Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1895-11-21
AN ENGLISH CASUAL.
WHERE TRAMPS GET FOOD AND
LODGING FOR WORK.

Josiah Flynt and . Companion Wind Up
q Study Of Tramp Life In England by a
Visit to . "Spike"-Meeting With
Great Friend Of Mark Twain.
Josiah Flynt, who has given interest
ing studies on tramp life in Germany
and in this country, has extended his
investigations to England. He writes a
paper entitled, 1.-TWO Tramps In Eng
land" in Century. He and his com.
panion, q German student, completed o
tour through the provinces with an ex-
perience in casual at Noting Hill,
London. Mr.. Flynt writes:
We appeared at the door Of the ward
about half past in the evening. A lit
tie window was raised, and stepped
forward to state my business. Uncon-
sciously I leaned against the sill OF the
window, which offended the inspector
in charge considerably.
whats your name?" he Numbered.
Still leaning on the sill, I gave him my
name honestly enough. He then remark.
ed to some person inside that we were
not accustomed to such places evident
", and called out, "Stand back, will
you.' Back I stood. He cried out again,
"Take of your hat!' My hat came of
instanter Still again: "You come in
here as if you was meeleeonary. You're
not. You're a casual" Twas as meek
as could we'll be. Ryborg was itching to
grab the inspector with his long arms.
The next question was as to where we
had slept the night before
"Straw stack" I replied.
"None of your impudence! You slept
out Why don't you say so? Have you
got any money!"
IA hap'enny, sir.
Hand it in" In it went. Then I
had to tell my trade, which was that OF
a sailor, and naturally the next question
was as to where I was bound
"To Ameriky. sir. if I can ever get
there"
"You re goin to tramp it, aren't you:"
Eyes, sir; that's my intention. But
for the life Of me I could not see how I
was to reach America that way. was
so frightened that I would have told
him anything he wanted.
When he was through with Us, a kind
hearted attendant took US in hand, gave
us some Cruel and bread, bath, clean
night shirts, and then cell apiece, in
which we slept very we'll
As there were only four inmates that
morning we were needed for the clean
ing up, and SO escaped stone breaking,
which I dreaded exceedingly, and We're
put at various light cupations-or
rather I was. Ryborg was the victim Of
his strength. Our breakfast consisted Of
the same dish as our supper Of the night
before. Twas soon busy as general fire.
man, scrubber, knife cleaner, coal car
rier, dish washer and helper Of my sis
ter sufferer, Mrs. Murphy, as she wash
ed her task Of towels and shirts. At
noon we had pea soup and bread. l en-
joyed it, but Ryborg did not. The poor
fellow was feeling badly. He had had
to scrub nearly 30 cells, and the bend
ing over incident to such a feat had
nearly broken his back. At dinner he
said plaintively, "Flynt, I want to go
home" so do l." I replied. "but I
fancy we're wanted here till tomorrow
morning" This proved to be the case,
but he felt better in the afternoon and
got through comfortably, wheeling near
" ton Of stone from some Of the cells
to the general pile. He earned his
keep" if ever any poor prisoner did.
I fear I was more shiftless, for about
the middle Of the afternoon the attend
ant who was with me at the furnace
said: "You might as we'll rest. Just
keep your eye on the fires, that's all 1"
It was kind Of him, and as I had at
least earned my pea soup and cruel I
took his advice. He was kinder to me.
I think, because I gave him a corncob
pipe which he had had to take away
from me the night before. During the
day he had asked me several question:
about it, and I said, Its q very decent
sort Of -coolinlike, you know"
Doesn't Mark Twain always smoke
one O. them pipes:" said he.
"Blest if I know" said I, "but can
well think it."
"1'm great friend Of Mark Twain"
he pursued, IAN I'm a-thinkin O. gettin
one O. them pipes, jest out Of respect for
him"
WELL" said I, permit me in the
name Of your respect to present you
with my pipe. Besides you We got it any
how" He thanked me profusely, and
promised to keep it forever. Later in the
day he reported it to be just as had
said, "sort O. coolin like" And he was
a good friend to me all the rest Of my
stay in the Noting Hill station.
On Wednesday morning we were turn
ed loose with our two ha'pennies. We
were both so happy that we decided to
get of the road that very day.
We had been tramps for three weeks,
and had walked most Of this time fully
Is miles a day. So we looked up my
friend at the Temple, and in a few hours
were respectable again. That same day
I took my tramp clothes out to the casual
ward and presented them to my friend
the attendant I had told him the day
before that I expected to get new "togs"
soon, and he had put in a plea for my
old ones Good luck to him and them.
The Reason Why.
New Parson-which do you like best,
Willie, your day school or your Sunday
school?
Willie-My Sunday school
New Parson-I am glad to hear that.
Why do you like your Sunday school the
best?
Willie-Because it is only once .
week.-Brooklyn Eagle.