The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-12

nights lodging were stopped On their
way.
These were beardless youths; one of
them with frank open face but retiring
manner, the other, with an expression 1
did not like
He looked down and talked with a
twang through tho roof of his mouth
His downcast expression seemed rather
the Indication of lack of sincerity than
of diffidence, for he talked constantly
and rapidly.
As Mr.. Bundy, who had joined us, call
ed to them and said: "Here are couple
of buns you can talk to-" this one acting
as Spokesman said, "oh that's little hard
to call US that. We want a nights lodg-
ing and we're broke, but we're not buns
we're coal miners"
"How old are your" l asked. "Twenty.
We've just come from Scranton. Our
home is in Carroll county, Mo.
"Didn't you know that Scranton miners
came near starving last SUMMER" /
asked.
"Yes, we knew it was hard times ev-
erywhere for miners, there ANITA Twin
in it anyw here, but we struck out to try
20 get work. We're going to keep on
trying. Of course, we've beat our way
on trains considerable, but we ain't
tramps or bums."
This looked discouraging. According
to the statement of all who were ordi-
narily supposed to be tramps there were
no real tramps in the country.
But once more officer brought out
an inmate of the city prison.
Imagine my surprise when a neat
looking man, possessed of more than or
binary good looks and more than average
intelligence, came in and bowling polite
ly, asked what he could do for me.
1 was considerably taken aback, but
inquired incredulously "are you tramp,
too?"
He shook his head slowly but at my
look of disappointment sale" Pve tramped
around some, and l know a great many
real tramps"
A light began to dawn on me, and
said:
when did you begin to travel around
somef"
"When l was thirteen"
"What causes men to become tramps?
1t is said that there are a large number
of them who apparently don't try to be
anything else. Do you believe it is true
that men are tramps from choice?"
Yes. they stay SO from choice, often.
The causes for their having become
tramps are as varied as there are disposi-
tions, as in other callings.
Il started out on the road when 1 was
IS years old, because my mother mar
ried her second husband. That was in
Minneapolis
1--we been all over the United States,
Canada and Central America, and never
paid much railroad fare. l started with
a bootblack's kit and went west, and han
died more money for several years than
the highest salaried clerk in your town;
and l eArned it, too.
"You must be reporter" he Queried,
looking sharply at me; but as I said moth
ing he went on: 81 don't mind that.
When 1 first arrived in New York city
the Sun gave me almost a column.
at was my bootblacking kit that did
it; had covered the box all over with
old and rare coins that had gathere all
over the United States. The box itself
attracted attention because of its small
size. Bootblacks in New York use a
larger box than in any city of the world"
"What work did you do when you
grew older?"
"Oh, I've worked at different things.
One whole winter in mill. At differ
ent times in a quarry, and in the spring
l clean wall paper.
"Once l went to Central America and
took charge of plantation, and took up
some land at three cents an acre.
"But l took the terrible fever they
have down there and was sick five
months and went broke
Then l had to stowaway in a ship
among the bananas with the tarantulas
and snakes till we were out at sea.
sob, yes; I've had more exciting ex-
periences that that / once rode on top
of a passenger car over Marshall Pass,
but you must see train going over Mar
shall Pass to understand that"
1 had evidently struck q bonanza, or
most accomplished "fctionist." This |
tramp was an accomplished story teller.
He went on:
"There are different kinds of tramps
socalled, and in fact they Themselves
recognize the difference.
"a good tramp?" and in response to
my perhaps curious look, he said, "Oh |
yes, that's what they're called; and
good tramp is one that won't hold out |
on another tramp; that will d.
vide up whatever he has with his friends. |
"You see tramps never or seldom |
travel alone, and one that has been on |
the road long knows a great many |
others, though he may not have the |
slightest idea of their names, except |
those by which they are known to the |
of the calling These are
New York Dick, Cleveland |
Jimmie, Dutch Pete, etc.
THE favorits name with self-respect-
ing tramps for each other is tyeg.' It is
an abbrsviation of a Siberian term for
beggar. A vag' is not a tramp at all,
bnt is legal term to designate a man
without visible means of support There
are ''sneVeA D0ms. the KIND tnat Work ON
railroads and streets TO get a stake;
blanket buns. who are pretty much the
same, and carry q bundle of blankets to
sleep on; there are what is known among
cramps as gay CATS they won't work
and can't bum, SO hang around always
with somebody who has more wit than
they have
"'Moocher' is another term to desig-
nate a tramp but it is very old.
"The good tramp ia always a man of
as much ability as the average mechanic
often more. He will work and usual
y has several sidegrafts; but better than