The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-16
MEMO Park. CAL, March 6.
SIGNS HIMSELF "A TRAMP"
But He Furnishes "A Very Readable Letter,
EsVerthrless

But He Furnishes "A Very Readable Letter,
Nevertheless
MEMBERS OF TIE II. /. C.-Permit a lone
tramp to introduce himself, modestly Civ
ing his characteristics.
Ia classifying mankind anthropologists
have considered only physical nature, as
though a mans body were the man. DR..
Watts was right when he said: "The
mind is the measure of the man."
propose to group those who are ment-
ally alike together First we have the
most archaic form of humanity, the liv-
ing fossil-he who merely exists, who
blndly follows in the rut in which he
chances to be, who is incapable of prog
ress or improvement, who. if left alone.
would be the same through mvrisds OF
generations.
The apocryphal Arkanssn who is still
voting for Andrew Jackson is an example
of the living fossil in politics, and the
farmer who goes to mill with a stone IN
one END of his sack TO balance the corn
in the other is an equally real example OF
him in business.
But the times are too rushing to let him
stay long in his old rut in politics, trade or
commerce. 1t is only in religion that he
is TO be found in perfection, where he is
always bigoted and dogmatic. He is
positive that his creed is right, that he
is in the right way and all others are
wrong, wilfully wandering in beyond for
hidden paths. But jostle him out OF his
path, and in whatever rut he may fall, he
will jog serenely on, UNCONSCIOUS that he
is changed, still certain that he is In the
kings highway He would be just as
good a Jew as a Mahommedan, or as a
Christian. Like Hurlothrumbo. he, 'by a
mere accident of birth might have been
nigh priest to Brumbo jumbo"
In the second class put the eccentric.
He does not stay in the ancestral rut, yet
does not quite leave the procession He
is conservative and yet liberal tolerant OF
those who differ little with him in poll
tics and religion. He is steady, plodding
and successful in business, ready 10 accept
anything that is well tested. In politics
he is the scratcher. In religion, II he Is
orthodox, he is at home with all that are
orthodox. But he will not 60 very far
from his ancestral path in ANYTHING.
The crank is like him III kind, but very
different in degree. He will never stay
in the procession. In politics he is always
In the newest party. In business he will
never stick to his line. As farmer he is
great patron of the scotsman or bird
fancier who deals in novelties. As green
grocer he will probably keep some hard
ware or toys. No matter what kind of a
shop ne processes to keep you cannot be
certain that he has not got given article
In religion, if his father was a protestant
he will be catholic or an intidel. a Jew, 8
spiritualist or an adventist, or perhaps 9
| theosophist. He has no originality, but
he can't pursue the well-wOrn path.
Then there is the social tramp, who has
too much originality to be content in the
procession, vet too much love for compan
| ionship and too much dread for Mrs
| Grundy to break entirely away from III,
| beaten paths If he finds kindred minds
to 90 with him they will form aprocessior
of their own. But he is only hypothetit
| character; he may or may not have ex
| isted-a sort of missing link. But if ht
ever did exist he is too conservative anC
too rare to have left any record behind
| him.
Then there is the lone tramp. who i
! chuck full OF originality. He follows NJ
one, if he travels the same path it is
! coincidence. He sees the goal from thu
start and keeps it in view. If he crosses
your bridge it is because it is easier thar
swimming the river. II he votes for you
candidate he has his own reasons Tor it