The Delta independent., 1888-08-21
A Real One

Educated trampsp Why Ger tainly
there are educated tramps." said an
old-time detective-one of the real
..sleuth' tribe of detectives-'tand
there have been for many years. l
am not speaking either of men or
monstrosities, freaks or phenomena,
who happen in some unaccountable
way to be gifted with knowledge or
intuition of some one thing. like the
music of Blind Tom or the Tgurative'
ability, so to speak. of a natural math-
ematician. l speak of tramps who
have thorough. full. brilliant educa-
tions in every branch of a college cur
riculum.
.'But to return to the educated
tramp. Once was sitting in front OF
hotel IN St Joseph, Mo-, with the
young son of the state governor at
that time, who was also very wealthy
man. It was pleasant evening in
summer. The young gentleman and
were enjoying an afternoon cigar.
when specimen of the genus tramp
approached. He was IN elderly man.
and his language Mt once bespoke the
wreck of q gentleman. Said he: ''Gen-
temen. pardon my intrusion, but
observe that neither of you seem to be
specially engaged at the moment. I
desire to solicit small donation, or
would willingly accept one of large
proportions. l would feel gratitied,
however, to obtain sufficient amount
of cash to continue, to as great length
as possible. the connection between
my soul and body-that is. to protract
the association between my physiolog-
ical and corporate attributes. l have
not indulged in anything in the char
acter of a reflection during the dav.
now that night is falling, l am only
alike the Son of Man in having not
where to lay my head
This the seedy old tramp said in n
spirit of righteousness which was in
tended, but at the same time he looked
very much as if he hadn't had a bite to
eat in week, and he was altogether a
dilapitated specimen of humanity.
"My companion asked him his busi-
ness or profession.
"'Well,' said he, at present I am
only gentleman of elegant leisure.
Formerly l was college professor.
and am yet something of an educator.
in warning way, that is to say. in
the capacity of what is sometimes
spoken of as frightful example.
1.-The conversation continued between
the two until it became apparent thau
the tramp was really man of brilliant
school attainments. My young friend
had just graduated in law at one Of
the great universities, and had pre-
viously graduated, in n no less distin-
guished school. in letters and was,
therefore. capable of sounding the old
man deep. The tramp would recite.
in the original tongue. the odes of
Anacreon. begin anywhere in Homer
and spin off the blind Creeks poetry
at any desired length; was no less ia
miliar with Virgil, Cicero and dozens
of other Greek and Latin poets, ora
tors and law-givers; talked beauti-
fully about law. and referred in the
most delightful way to the leading
characteristics of Justinian. and Of
later law commentators, including
Blackstone. Kent, Bouvier. ct al, ran
cheerfully over the beauties of Green
leaf in that authors philosophizngs on
the nature of evidence, while in other
branches of learning and science, in
mathematics and art, in the wide
domain of knowledge, he seemed to
have been freebooter.
.'My friend almost fell in love with
the charming old loafer, took him to
a clothing store and had him fitted out
with new suit entire, from top to toe
and from the skin out, had him fed
and bathed, and gave him money to
continue eating and looking decent
but that old wretch preferred drink to
all things. and was gone next day. My
friend desired to keep him about as
source of information and amusement,
but this educated tramp went on his
way fulfilling his mission as an object
lesson in the philosophy OF temper
ance. He had been bred a gentleman,
had worked as college professor.
and drink had dragged him from his
high estate. "-Arkdnsaw Traveller.