. h." This,
being translated, means that he obtains
sufficient sum of money to secure Il
boarding house. The next day the
printer will probably be seen gloriously
freight train leaving town The
car. He looks upon them aS his most
intimate friend. He is Il perfect master
of the art of obtaining free transporta-
ton. He can stupety himself with
whisky and then give more tips upon the
matter than any other man ever dreamed
of When he gets to the next town the
tramp printer concludes to 90 to work.
He can land in town broke, but in three
hours he will have a boarding house and
enough money to get drunk on. When
he has boarding house he is king
He would not exchange places with the
mayor of the city. He works for two or
three days. and then becomes tired of Il
life of toll. His poetic soul longs for the
freedom of the open air. He has made
enough money to make merry on. He
will no longer be slave, but will con
tinue to travel as man of leisure. He
has enough money to pay railroad fare,
but he prefers to walk if he cannot strike
n freight train. He will not permit any
of his hard earned money. Then, too, he
has the wherewthal to purchase beer.
Beer is the tramp printers love. he
likes whisky, but his devotion to beer
exceeds the love of a mother for her
child. 1t is very absorbing love, in
deed. Occasionally the tramp printer
gets in' a week. But when he does he
devotcs the succeeding six months to the
contemplation of the vast amount of
labor he performed in that time. He
sort of piticS himself because of his ardu-
Gus work. During this time nothing will
induce hm to return to the case unless
it is hunger and 4 desire for beer. When
the tramp printer strikes a brewery in
his percgrinations he camps out in the
vicinity and dcvotcs himself to pure en-
joymcnt. If he has enough money to Sc
cure a boarding house he is suprcmely
happy. If he hasn't it doesn't worry him
IN the least. He isn't much of n dresser
Personal appearances are not his strong
point He usually bears close resemb
lance to n printing Office towel,
and seems to enjoy living
that way. The tramp is not old.
An old man could not long withstand
,,.. II" is usually between
twenty-five and thirty years Of age. ..,
a rule, the tramp printer is an excellent
compostor. They are the finest in the
profession, and when they work they can
earn money rapidly. From town to town
they wander, being possessed Of that
peculiar disposition which makes them
dislike a settled habitahon. There is Il
German named Heinback who is one of
the best known tramp printers in this
portion of the country. He speaks
several languages, and has been in every
town and city of Importance in the
country. He is fluent taker, especially
when there is any beer in the vicinity.
Peoria" McNamee is another tramp
prin .er who has made the rounds many
times. Some of these fellows have
regular routes laid out, VIII lie others go
where their fancy dictates.