Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-07
DESCRIPTION OF THEIR RENDEZVOUS
IN KANSAS CITY BOTTOMS.
How They Live in the summer-Scenex
OF Washing Dsys-Subjevts Which
They Find Time to Discuss Dis
CONeTeT of America.

anu grow so closely together that II l. only
a chance sunbeam that ocr aSlonally hnds its
way through the heavy foliage To dance
and flicker on the green sward fellow
/ Scattered throug bout the woods number
less clear, cold springs, some of which trirkle
down the hillside while others form bright,
sparkling little pools, viii h make one
thirsty 10 look at In the hottest days OF
summer this sy ivan retreat is cool and pleas
ant, and while the heat rises in waves from
the bottoms Just across the railroad track,
here there is always refreshing breeze
blowing
SUMNER QUARTERS FOR TRAMPS.
In this pleasant wood in the rear Of the
barOei wire fence with Its washing day
decorations, is the summer head quarters of
the tramps When the leaves appear in the
spring the tramEs make the trees their shell,
ter in the summer, and when they disappear
IN the fall the tramps disappear with them
Every summer there is regular colony OF
tramps here They sleep on the ground,
and the tire : are alike their only protection
from storm and heat
still summer is the time tramp enjoys
himself hen lite is worth living. They
toll not, neither do they spin. Vet solomon
himself dId not ell, ,Oy more solid comfort
than these same IrampS They are not
fields, potato patches and chicken roosts
afford a plentiful supply Of that They do
not worry much more about Clothes for
most of them do not wear any worth speak
ing about when in summer quarters With
plenty TO eat, ali they want 10 wear and u
retreat that would have delighted Robin
Hopd himself. tn east bottom tramps pass
the summer about coEtentedly as though
rIIe corn stood i'll the tiel Is all the year
round, and spring chic kens never grew
tough
y stranger with a sketch book in his
pocket appeared in the midst OF the tramps
. few days ago but they paid no attention
10 him and did not feel at all dis concerted
when he drew forth murderous looking
knife and began to carve out pictures Of
them as they appeared while engaged III
their various time killing devIc'
With most Of them it appearel 70 b.
washing day. fact which, in view of the
popular impression TO the effect that tramps
never wash was somewhat astonishing.
Most of the springs were utihlei by one /
or more tramps who were lazily engaged in
washing articles OF clothing and hanging
them on the bushes to dry. They did not
wash in the vigorous MISUNDERSTANDING
manner Of Chinese laundryman, but
dipped them in the spring and rubbed them
together in r way that indicated that while .
they preferred clean clothes they did not .
propose TO sweat TO get the dirt out
IMPERFECT mutations oF WORK.
peculiar feature Of the camp was the
number of socks that strewed the grounds
1t was impossible TO walk thirty ct with
out running across one and while they were
not as thick as the leaves which strew the !
woods and hills in autumn they were suf-
ticiently numerous to cause u stranger 10
wonder where they all came from, In sew
eral places q couple Of tramps were heating
water in old powder csns When the water I
became hot they dropped the dirty socks in .
it, stirred them around a few minutes and .
then took them out 70 dry. Then they used .
the water to wash themselves
While the tramps gave imperfect imita-
tions u men at work, they la.ily talked
with each Other. Some Of the subjects Of .
discussion were unexpected, an some the
ories advanced were unique. 4 dirty look .
ing old fellow who had not taken part IN
the washing day festivities first broached ,
the sub ject Of strikes; but there was not !
much difference of opinion on this sub ct
They ali agreed that strikes were u~elGss,
and gave excellent reasons for their belief. ,
For" said one old fellow who lying
under a tree IN an attitude Of great aban-
don IF men did not work there would he no .
strikes they strike because they work too .
much for the pay they get; ergo, the way .
TO keep from the necessity for striking is /
not TO work" His companions agreed that /
work was primarily the cause Of strikes and
resolved not to become strikers under any
circumstances
The conversation next turned on the dis
covery of America The discussion was /
lively one Several of the disputants held |
that the continent had been discovered by |
the Norwegians and Swedes A German
claimed that the honor belonged to his coun-
uymen
1t was finally decided that Cabot discov- .
cred America several thousand years before ,
Columbus landed A young man who had .
cut piece out OF q fellow tramp's coat,
with which to patch the seat of his trousers, /
and who was engaged in the operation asked .
il Cabot discovered the continent, and |
Columbus got the credit Of it, bow it hap.
pened to be called America This was a
poser, and no one attempted to answer it
When the visitor lett discussion on the .
Irish home rule question, which threatened .
to terminate fatally, had Just begun. III AL
sas City Times