The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-27
A TRAMP'S CONFESSIONS
A WANDERING WILLIE TELLS WHY
HE DECIDED NOT TO WORK..
As Usual with Errfnc Nun He Inv.
the Blame Upon n Woman-His
Opinions of Men and Swallows
New York Evening Sun.


throng which had surrounded the band
stand was rapidly dispensing and moving
homeward. The. bright rays of the electric
light which every few moments flashed
through the gently swaying boughs of the
trees around him revealed the fair faces
and gaudy apparel of young women who
passed slowly by. leaning the arms of
their sweethearts. If their lively chatter
and merry laughter excited any sensations
of human interest in the pariah's breast
he gave no sign. He pulled his blackened
clay pipe in silence, and maintained at
titude of reminiscent incidence.
On The next bench tenant of a neigh
boring lodging house also sat alone, breath
ing the fresh air. admiring the pretty
women and inhaling the fumes of cigar
lie was very young man rather minis
teria in appearance and when the pretty
failed to trip iTr his direction his un-
sophisticated eyes had tendency to raise
themselves toward the illuminated cross
which surmounts the tower of the Judson
memorial. AT length. after prolonged
period of profound meditation he raised
his miserable remnant of cigar to his
lips Two or three puffs, however, gave
him to understand that the term of service
of that particular weed had expired So
with sigh of regret-for it was his last
he suffered it to fall to the ground.
For the first time in many minutes the
pariah evinced signs of returning anima-
ton. He slowly Strengthened himself, then
stopped and raised the discarded cigar
stump.
After you. boss he said geniaily.
Help yourself returned the young man
benevolently.
Thanks, said the pariah, he slipped
the stump into pocket of his capacious
waistcoat and resumed his seat.
For several minutes both were silent 1t
apparent, however. that the vagrant
that the cigar stump had successfully
broken the ice, was disposed to wade in
and be sociable. His eyes twinkled and his
features the expression of a
who gropes about in his inner conscious
ness for conversational material.
An Italian woman passed with infant
in her arms and two youngsters clinsing
TO her skirts.
The pariah chuckled
Queer critterS--women.
There reply.
'Hey?" asked the pariah drawing nearer
and smiling mischievously.
The unsophisticated young man shifted
Il really know very little about them
wal. they are" asserted the pariah con
vincinsly Queer critters; but they can't
Did they ever try?''
go. That's right. She thought she had me-
the old woman did. but l fooled her
Mother asked the unsophisticated
young
''Naw-wife," replied the other disgust
edly.
The young man tried to look interested
and the seedy individual went on:
GOT TIRED OF HIS WIFE
''You see it was this way: i ran across
the old gal while l firm l.
CINE away back in the eighties. She was
pretty decent sort those days. but bimeby
she began to get tongue what civilized
man could stand anyhow | began to
give her wide berth First. / got tired
of her, then she got tired of me. She told
she'd get divorce. and I told her to
blaze away. 1t was all in the papers at
the time. Mebbe you read it. Her lawyer
said it was on statuary grounds, and it
was a sensation for fair. WAL the judge
give her alimony, and told me if didn't
pay he'd lock me up. L told him that
would be all right, then when he let me go
I've been on the road ever since"
''Tramping?" asked the unsophisticated
young
Yes or bummn it. as they call it now
adays. But the, old Teddy never got red
cent out of me"
Pleasant life?' asked the young man.
"Oh, it faint always what you'd call
agreeable" said the pariah thoughtfully.
Then. again, it amt bad"
II presume you have seen good bit of
Wal rather a tidy bit, reckon. Young
man. there amt State Territory in
this here Union | amt seen, and I've been
in Canada and Mexico
and get something to do?" asked his au-
ditor
Wal that amt my game. No. no. l know
a thing two and the world owes me
Twin, just it owes the swallers Twin.
If birds has right TO go from place to
place and climate to climate and feed on
the bread of the land, hasn't man right
to do it, too? Amt men got just
good a right to live as swallers has? If
mans got ambition. why. then, of course.
It's different. That's his business. but it
amt mine. I amt got no ambition. Let
them work what wants to work. Most of
worth anyhow. Amt J better off than
them? l don't owe nothin'. an the world
fhe world is sSs SQUARE s amt we we? o wai Tm
satisfied TO let it go at that. 1 amt kick
But dom. you ever feel as if you want
"Friends God bless you, boss I've got
plenty friends. I run across old pals pretty
nigh every month of my life. all the way
from here to California. I've got friends
'R1t how do you keen track of them?'
guage. and there amt water tank in the
country what amt got a friendly message
water tanks where engines stop for water.
haven't YOU? wal. if you ever looked at
signs. Them are buns messages to their
pals, and they tell them where they are
the towns along the way Every bum you
meet is goin somewhere. If it IS in the
Wes ou h will ma n he Nor rou6G
somewhere where folks don't begrudge
handout' to a Teller what's down his
luck and dogs and conStables amt too
numerous
PREFERS TOWNS.
Aren't you arrested sometimes for beg
ging and sleeping out?
"Once in awhile they nab in the
towns"
Then why don't you keep in the coun-
try?"
''Oh. towns has their advantages Most
of the smaller cities has their woodyards,
and when we want to lay quiet awhile and
get cleaned up go there.
What woodyards?"
big yards full o. woodpiles where fell
Ter can get meal for every five sticks of
wood he saws. They give you pretty de-
cent food an lodgin. Most of EN- has
missions an every night you've got to go
to the meetins an pray an sing an give