The herald., 1894-11-19
TRAMPS AND THEIR "MDS. v
Pointers by One Who Has Been
on the Road.
A Peculiar People Whom No One
Actually Knows.
How They Live and the Use to which
They Put tho "Kids" Their
Indesorib able Lingo-rhe
"Jocker's" Kingdom.

Tramps are peculiar people. None
actually know them, even they them
selves do not know each other.
There are three kinds of the genus
hobo, outside OF tradesmen. The first
Is the tramp who begs or panhsndles
money out OF you for meal, nights
lodging or various little incidentals,
which he uses as rule for white line
(slcohoD or red stuff (whisky), being
perfectly content with the drink from
either. happy just so long as it makes
the drunk come, whether it be ia.
msica ginger or extract OF lemon. These
individuals havs with them q boy,
whom they call the kid, who takes the
name OF the town he comes from as his
monacher (name) which he is known by.
His principal business is to beg for coin,
shoes, clothes, hats or anything that can
be turned into cash, which he gives his
locker (the man he is with). who al
ways spends the proceeds Of the kid
for alchy (alcohol.) The kid must pro-
vide the meal for morning or evening as
the case may be, while his master lies
reeking drunk On his ill-gotten gains.
A nefarious practice that this gentry
indulge in is larceny. either grand or
petty, always having use for the kid
(boy). Many merchants hang clothes
or shoes, groceries. meats or dry goods
outside their stores. The tramp has
long ago solved the problem OF how to
get such articles and svOid suspicion.
The general rule he follows is to 60 into
the store personally to make a purchase,
while the kid stalles (watches) on the
ouside, and when the opportunity is
ripe, at given signal from his "jocker."
swipes (takes) the needed articles,
which are Immediately taken to some
fence (place of disposal for stolen prop.
erty) where they are sold cheap for
cash, no questions as to legal ownership
being asked, and converted into mate.
teral for grand slop drunk.
This young gamin is also used in peet
work (safe blowing) to effect an entrance
into the place to be cracked (worked
on). When such entrance is sue
cessfully made he stolles (watches)
on the outside, and generally
no bull (policeman) pays the least at
tention to him, except it be to have q
parents sympathy should he be a father
himself. Should the locker" be
caught the kid is loyal to his trust and
never peaches (revsals) his own
worst enemy, his master, but always
makes On excuse that is reasonable to
gain admission to the calle (jaiD to see
him and bring him tobacco or snipes
(cigar stumps) and carry away, by given
signs or gibberish, words OF coincidence
or counsel to his confederates on the
outside.
1t is said by the fraternity, that one
! live kid on the outside beats the law.
yers in court. In case of slough (con-
Viction) the kid picks up with some
other hook (thieD whom his former
master has been acquainted with, and
side kicks (plays partner) with him. but
in case OF turn up (acquittaD he gets a
new suit of toys (clothes) and looks for a
new field of action.
These boys are generally those who
have had good homes. who have in
dulged in reading Frank Reads novel;
cites, for we cannot call them novels,
and formed crazy desire to be noted.