The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-01-08

but not only C IN most tramps read but
muny OF them are men OF considerable edu-
cation, whom hard fortune and disappoint-
ment in business or love has driven to
drink. from which the transition 90 "a tramp
IL frequently "a Sw.f aud easy one.
Hoe too, are carried on many discussions
or which the newspapers make no report
though they are o ten filed with less enter
tanning matter. Politics is the staple SUBJ
lect As between the two leading parties
the honors are about even; the socialists
are "a good third, while. to the credit OF the
party be 1t said the Grohibitionists are
rarely represented. Protection. free
trade, grinding monopolies." the merits
of candidates. and the acts and policy OF
the Government. are discussed wthou
reserve, and often as uDderstHndingly "a
in the political b-houses above ground.
Religion is another fruitful theme. and all
shades Of opinions, from atheism TO
orthodoxy. are expressed.
Some men actually earn money in these
ten-cent lOdging-houses. One gray haired.
long bearded Old tramp l. known in most
Western cities. all OF which he visits as
times, as Bunny Gump. Bumpy is a
phrenologist and when the office" is most
crowded often appears with "a huge chart
and "A human skull He hangs the one on
the wall and pOising the other in his hand
calls Tor subjects. His charges vary with
the financial condition of the party. from "a
penny to "a dime. the latter being high
water mark. Tramps, like other people,
love amusements. and are curiouSas TO the
character OF their associates. and "Bumpv
Gump- often makes as much as dollar IN
n single evening. though he may have 10
buy u check st two or three different
lodging ouses to accomplish II.
By mdnight most OF the guests are sleep
ing as soundly as the vermn and sitting
air will permit The sanitary police often
visit these plnces and compel them TO adopt
some form OF ventilation. Fresh air. how
ever. means n boes OF heat, which in turn
represents "a useless consumption of coal.
and the openings are generally closed upon
the departure Of the officers.
The sleeping accomm odatiOns consist OF
hunks ranged against the walls from the
floor to the ceiling. Some are supplied
with rude apology Tor mattress, but for
the most part they consist Of the bare
boards. with an elevated portion for the
head. much after the fashion OF the steer
age of a great ocean steamship
Included with lodging, some -sn Oozing
places, az they are sometimes called. give,
by way OF breakfast, a "duffer" OF bread
name OF coffee, but manufactured from
burnt rye and the grounds procured a. ON
hotels and restaurants.
The absolute equality or men has never
been any place long maintained. and even
among trampS AMI buns there are grades
Of society. Not long since the writer wit
messed street meeting between two
tramps which illustrates the poiut.
Hello. Jeml" said one. as he shifted
bundle from one arm TO the Other and
huge auid OF tobacco across his moth.
Hello. yourselfl- responded the other.
How're you done to-day?"
Pretty good. got three square meals
cold meat. Worcestershire sauce and pie
dlnner-two shirts. a vest. and twenty cents
spot cash. That amt doin' so bad. hey1"
Bad bah Its flendish. bad enough TO
settle the person nj devil controversy"
what are you givin' mer-
Nothing and 1 wish no one else would.
You're lacking in self-respectf"
did YOU do better2-
Did do better? II didn't I'd step on
and ohlitcrste myself Two shirtsl Baal