St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-13
WORLDS FAIR "oURros. -
The TRAMP Grip" and Its Wan
behring's Toward Chicago.


behring's Toward Chicago.
One of the curlosities at the worlds
fair is the tramp grip" an admirable
exemplificatioD of the thorough system
of checking baggage that EXISTS in
America, says the New York Recorder.
1t is an exceedingly plain valise, and
about year ago it adorned the store
window of large valiSe establishment
in Galveston, Tex. Tie story is chat a
man with dark hair and no necktie, at
tracted by its brightly polished trim
mings, stepped into the shop and pur-
chased the vaise. He was on the eve
OF starring for New Orleans. He packed
his valIse. purchased his ticket and had
his baggage checked, little knowing
how soon he was to be called to change
his route for parts unknown and
literally to hand III his checks.
On his way 10 the train he stopped
into a saloon, became engaged in a
brawl, and Texas cowboy sent bullet
WniZZng through his brain. He did
not take the train, but in due season
his vallse reached New Orleans. No
passenger came tn claim the grip, and
the porter. who was witness to the
taking of" having nothing else to do,
attached card to the handle contain
ing witty account of the owners exit
with his boots on. The grip was then
checked to st. Louis. and the baggage
master there, being of a humorous turn
OF mind, attached another card, and the
now famous tramp" was well on its
journey.
After leaving st. Louis the grip came
East, visiting all the large cities and
gathering at each stopping place new
examples OF otf-hand wit. After cir
cutting the New England, Northern
and Middle states The tramp grip
crossed the Rockies to Oregon, Wash
lngton and California, concluding its
Journey on May l, when the United
States Express company placed it on
exhibition at the worlds far as one of
Americas curiositieS,
The contents of the bag remain a
mystery, as it has not been opened since
It's master invOluntarily deserted 1t. 1t
would De impossible to enumerate tie
number and variety OF articles attached
to the vallSe. On the sole of a shoe
fully foot and Il half long is piece CT
poetry" entitled Tramp, Tramp,
Tramp" a small pie pan also bears an
inscription. Spoons, plates, old socks,
ShOes. suspenderS mOuSetraDs, combs,
brushes, autographs and photographs
| are numbered in the queer bundle
IlINtC 10 SslSO a SDiGuultl p1OlOSIdDIl Ol
"Grandpa'S hat" When the tramp
grip was iii Missouri the following tag
was attached to it:
Goodbye, old grip, may you enjoy the trip.
And never see trouble or carel
Take good advice of long stays beware.
For 1t comes very nigh TO live at the fair.
In California young man. who also
attached his photograph, tied on card
reading:
I've travelled from Texas to the coast
And back, on pleasure bent;
| Bull this is the fact of which boast:
1 did 1t without cent.
While in Washington, during the
inauguration, Tammany brave tied to
| 1t, among other things, a bottle, which
| bears this inscription:
HELLO, FELLows!''
| I'll have drink with you,
And then you'll have drunk with me,
III but cigar and you'll crack joke,
| And | will laugh heartily.
am bonded. Commissioner of pensions
will do me-
Away up in Oregon this poetry was
added:
Here is sight. b 9th curious and rare,
And a record that can't be beat:
Why shouldn't have place at the fair
Alter accomplishing such feat?
George II. Davis, at Cincinnati,
wrote Il history of the grips travels
in ten verses. Among them is the fol-
| lowing:
1 have been in Kentucky, where whisky is
fine.
Ana over in California, where they drink old
wine;
Have been down in Georgia, with nothing
10 eat,
And away down in exas, where they raise
our best meat;
Have been in Virginia and had a good
smoke.
And passed through Cumminsville just for a
JOKE;
Have been in New York. from where Grover
was sent:
And in Indiana where Benjamin went.