The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-11-22
re1,.e. Shopper year. inadvanee.
'enmo' Six Months so cents.

past all hope of reform; even death can
only change the form of the wander
ing dust of which he is composed.
Next in order we may classify as the
"hobo," the most interesting genus. In
this species you will find recruits from
all walks of life; all are represented,
from the Jerry up to the ordained
minister; from the noble scion of some
petrician family, down to the lanky
"sager'' Of East Tennessee AS class
they are honest and will work; but are
impelled to wander from their own
fireside through desire to see the
country. They can be reformed, but
how? By convincing them there are
more pleasures and advantages in home
life than in the one they are leading;
by marrying ever mothers son them
to fine christian lass, and your task
is accomplished; they will make good
citizens.
Two species are eliminated from the
problem, only one remains; one that
demands the serious thought of all who
desire the well-being of their native
land. One that contributes largely to
the population of the penal institutions
of the country. Generally they are all
criminals; they will beg "a few pennies
on the drag" but hardly ever "hand-
/ OUT The only voluntary labor they
| io in, ho
of burglarizing store, and strikes me
! right here that am throwing stones;
t literally my house>is not glass, but,
t "iudge not, that ye be not Judged
: You will find, however, intelligent
we'll connected men in this class, who
Il have excellent positions in commerci-
e al life. but are held in their present de-
l. gradation by that arch fiend alcohol.
h A great many are in favor Of adopting
l. severe measures for the suppression OF
s. the evil; others would fine the aims
e giver: but all legislation, humane or
Is severe, is useless.
n Let us see how they have solved the
a: question in England, where from the
7e offense. In the reign of Henry VIII,
OF officers were appointed in every parish
le to receive the poor and needy and COM
ne pei the "sturdy beggar'' to eat his
IS. bread by the sweat of his brow; if they
persisted in their evil ways they were
ed whipped; their ears were cropped and
nd eventually hung as felOns. Provlden-
ny TALLY legislation grew milder as ex-
perience taught the law makers that
severity did not diminish their num-
bers.
In France it was the same way, In
the fourteenth century, able bodied
n . beggars were ordered to go to work
mt under the penalty of imprisonment
lry the pillory, branding with red-hot irons
ro- and Punishment. One would suppose
ac- this array of torture would induce the
of best of tramps to reform, but it did not
an During the past five centuries, ever!
yht species of punishment and experlmen
ted has been tried in that country withou
for any permanent benefit The presen
der era of science can gain much knoWl
sti- edge from the experience OF barDarou
les. Middle Ages upon this subject, AM
est that is what is required to accomplish
ms any reform.
ing Now then, what will make ou
the country stronger as a nation happle
en- as people, and nearer to what 20
would have us be? In other words
1ub what will reform our wandering brett
,od rem? A difficult question, but in tn
adj" words of recent writer: "Whateve
,uld tends to equal distribution Of wealth
hey to the elevation and improvement {
Let the working classes; to the increase
$ of self-respect and comfort of the worl
nay men; whatever cheapens food an
hill spreads education; whatever in polit
edi- cal privileges or religious hope adds
the dignity of labor, will diminish tt
g, tendency Of mendicity." Herein Ii
nore the solution Of the problem.
hest .. fANzA'
NAL
l1~ h