Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-29

EIGNER WHO HAS SYMPATHY FOR TRANrs-wHY
HE EITHER REFUSES THEIR REQUESTS on GIVES
afSERoUsLY-oNE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IN
hIGRANFs
IS DLEAsE GIVE ME QUARTER, GEN
tlemen, to pay for a nights lodging. 1
am beggar, but was not always one, assure
you"
The scene lie located in Washington. One Of
the most notable hotels has q couple of hand
some offices on Newspaper Row, on its ground
noor One of the correspondents is OF German
birth. He and brother correspondent were
standing on the pavement, coryersing upon cur
rent events, discussing topics Of the day and in
duiglng IN "reminiscences. A tramp came along
and addressed them as quoted above. The
American-born man said: "Fve no money for
you, and think you might better earn your
| living, as do" The other said nothing. The
| tramp passed on.
THAT fellow looks like an honest case"
! said one of the correspondents
That was what l thought" replied the
other. Lets call him back"
They did So One of them whistled 70 him;
the stranger turned around and responded to
the Reckoning hand The American tslt in his
pocket and found only two uuarter-dollar
pieces and asked his friend to give the poor
fellow dime. saving: I've nothing smaller
than quarter of a dol lar and that is too much
to give to a tramp
Il have a dime. said his companion. as he
handed it over to the poor beggsr. He NUT
tered thanks a. he accepted the benefaction
| and departed.
DO you know what gave that fellow" in
qulred the donor after the unfortunate had
passed away into the darkness Of the gathering
gloom. Il gave him half q dollar. / would
be unable to sleep If had only given him a
dime tonight never give any of these sOlic-
ltants less than that. 1t you give one Of them
| a dime you make a beggar Of him. He can get
nothing but drink for dime II he is worthy.
he ought to have enough to get stimulant and
also enough to get bed and q breakfast. A
dime merely buys him drink. II he wants a
bed he must beg from two or three others. and
then lie Is beggar. If he has fifty cents he
can get his drink and also get a bed in which
to sleep Every one of these fellows who come
around nightly Is worthy or he is unworthy.
Ii worthy. give him enough; If unworthy. tell
him to go to the devil. That is the way we
should do"
''Well, WELL you are philosopher" replied
his companion. What enabled you to reach
such high state of realism on this tramp ques-
TOM
He WAS ONCE A TRAMP HIMSELF.
Il was a tramp once myself" was the start
ling reply. II was a member of the staff Of
one Of the leading generals in my own country
in Europe. l was well born, had wealthy rea-
tives and had high prospects in the military
profession, but took notion to go to Amer
| ica-that wonderland. concerning which all
European children read in the old country
and left cvefyth behind me to go that FL
Dorado. ] soon found that gold was not to be
| picked up in the streets Of New York and that
| the precious metal was not to be gathered in
the sand hills surrounding that wonderful me-
| tropolis. / had money, but it soon disappeared
hila it'll nj,
gering fever was cured but when was able
| to go forth had no money left. / would not
write to my friends and tell them that my self
chosen sphere barren and sterile plain
and that was paupefized. SO walked out of
New York with only three pennies in my
pocket"
ON THE ROAD.
"When did you have this experience
ST was in 1873 after the celebrated panic.
At that time the American tramp was a nov
city. That panic developed the genus and the
species. Prior to tina. year the professional
tramp was unknown. The bulldogs were kept
in readiness for the unfortunate. There was
no such thing known as the professional gen-
! tieman of the road ! was one of the unem-
ployed who started to walk from town to town
| seeking employment. All that wanted was
work. and, as WAS we'll dressed, clean, gentle
| manly and sincere, was received as n gentle
man wherever l went. Quite o number Of
farmers informed me that although they had
no work they knew Of others who might posi-
bly, have employment for me, and they invited
me to their tables. fed me and hitched up
their teams to carry me to their friends in
order to help me along"
| HE WAS ALWAYS CLEAN.
"How did you manage to keep clean on your
! Journey
| Il had spent all Of my money, but still had
my clothes. l left my several suits OF clothes
with German lady in New York, but carried
| my little pack of clean shirts collars and cuffs
| with me. had a bath wherever | stopped. and
occasionally borrowed a razor from farmer in
order to shave myself. l was travelling in Con-
| necticut, and the countrymen seemed to ad-
mire my predictions toward cleanliness.
| had shave almost every day. Everybody
| treated me with almost ncighbOrly considera-
ton. In fact. never met with so many good
hearted, disinterested, charitable people in all
my life. had been reared i'll ease and COM
Portland might almost say in luxury, and it il
| possible that my gentiemanly bearing had
something to do with my good fortune, but
! think that all the credit is due to the innate
sense of kindness in the hearts and homes OF
the New England farmers"
ATEN DAYS TOUR.
swell, how long did you skirmish for en-
ployment?''
| Il was only knight OF the road for about
| ten Gays reached New haven IN my pill
grimage and found employment in a rubber
| factory, which il still prosperous institution
was employed In the heating room. where the
| thermometer averages about 200 degrees.
worked like slave and was mighty glad, can
| tell you, when received my salary OF % al
| the end Of the first week. That was the first
money l ever earned by actual labor with these
| hands-these hands which now know no heavier
labor than the handling Of pencil or q pen.
continued at my work, and the
foreman came to me one day and
working MANI / don't know what made him
ask me the question. but answered him truth.
fully, and told him that 1t WAS the first manual
labor that had ever done. The next day he
took me into his office aud put pom in m,
hands. lie gave me the duty Of keeping az
account OF the work Of tine men. Well, having
been trained to military duty, that was picnic
for me. / gave him better account OF the
men-a regular military roster--than he had
ever seen before. He made me his b0okkeeper
He advanced me, and before I had been there
three months l earning $40 per week
Think OF that for luck"
His companion laughed and responded
That was not luck at all. There we're otheI
men there in that heating room who worked
harder than you did and accomplished more
They had more muscle and moro experience il
the business. That first advancement was 6
compliment to your brains, and not To youI
hands. The foreman saw that you were al
educated gentleman. You could not DISCUS.
the fact even if you had wanted to do SO, ant
| - Ia