The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-04-06
A. Tramp's Philosophy.
Chicago Herald.

to ask for a quarter The reporter, after
rapidly taking in the healthy looking form
of the beggar, denounced him as tramp,
and was about to pass on when he was ar
rested by the words quoted, which were
uttered in tones of wondrous richness.
II have no use for tramps, the reporter
replied.
sThere are tramps and tramps, said the
man, not the least disconnected. II grant
YOU there are men of my calling who VIC
late the eighth commandment So, doubt
less, there are men of yours, whatever 1t
may be. The Saviour had his Iscariot,
but shall you say, in consequence that
Peter, John and Bartholomew were traitors
and scoundrels?"
as there a case upon record of tramp
who was of any use to himself or his gen.
eration?"
GA thousand might readily be named.
What was Jacob when he fled from the
wrath of Esau, and raised his bethel in the
robber infested wilderness? Have you
not heard of Cadmus, the Phenician, who
introduced letters into Europe? His rest
less spirit caused him to sail up and down
the Mediterranean, and, doubtless, often
times to go far out upon the swollen waters
of the great Atlantic. Going back in his
tory, is there not Moses, who for forty
wears tramped to and fro in the desert, idle
and Indifferent, gathering his food as it fell
from the clouds? Pompey, Caesar and
Anthony were very princes of tramps, be-
taking themselves here and there, wher-
ever there was novelty of scenery or rich
treasures to be despoiled. Columbus was
a very iIlustrious member of my contra
ternity, dying as he lived, as veritable a
a nomad as the swart Arabs Of the sandy
wastes of the old world. The spirit of the
rover was stamped indelibly on Napoleon,
so that not even the seductive blandish-
ments of an imperial court could enehain
him within the precincts of Paris, the
beautiful Trampsl' be continued after a
very brief pause, raising his voice and
talking rapidly "What but tramps were
Cook, Magellan, Behring, DR.. Kane, Cor
don Cummin, Livingstone, Stanley and the
entire army of travellers and voyageurs.
What are you sir2" he asked sharply, turn
ing upon the reporter.
aPrecisely, he continued after he had
been truthfully answered II had thought
as much. Let me tell you that honored as
your calling is, / do not fear to enter the
lists with you and volunteer to name
Roland of distinguished tramp for every
Oliver of an illustrious journalist you may
recall
''What quality, for instance, do you pos
sess that fits you to be elassed with the
long line of illustrious individuals whom
YOU have named?'
II might name thousand had you time
or patience to hear. Primarily | am edu-
Gated. The child of wealthy parents, |
had, first, private tutor; then instruction
in an academy and finally | completed the
full course at one OF our leading univer-
sites. | am now Sc. Until three years
since, when / entered the large army Of
which am now a member, | was a great
reader degouring al kinds of books that
came in my way. Since ! began my
travels have not read books SO earnestly,
because Of the petty prejudice of vulgar
minds, which decline TO come in close con
tact with men who are, as | am, trihe
negligent 10 their attire.
at is all matter of taste. | am not
sympathetic. My father being rich | was
raised in luxury and became selfish. Inever
employed my mind in aught but reading,
aud was trained TO esteem all mankind as
robbers ready to prey upon me aud all the
other ssions Of wealth. The old gentle
man, my sire, in his declining years went
on Wall street, and in a year his great for
tune was swallowed up. He was so silly
as to be honest and refuse to save anght
from the wreck. The modification of the
thing killed him and my mother, both
dying within month after his fsilure.
Nv Jewels, fine clothes and the thousand
or two Of pocket money my father had
given me kept me in idleseSs for four or
1--WE months. One morning woke TO the
fact that ] was absolutely penniless and
friendless. After mature elaboration ]
resolved to let the world / despised care
for me, while | cultivated my love for
travel and observation. | love nature, |
have no petty vices, am honest, truthful
and virtuous
s'But you are a beggar You stopped
me to beg a quarter. THAT is very true.
But asn | alone in this2 Is not the world
crowded with beggars2 Do not grave
senators beg their seats? Is there an Office
holder in all this broad land who does not
owe bis place to his piteous pleadings?
Did you ever attend 4 church that failed
to shove a contribution box under your
nose? Is there merchant, lawyer, doctor,
or manufacturer who begS not for patron
age and support
Those men, however, give something
in return"
aWhile l do the same thing All sys-
TENS of religion declare it is more blessed
TO give than to receive. Why, | declare to |
you that fully a thousand times my own I
heart has beaten with gladness as [ have
seen the happiness upon the face Of good /
woman after she had passed over to me
food had asked for These good people /
are trained to believe that he who gives to 4
the poor lends to the Lord, and when they 4
give to me they fully believe they are
laying up treasures in heaven.
at is true the tramp is dirty, but Di-
cgenes, who was philosopher Of some
merit, though he lived in a tub never used
one for bathing purposes. His garments
were not as respectable as mine, nor was
his person aseleanly If you were reader
Of theological history you would know that
the Eastern bishops present at the first
Nicene council, which met to discuss and
settle the matter Of the divinity of Christ,
we're so filthy in their habits and so aflict-
ted with verIein that the Western bishops
sat apart from them in the council cham
Der. Yet were Diogenes and those bishops
famous, despite their lack of personal clean
iness- The Russian people are decidedly
lverse, as class, to water. Yet Russia
IS a great nation. There is too great pre-
udice against dirt, anyway, since out Of it
comes all our food, and, indirectly, our
raiment."
@But you fellows are dishonest; you
steal
Possibly some do, but as class we are
Is honest as other people, and at the most
We do but take when hunger drives us to
t, and are content with sufficient food for
single meal. You will find no burglars,
afe blowers, defaulting cashiers or treasur-
RS in our number We do not fill the
or other altered reformation