The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-07-24
THE IRHAPS N TIE WEST.
Their Number Is Rapidly Increasing from
Year to Year,
How the Modem Ishmaelitss sPeHd Their
summer gacafloz-Used for Political
Purposes In Spring and Autumn
What Makes VaGabOnds.


can appreciate its deep significance IN
til he has had the fortune-or misfOr-
tune, if you please-of visiting one of
the numerous camps established by
the tramp fraternity along the lines of
our western railroads.
Ia winter the tramp establishes him
self in the large cities of the land. He
lives by begging and sleeps wherever
he can find a place. If medicancy does
not pay for his fUsil oil and food, he
steals or taps empty beer kegs in the
rear of saloons. The stale remnants
which find no escape through the bar
keepers faucet, even with the aid of a
powerful pump, are poured by the
dirty scsvengers into the prOverbisl to-
mato can and consumed with the same
relish displayed by the blsse million
sire when he sips his French cham
payne from a cut-glass goblet. A few
weeks before election time the expert
ence 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
he can be registered. From the day
of registration until he has cast his
ballot for the qualification of munich
pal politics" he lives in clover. After
that come neglect and the warm days
of spring.
But instead of bemoaning his lot and
abusing the erstwhiIe kind policeman
who, after the election, degenerates
once more into petty tyrant, the man
without 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 a number of his colleagues, and
forthwith they will form band, elect
a leader and establish a camp.
| Of course, not a tented camp, for
tramps have never been known to carry
baggage. The leader of the band sim
ply selects some deserted barn OF ten
antless section house, and there he es-
tablishes his kingdom until driven away
by the outraged farmers living within
the DuTliens of his realm,
When men have learned to be philo-
sophiCal, they do not require much to
live. After a winters campaign among
the five and ten cent eating houses of
metropolitan city, a baked chicken
even though it be burned and full of
pin feathers, is indeed a luxury, and
breakfast of fresh-laid eggs is en-
chanted into a Lucullian feast. Usually
the depredatOFy habits of the vagabond
are confined to the collection of such
eatables, although once in awhile he
will make an attack upon freight car
loaded with beer or other liquid re-
freshment. Given these Iuxuries and
a few pieces of clothing which he Sc
cures by begging 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
conviction with a steadfastness worthy
of better principle.
Inssmuch as no body of tramps will
invade the territory preempted by an
other detachment the breaking up of
eampis not very serious matter, When
given notice by the farmers to vacate
| they usually comply with the request
promptly, only occasionally burning a
barn or two to show their displeasure.
If orders to quit are issued ia the spring
or early summer, the band moves ten
or fifteen miles westward; if in late
summer or fall, the progress is toward
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 the
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 NADER" It is doubt
: less true that a certain percentage Of
men are born with hatred for honest
employment which no system of educa-
ton can eradicate. Such creatures are
the natural vogabonds, the ulcer on
: the body polite which has defed treat
ment ever since society was established
And there is no doubt in the mind Of
the soeiologist that they viii continue
to exist as long as mankind has to
struggle for existence. But the major
ity of Our latter-day tramps are Great
uFes of circumstances.
There was time IN the history of the
! United States when a genuine tramp
was rarity. That was when employ
ment vas plentiful and the demand foI
labor did not exceed the supply.
= After the close of the civil var Oul
modern tramp, the Ishmaeiite Of oul