Evening journal., 1888-12-22
TRkMPS OF LONDON
METHODS, MANNERS AND MORALS OF
1 THE DEvOTEEs TO INCIDENCE.

I Inc summer ArAhnP-
and Respectful.
< One Of the best examples Of London's low
nvers is the tramp, and him in his many
varieties we will consider. London tramps
have 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"
like "Poor Joe, !" he is let alone. Vagrancy Is
ssvinledn at by the authorities These do
not wish any more ''charges on tho parish"
than they are obliged 20 incur or take notice
Of In the day time they are entirely lost
sight Of in the swirl Of the human tides, and
they are only 70 be well studied at night
time
A tramp's name is usually an assumed one.
He selects some name in fiction, the drama,
poetry or annals Of criminals, which appeals
to his innate sense Of fitness TO his own case,
OF yields itself to the glamour in which he
revels For he Is a creature Of romance.
He cherishes in his veins the ideal traditions
of the Romany, though there be no drop OF
gypsy blood in his poor body. he is often
very intelligent, cursed alone with chronic
laziness Provided he is not an idiot from
birth be is never hopelessly Ignorant His
life in the streets has sharpened his wits and
developed a certain form OF low cunning
which, II not intelligence, surely stands
eCousin German TO it.
THE rRANPs' 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 tho papers, you aski Nothing is
easier. In certain parishes one or moro Of
the dailies is pasted on the regular bill
boards along the street. One-half will be
pasted under the other half, tho 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 rambles In tho dawn past the penny
and ha'penny cocoa shops, occasionally paus-
ing at one. From the grating fronting the
establishment issue tho fumes OF boiling
COCOA, toa, coffee and light breakfast viands.
This is sometimes his sole breakfast. He
feasts on the appetiEing steam in long inhala.
tons Often a pasSer by bestows on him a
penny or two which he quickly invests in thi:
shop, fortifying himself thus for his long
monotonous day. He does not necessarily
beg His attitude is in itself mute petition
for aims. II he does beg it is with a proud
depreciation: "Sir, bestow on me the price oi
cup Of COCOA; hapenny, if you please.
Seldom is such an appeal uttered in vain, and
50 universal is politeness here that the pool
tramp bows and thanks the giver grandllo
quently He even thanks him if the coin b.
refused.
Before the windows Of the pawnbroker''
shop tho tramp may next be seen, gazing in
tently at the pledged loot. Poor fellow
Who knows but that he may be castinl
furtive glances at some unredeemed trinket
once his, now put on sale 1t fascinates hin
to keep thus to a thread even Of persona
proprietary rights The old print shops in
terest him as we'll Perhaps he likes curio
because he is himself species Of humai
curio.
He is very dirty, very disreputable In az
poarance, very "gone to seedr In condition
and he is very smelly person withal Hi
face is never animated In expression But !
be lacks animation Of visage he makes up 70
It in animation Of another sort. Don't, pray
get too near him, else you may learn 20 you
sorrow that misery has made him acquain
'swith strange bedfellows"
DIVIDED INTO SEASONS.
Tramps are divided into seasons. There
the tramp OF the summer He may work /
the winter or the reverse. He Is happiest /
tho summer, when deserted alleys, new
gates and doorways, above all the bridge
afford him rest and shelter. He is most mi
srable in the winter, when he like u
woman vagrant, Is driven TO the casu
wards In the long, cold, wet nights
autumn he procures practical umbrella Vi
der some friendly portico and thus may kee
little dry, which is better than to be soa
ing wet In spring time he haunts the ma
kets, feasting on cabbage leaves or early tn
nips dropped from an overloaded COUNT
wagon, emptying its treasure tro'
later on, garnered in Kent, Surro
Sussex and Middlesex rural district
1 have seen these wanderers lurking
most under the wheels OF market car
scrambling for tho bit Of dropped green stJ
before it reached the ground There is
1spubn or public house" in old Covent CT
den market which is opened at daylight
Inconvenience OF the market gardeners, W
have Travelled often since the new day beg
with their produce on market days. III
s'pubn does lively trade in "bitter beers a
spirits. Tho tramp, like and evil shade
insinuates himself inside the door unkno'
10 the bartender Crouching down to
6oor be seizes the market mans emptied 81
10 drain the few drops which remain, or
pick up the biscuit which he has tossed {
side. Ere any one IS aware he has vAnisl
as he came, a thing s'of shreds and patchg
denizen Of the night shade.
have seen and conversed with every gr'
Of street tramp, and 1 have invaria
found him civil, respectful and in a roI
way chivalrous l have come down to
level, and never attempted TO reform him
thrust wise saws upon him, like Sum
garment, spick and span for the pitiful o.
sion. Treating him as q eomrade for
nonce, have taken him into my confdeI
nor has he abused that same Admit
him by tacit invitation into the bound
realms of Bohemia, 1 have learned of
manners and customs, his tricks and
quips, to my hearts content 1 have n,
patronized him nor loftiiy called him
good man. But vixen our unconventi
Interview has ended I've asked hm to ac
a shilHag to drink my health and hapPil
nor have / disdained TO thank him for
newspaper copy" obigingly given me.
that one moment the tramp has rospe
himself, and geam Of human kindness
found its way 10 his torpid heart "A
Wakenian ID San Francisco Chronicle.
sharizs I'm suez Canal.
Sharks are reported to have become
commonly numerous on tho shores of
Z I. .rsfra mn -.