River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-07-23

lions. The CHEEKY and uroane African
materially called Delmonico by the
habitues Of the Nocturnal outbound
his time crowded in serving bottled
beer. sandwiches or boiled eggs to the
groups around the tables
To large group in the back room
Peterson related how he had once
missed the last car at the distant eN-
tremity of West Philadelphia, and, fail
ing to find cab west of Broad street.
had walked fifty blocks after midnight,
and had still succeeded in getting his
report in the second edition, and thus
making ''5eat on the town"
Then spoke up needy outsider whom
Jefferson had brought ia at one O'clock.
I neglected to mention Fettersnn's
penchant for queer company. 1t is
quite right that reporters know police
men. are on chatting terms with nights
cabmen and have large acquaintance
with pugilists and even with crooks. .
But Jefferson picks up the most re-
mark able and out-of-the-wa y-not to
speak of out-at-elbows-sp ecimens of
mankind, craft in distress or the sea of
humanity. The needy outsider was his
latest acquisition
1t is enough to say of this destitute
acquaintance of FettersOn's that he
was a ragged man needing a shave. In
daylight, in the country, you would
have termed him tramp Hitherto he
had sat in our group in silence. When
he opened his mouth to discourse, it
was natural that he should have
prompt and somewhat curious hearing.
speaking of walking" he said, Il
have walked bit in my time. Mostly,
though I've rode-on freight cars. The
longest straight tramp ! ever made was
from Harrisburg to Philadelphia once
when the trains weren't running The
cold weather made walking pleasant.
But what do you think of woman-no
tramp woman, either-startin2 from
Pittsburgh to walk to Philadelphia"
''Oh. there is "a so-called actress who
recently walked from San Francisco TO
New York, put in someone.
Eyes, but 5 he took her time, and had
all the necessaries of life on the way.
She walked for an advertisement The
woman | spe ak Of walked in order to
get there. She walked be cause she
hadn't the money to pay her fare. Her
husband was with her to be sure. He
was a pal O mine. You see it was a
hard winter, years ago, and work was
so scarce in Pittsburgh that the hus-
band had to remain idle until the two
had begun to starve. lie had some edu-
cation. and had been an Office clerk.
At that time of his life he couldn't have
stood manual labor Still he tried to
get it, for he was willing to do any
thing to keep lining To his skin. If
you've never been in his predicament
You can't realize how il is and You
won't believe it possible. But I've
known more than one man to starye
because he couldn't get work and
wouldn't take public charity. Starva-
ton was the prospect of this young fell
low and his wife. So they decided to
leave Pittsburgh and come To Philadel-
phia, where they thought it would be
easier for the husband to get work.
But how can we get thcre?" the
husband asked
''She was plucly girl and had
known hardship, although she was
frail to look at.
Walk she replied.
"And two days later they started.
The outsider paused, and lighted a
forbidding-looking pipe
When he resumed his narrative he
spoke in lower tone. The recollec-
tions that he called up seemed to stir
him within, although he was calm
enough of exterior.
Il won't describe the experiences Of
my pal on that trip. 1t was his first
tramp He knew nothing of the art of
vagabondage. OF course they had to
beg. That was tough, although he got