Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-06
AMATEUR rRAMPs IN ENGLAND.
Their Experiences of Hard Work in Cas-
 ual Ward.

Inelr Experiences Ol Hard w Ofk Tn a OaS-
 ual Ward. We appeared at the door of the ward about 7:30 in the evening. A little win dow was raised, and I stepped forward to state my business. UnconSciouSly l leaned against the sill of the window, which offended the inspector in charge considerably.
 Whats your name?" he thundered Still leaning on the sill. I gave him my name honestly enough. He then re- marked to some person inside that we were not accustomed to such places, evidently, and called out, stand back, will youl' Back l stood. He cried out again, Take off your hat" My hat came off instanter. Still again. You come in here as if you was meeleeon- ary You're not; you're a casual was 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 impotence. You slept out-why don't you say so? Have you got any money?"
 "A ha'penny, sir
 Hand it in.'' In it went. Then I had to tell my trade, which was that of sailor: and naturally the next question was as to where 1 was bound.
 ''To Ameriky, sir, if I can ever get there.''
 You're goin' to tramp it, aren't you?"
 ''Yes, sir, that's my intention;' but for the life of me 1 could not see how I was going to reach America that way. I 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 gruel and bread, bath, clean night shirts, and then a cell apiece in which we slept very well.
 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 were put at various light occupations-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. l was soon busy as general fire man, scrubber, knife cleaner. coal car rier dish washer and helper of my sister sufferer Mrs. Murphy, as she washed her task of towels and shirts. At noon we had pea soup and bread. I enjoyed 1t, but Ryborg did not. The poor fel-' low was feeling badly; he had to scrub nearly twenty cells, and the bending over incident to such feat had nearly broken his back. At dinner he said plaintively, "Flynt l want to go home" "So do L. I replied; but I fancy we're wanted here till tomorrow morning." This proved to be thecase; but he felt better in the afternoon and got through com fortably, wheeling nearly ton of stone from some of the cells to the general pile. He earned his keep" if ever any poor prisoner did.
 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 well rest; just keep your eye on the fires, that's all. ," It was kind of him; and as had at least earned my pea soup and gruel, l took his advice He was kinder to me, think, because I had given him corn cob pipe which he had had to take away from me the night before. During the day he had asked me several questions about it, and 1 said: "It's a very decent sort of pipe-coolin' like, 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."
 he pursued; "an' 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've got it anyhow" He thanked me profusely, and promised to keep it forever. Later in the day he re- ported 1t to be just as l had said, Sort O. coolin' like" And he was good friend to me all the rest of my stay in the No1 ting Hill station.
 On Wednesday morning we were turned loose with our two ha-pennies.. We were both so happy that we decided to get off the road that very day. ii We had been tramps for three weeks, and had walked most of this time fully fifteen miles day, so we looked up my friend at the Temple. and in few hours were respectable again. That same day l took my tramp clothes out to the cusual ward, and presented them 10 my friend, the attendant. I had told him the day before that expected to get new ''togs'
 
 ones. Coed luck to him and to them.