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

a stake. such as selling furniture polish.
cleaning wall paper, etc. Then you
know there is always jewelry to sell:
rings and spectaclee in particular. Yes
they say they found IL, but often don't
have to lie much more than some trades
people do to sell their goods. Why there
is firm in Chicago that does a large
business in manufacturing rings for the
tramp trade
"They sell rings for 81 or 90 dozen,
that will bring 81 each as having been
found or sent to fellow by his folks
and he sells it because he's in hard luck
for whatever he can get"
81 suppose all the tramps drink whom
they get an opportunity"
"fes, nearly all tramps drink, but
about the Same proportion of them know
how TO keep from being arrested for
being drunk and disoFderly as the mem-
bers of any other calling"
sit was estimated some time ago that
there were 100000 tramps in this conn-
try, do you think that's so?"
"About one out of every twenty of
these are tramps. spoke a while ago
of people who help tramps, priest is
always good for something, some times
as much as 81. He is known in the per-
flesh as Galway. / knew a tramp once
who was an x-priest and another who
was educated for a priest.
They come from all callings and sta
tons, though the most of them are men
who would be mechanics if they were
not tramps and are tramps because as
such in years time they handle more
money than the mechanics can hope to.
DO they look forward to anythnig?"
/ asked.
90 yes" somewhat hesitatingly-
"Man never. is, but always to be blest,"
said the tramp.
"Do you read Pope?"
Eyes, have, though Carleton is my
favorite poet used to haveNa chum
on the road who knew Carleton we'll"
81 have letter that this chum once
wrote me. He had been in trouble and
just got out of Jail. He said: Tve lately
been unable to fly kite (write letter.,
but have just crushed the county (got
out Of jail) \ lots on a hike (walked
across country, caught the rattlers for
90 Erode 90 miles on cars) and been plant
ed In the jungles all day with a gay cat
and dynamiter lin the woods with a
bum tramp and an Irishman, neither con-
sidered any good in the perfesh.) 1 am
going to Z. c., meet the push and 'slop
up"
I suppose "slop up" meant to get
drunk
"What can be done with the tramp?
Isn't he an evil?" l asked.
"Yes, perhaps a blot on the civiliza-
ton. So is your gambler, your saloon
keeper. your ward heeler all worse than
tramps; do your missionary work on
them"
This tramp was too brilliant for his
station in life. / was becoming bewilder-
ed with the mans evident self conceit,
not to say displeased with his glorifca-
ton of his worthless existence.
l asked him what his real name was.
For nearly FIVE minutes he sat without
looking up. probably fabricating more
falsehoods. then heaving deep sigh said:
mo, / couldn't do that I have two sis
ters, one married and well-to-doth other
kindergarten teacher. The latter by
her calling is doing much to prevent the
tramp instinct, but sometimes it is in the
blood tell you. No, couldn't disgrace
them.
I'm afraid lady that anti-tramp con-
vention will not do much to benefit eth
er the tramp or the holders of them.
Good night lady, Pm glad of a chance to
have talked to you," and he went back
to finish time for trespassing on railroad
property, while the young person of my
family who had come down with an es-
cort for me said, "Why what good
looking man to be in JAIL"
There are more things in tramp phi
losophy than are dreamt of in ours.
This man told me during his talk that
he seldom had the "blues," but when he
spoke of his sisters there was a note of
longing in his voice-but perhaps it was
just make believe BECKY SHARP.
tn IMPROVE THE MILITIA