The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-05
AN OASIS IN TRAMPDOM.
TIE PLElsUREs or TAGRhNOT IN
BLESSED CONNECTICUT


Norwich. Conn. Jan. At IL possible. per-
haps. that stringent Law against trAmps may
be made to work somewhere in the world, but
the provisions OF the Connecticut tramp
statute. which Is the most riRidly proscriptivs
one Of any State In the Union, seemingly are
entirely null and void.
For time after II was enacted number OF
years ago II was as effective as statutory
new broom 10 apt TO be. The most sanguins
ambition Of the modern Canute. author Of the
edict. was realized. A small ocean OF tramp
dom. that had overlooked the Nutmeg state
was rolled back by the plant and puissant
brand-new bosom OF the hayseed legislative
Mrs. Partington -Canuts's better alf-at
Hartford. For year or two Connecticut was
a land OF delight to people who do not natu-
rally take to itlnsrant vaRabonds at sight.
There was hardly tramp within its gates. II
one appeared anywhere on this anti-tramp
King Tldler's land. he was clapped into all
forthwith and kept there for ak montha
But. aftera while now aud then al audactous
vaRrant. Drawing the proscriptlve decree
strolled back into this commonwealth. and
Immediately he was jumped into jail. A Con-
nectlout jail. however. is no chamber OF hor-
rors. and the tramps soon proved to the salts
faction OF every one that they could stand It. II
the tax payers could. They had nothing to do
therein. aside from light occasional chores at
picking over oakum and putting straws about
old holes in cane-seated chairs. but to eat,
aleep eight hours a day. and sass the good
natursd and indulgent taller. At the end Of
the first years trial OF falling tramps all the
bastiles In the Nutmeg state we're brmful OF
stout, lazy. lusty vaRabond louis. living on the
fat OF the land while tho Connecticut tax
payer was working like chain lightning to
support them in their castles Of INCIDENCE,
time. a hSrd. Readed YANKEES taxpayer St can n
most generally. see hole through a ladder"
aSde a vas D NTH the sstts
expressed himself publicly in respect OF this
matter. and neither was the tramp statute re-
pealsd: but Of q sudden the authorities began
to close their eyes or. at past. look steadily
and 1t was noted pretty soon that when a
tramp was discharged from prison at tho end
his place therein. The Connecticut tsxpayers
had become trine weary OF supporting able
bodied yaga6onds IN the lap Of luxury in littls
nomical commonwealth. The prisons were as
quickly emptied of their yaRabond tenantry as
All this experience in respect OF the tramp
problem occurred years ago, and now q tramp
about what it pleases him to do. beg. piier.
and cut up generally on the highway; and he
stance take town father ~ his beari Seope
exclusive town jail Such; briefly. has been
this state. The people want no more OF It.
Now the State Is overrun with fat arrogant,
procession OF them tag each other hack and
forth across its wide. oDen. freeto-all territory
and are bound no one seems to care whittier.
The authorities take excellent care OF them.
A special room plain and bare of furniture and
trl lin ings. but cosey and com forta BILE nd sup
piled with huge ase-burner. is provided for
them in police headquarters in each town and
Tor them, and thew may have at pub
lilo expense all the soda cracke rs and spark ling
fact about everything they really need in the
way OF liberty, the freedom of the town. and 80
wont impose on good nature and hospitality
* bs trying to i get int the ito in
select expensive, and exclusive Institution.
bearing, nature. rarely betray the confidence
the authorities repose in them, In the way
into the %s a9y coanty w
Asa rule tramps and town fathers under |
ssrssa6Iy and har%oaion:ly an without a'S amy
strained relations. in tip-top style. For the |
most part they have a royal. rolllcking. free
free t@s oiit these Nutmeg s State trampS.
At night their red hot quarters fairly reel and |
ing hIlsrity. while they tell stories Of HomerIo
robustness and sing songs of Falstaffian girth:
whose all-night duty It is to see 10 1t that
to- ,s ptoo 10 ter doSr
md say warningly: Come come. boys! Let
~ = bit. This is a small town, and not. very
'avs over for to- morrow" Then, too. II he is
nan Of humor he halts stealthily In the public
ramps, clamor and jubilation. usually inviting
friend to be present at the treat for 1t often
ioisy sport Of the vacrantsH he Learns s."
hundred Interesting things about all sorts OF
acne ans d Not hs III
Sport. IL i? Well. there is nothing else
leyil may care abandon, SPORT But neither
: It all sport and trivollty. These knights OF
0 the slucidation OF national. legislative. and
sso como questions aS and they know more
Id Wilson himself which may not be alto
ether remarkable Some OF their songs are
na TOR thSre ar. az
raj musicians in these modern lost tribes.
nd their discussion and debates are not de-
eyond the parts and attainm ents OF the mob
srlnG tramps' room in the City Hall rang with
no feryid and often cogent eloquenee Of sew
rom everywhere and nowhere, who debated
ertinently all the current and pressing 20
homS With n 'h tS. a1d then
nd half a dozen police officers listened IN.
sntly as IL fascinated with the trenehant and |
pm etimes mournful melody Of the swelling |
trains A motley crowd y is withsl that &
altered nightly in the transients room"
ONE Of them are, young and ardent. others
Id and scanned and sage, and now and then
woman is registered in the night book OF the
'ansisnt room Tor female but SO rarely,
lough. that the eyert Is almost phenomenal. ,
ONE eccentrcs," and again. though tntre-
uentlY, a brok down Yankee genius, who
as Jared i'll striving to turn the world con-
'Arywiss" against It's will. drifts into the ugly
light quarters after windy daytime wAyfAr-
x, taeIturn, solitary. moody. scoTnlnX the
of other itinerants.
Not many nights ago a strange old man. with Z
ollow mournful. and burning eye, and dew
- OF silver beard as long and waving as an
prom OF moss on a Southern pine. glided into I
10 city Hall station out OF the frosty city
rect; and u he had written his name The {
ncisnt Mariner" instead OF " Martin Wheeler. q
ationality American, age - years" as he
ally did inscribs II. the somewhat awed and
sferential police officer on duty would not 1
ave thought Il best to disDute the record.
IL was exactly o'clock In the morning when Z
10 sage and venerable patriarch looking
ore like q Druid than a conte DoTaTy OF this
a. t..ll /