Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-07-25

pagne from a cut-glass goblet. A few
weeks before election time the expert
enced tramp enjoys life. He is picked
up by the agent of one or the other
political party and enrolled as a guest
at some cheap lodging house from which
lives by begging. and sleeps wherever
he can find place. If mendicancy docs
not pay for his fusel oil and food, he
steals or taps empty beer kegs III the
rear of saloons. The stale remnants
which find no escape through the bar
keepers faucet, even with the aid of
powerful pump, are poured by the
dirty scavengers into the proverb;al toS
mato can and consumed with the same
relish displayed by the blase million
aire when he sips his French cham
he can be registered. From the day
of registration until he has cast his
ballot for the ''purification of municipal
politics. he lives in clover. After that
come neglect and the warm days of
spring.
But instead of bemoaning his lot and
abusing the erstwhile kind policeman
who, after the election, degenerates
once more into petty tyrant, the man
without a home takes up his stick and
wanders out into the country, unless
he can steal a ride on a freight train.
Before he has travelled ten miles he will
meet number of his colleagues. and
forthwith they will form band, elect
a leader and establish camp.
OF course, not tented camp, because
tramps have never been known to carry
baggage. The leader of the band sim
ply selects some deserted barn or ten
antless section house, and there he es-
tablishes his kingdom until driven away
by the outraged farmers living within
the purliens of his realm.
When men have learned to be philo-
sophical, they do not require much TO
live. After winters campaign among
| the five and ten cent eating houses OF
| a metropolitan city, a baked chicken,
even though it be burned and full OF
| pin feathers, is indeed a luxury, and
| a breakfast of fresh-laid eggs is en-
| chanted into a Lucullian feast. Usually
| the depredatory habits of the vagabond
| are confined to the collection of such
| eatables, although once in awhile nc
will make an attack upon freight car
/ loaded with beer or other liquid re-
| freshment. Given these luxuries-and
| few pieces of clothing which he Sc
/ cures by begging-the king of the road
| is happy man-an up-to-date philoso-
| pher who believes that the world owes
| him a living, and who lives up to his
| convection with steadfastness worthy
of better principle.
Inasn uch as no body Of tramps will
invade the territory preempted by an
| other detachment, the breaking up OF
| camp is not very serious matter. Wher
| given notice by the farmers to vacate
| they usually comply with the request
| promptly, only occasionally burning q
| Darn or two to show their displeasure
| If orders to quit are issued in the spring
or early summer. the band moves ter
| or fifteen miles westward; if in late
summer or fall, the progress is towara
the east, provided Chicago has been the
| point of departure In this way some
companies travel through Illinois and
Iowa, others through Wisconsin and
Minnesota, always following the line OF
railroad selected as their own at tn.
| beginning of the season. and return by
the same route. reaching the city be
fore the first snowfall.
The question has often been asked:
'-How are tramps made?" 1t is doubt
less true that certain percentage OF
men is born with a hatred for honest
employment which no system of educa
tion can eradicate. Such creatures are
the natural vagabonds. the nicer OF
the body polite which has defied treat
ment ever since society was established
! And there Ia no doubt in the mind of the