Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-11
TRAMPS OF LONDON
METHODS, MANNERS AND MORALS OF
THE DEvoTEEs TO INCIDENCE.

THE DEVOTEES TO INCIDENCE.
A Creature of Romsnce--His Educational
Meager Brcakfast-At the Pawnbroker,s.
The Summer Tramp-Invariabiy Civil
and Respectful.
One of the best examples of London's low
livers is the tramp, and him in his MANY
varieties we will consider. London tramps
nave more freedom than the tramps Of the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts possess, because
there is more attention-almost sentimental
attention-paid in England to the freedom
OF the subject" and to the liberty of the
Streets" So long as the tramp moves ON
Ike Poor Joe" be is let alone. vagrancy is
winked' at by the authorities. These do
NOT wish any more charges on the PARISH
tnan they are obliged to incur or take notice
Oh In the day time they are entirely lost
aght Of in the swirl of the human tides, and
they are only to be well studied at night
time.
tramps name is usually an assumed one
be selects some name in fiction, the drama,
poetry or annals of criminals, which appeals
to bis innate sense of fitness to his own case,
or yields itself to the glamour in which he
reveis. For he is a creature of romance.
he cherishes in his veins the ideal traditions |
. OF the Romany, though there be no drop of |
Sgypsy blood IN his poor body. he is often |
very intelligent, cursed alone with chronic |
isziness. Provided he is not an idiot from |
,Sirth he is never hopelessly ignorant. His |
:, -tlss9 the streets has sharpened his wits and |
developed certain form of low cunning |
which, il not intelligence, surely stands |
Cousin German to it.
THE TRAMPs' EDUCATION.
Very seldom, indeed, is he unable to read.
he feasts on the daily papers, acquiring
rough shod knowledge of politics, and know
ing perfectly all the questions discussed in
both houses Of parliament How does he
procure the papers, you ask Nothing is
easier In certain parishes one or more of
the daiiies is pasted on the regular bill
ooards along the street. One-half will be
pasted under the other half, the two papers
giving one paper complete when spread out
Before these the tramp stands in the very
early morning. With his hands thrust in
his pockets, his broken shoes or bare dirty
feet, his rags and tatters, he is truly gro
tesque object.
He ramhles in the dawn past the penny
and ha'penny cocoa shops, occasionally paus-
ing at one From the grating fronting the
establishment issue the fumes of boiling
cocoa, tea, coffee and light breakfast viands
This is sometimes his sole breakfast He
feasts on the appetiZing steam in long inhala-
tons. Often passer by bestows on him a
penny or two which he quickly invests in this
shop, terrifying himself thus for his long,
monotonous day. He does not necessarily
beg. His attitude is in itself mute petition
for aims. If he does beg it is with proud
depreciation: Sir, bestow on me the price of
cup OF cocoa; a ha'penny, if you please
Seldom is such an appeal uttered in vain, and
so universal is politeness here that the poor
tramp bows and thanks the giver grandilo-
quentlv He even thanks him if the com be
refused.
Before the windows of the pawnbroker's
shop the tramp may next be seen, gazing in
tently at the pledged loot. Poor fellowl
Who knows but that he may be casting
furtive glances at some unredeemed trinket,
once his, now put on sale. IL fascinates him
to keep thus to thread even of personal
proprietary rights The old print shops in
terest him as well Perhaps he likes curios
because ne is himself species of human
curi0.
He is very dirty, very disreputable in ap-
pearance, very gone to seed in condition,
and he is very smelly person withal His
face is never animated in expression. But if
he lacks animation OF visage he makes up for
it in animation of another sort. Don't, pray.
get too near him, else You may learn TO your
sorrow that misery" has made him acquaint
with strange bedfellowsn
DIVIDED INTO SEASONS.
Tramps are divided into seasons There is
the tramp of the summer. He may work in
the winter or the reverse. He is happiest in
the summer, when deserted alleys, news,
gates and doorways, above all the bridges
afford him rest and shelter He is most mis-
cradle in the winter, when he, like the
woman vagrant, is driven to the casual
wards. In the long, cold, wet nights OF
autumn he procures a practical umbrella un
der some friendly portlco, and thus may keep
little dry, which is better than to be soak
ing wet In spring time he haunts the mar
kets, feasting on cabbage leaves or early tur
nips dropped from an overloaded country
wagon, emptying its treasure trovt
later on, garnered in Kent, Surrey
Sussex and Middlesex rural districts
have seen these wanderers lurking al
most under the wheels of market carts
scrambling for the bit Of dropped green STUFF
before it reached the ground. There is
pub" or public house in old Covent Gar
den market which Is opened at daylight 70
the convenience Of the market gardeners, VIII
have Travelled often since the new day bega
with their produce on market days. Thi
pub does lively trade in "bitter beera an
spirits. The tramp, like and evil shadow
insinuates himself inside the door unkDow
TO the bartender. Crouching down to til
floor he seizes the market man IS emptied gla:
TO drain the few drops which remain, or I
pick up the biscuit which he has tossed on
side. Ere any one is aware lie has vanishe
as he came, thing 'Of shreds and patches
denizen of the night shade.
! have seen and conversed with every grad
Of street tramp, and / have iuvariabl
found him civil, respectful and in roug
way chivalrous. | have come down to b
level, and never attempted to reform him
thrust wise saws upon him, like SuDdE
garment spick and span for the pitiful occ
sion. Treating him as Il comrade for Il
nonce, have taken him into my conhdenC
nor has he abused that same Admittil
him by tacit invitation into the boundle
realms of Bohemia, / have learned of /
manners and customs, his tricks and |
quips, to my hearts content. 1 have new
patronized him nor loftily called him IN
good man" But when our unconvention
interview has ended I've asked him to acce
shilling TO drink my health and happine
nor have disdained to thank him for
newspaper copy" obhgingly given me. F
that one moment the tramp has respect
himself, and CLEAN of human kindness b
found its way to his torpid heart.-Anr
Wakeman in San Francisco Chronicle
The Empress of Austria.
During my stay at Tncker's hotel | b