Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-20
SIDE LIGHTS ON LIFE.


before His Honor the Mayor upon the gen
eral charge of vagrancy, who shuttle into
headquarters at the City Han these cool
nights, and dif1dently ask the Lieutenant
on duty for the privilege Of a nights loog
ing, or who are 10 be seen enjoying trans
portation upon freights or trudging along
the county roads, were never really very
far removed from their present low estate,
even in their best days although there is
popular belief that most Of them have seen
''better DAYS" and came 70 grief, throwing
away their once right TO claim the tue OF
industrious and respected citizens through
some great and OverpOwering misfortune,
or run Of Dad luck, which led them hrst 10
drink and then 70 total depravity. This
idea is carefully inculCated BY the Weary
Willies and GROWER rushers themselves,
from a natural desire 70 attract the SYM
pathy Of the philanthropic. and has been
enlarged upon and disseminated broadcast
BY q certain class Of newspaper writers
working on space stuh' and by Few
female novelists OF the romantic-realstc
school, but the facts are the other way.
The vast majority of these gentry really
come from the vicious classes Of the great
cities-the descendants and off-shoOts Ct
the element tguringas dangerous" in the
police records with but a sprinkling Of dis
heartened mechanics or once industrious
laborers. This is shown to be true by the
almost invsriable lack Of education IN
these wanderers, and by the lamentaoly
low grade of intelligence, although there
is very often 8 superficial smartneSS ana
keenness OF perception born Of long con-
-. ado OF
grim necessity Of getting hylng some
how. at the expense Of others, which often
passes for intelligence at first glance or
upon q short inspection, Occasionally,
however. there is a startling exception 10
the general rule, aud such case came 10
light few days ago
A sudden turn Of sharp angle in a nil,
q few days ago, brought him into sview'
Close under 3 ledge Of rock, which afford
ed a shelter from the cold rain which was
falling, a man was discovered, huddled
over q small fire. A small iron pot was
buried among the blazing sticks. and 10 u
q mixture Of cabbage, potatoes and onions,
approgriated from some nearby fields, was
boiling, along with piece OF fresh meat,
the latter doubtless begged from some TAR
mer's wife. The man was tall, well-bullt
3 bout forty years Of age, and although
IS dirty and bsgrimed as the typical
tramp, and Rttired, If the term may be
used. in but the remnants OF suit or
clothes. there was still an unmlStakable
air. not only OF intelligence, but even OF
education about him. TO a Good morn
ing' he made prompt and courteous re-
Spouse, and when it was observed that the
weather was decidedly rough, he at once
agreed that IL was "deucedly unpleasant
3 regular dirty day, an no mistake" This
prompt agreement in the expression Of
views led to a conversation, during which
II was developed that most exceptional
wanderer had been met with.
The traveller said his name was George
Charles Curtis, a native Of Chelmsford,
England, about forty miles from London,
an oxford man, where be had taken his
degree in 1871, with especial reference to
becoming an engineer. A taste for study
and travel caused him to forego the active
entrance upon q professional career, how
ever, and being in easy financial circum-
stances, he had first spent two years upon
the Continent, then went TO Egypt where
he idled away year IN Alexandra ana
about Cairo, made trip up the Nile as
far as the third cataract at DongOla, then
went TO ConstanunOple, and finally drlfted
OF 70 India, where about every other En-
--rlzlrFy7lv1~f7 e-S3 ssaBdipq IA sura- 70 bring
nm an some time or other in his life. There's
he remained until 1887, having no parucu-
lar ties 10 hurry him home, aud AFTER 40
ing some bridge work on line up-couutry
railroad for the government he went on 70
China, where he put in several years ABOUT
Hong Kong.
The outbreak of the Franco-German
war saw him back in England, where ne
found his mother dead, and his fathers
affairs deeply involved. He left home dis
couraged and disheartened, with few
hundred pounds in his pockets, was about
France during the war, was IN Paris DUR
ing the siege and the reign OF the Com
muue. followed the victorious German
army into Germany after the peace nego-
riations were ended, and from Bremen he
sailed TO America, landing In New
York with but the equivalent OF
a few dollars in his pockets WIN
out ambition, he was absolutely dlsheart
ened after few feeble attempts 70 OBTAIN
proper employment, took TO drink, ana IN
two or three years was hanger-on OF sa-
looms ann tough resorts, aud IN two more a
ful-aedged tramp. A tramp be had been
since. wandering about the country after
the manner OF the fraternity in summer,
and eeking out precarlous hVellhooo Ia
some of the larger cities In winter, ana
such be expected to remain uutil accident,
evDosure or disease cut short life worth
less TO the possessOr aud to every one else.
BY the time this narrative was concluded
the pot Of soup was ready, and after cor
dial invitation to the newspaper man TO
ioin in iis discussion had been declined, he
ZEN 10 upon IL, and was left TO the enjoy
msnt of whatever comfort was contaiaed
in the meal, the raw asd damp october
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