Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-06-07
A TRAMP's STORIES.
Bluff as Brass Performer and Adven-
 lures with Uand-0ut.

lures with a TIand-0ut.
 ''There are some humorous features connected with 8 tranp's life. For eX- ample: I happened 10 be in Terre Haute. Ind, cne time and met an ac- quaintance who was iH the show busi- ness. He had, q few days before writ ten to l. W Baird, of I. V. Baird,s minsfrels, for an engagement. He received an answer telling him to come on to Columbus. O., and join the show. But my friend wired back that he had a friend and could ac- eept no offers unless l vas also en- gagged. We received no reply for two weeks. Then a wire came ineuiring if we both could play brass. My mate was an excellent performer on the alto horn, but I knew no more about wind instruments than the man in the moon. Nevertheless we answered in the affirm atiye and were told to proceed to Ra- leigh, \. C., where the show would be in few days. We did so, and Baird s first question, upon meeting us, was as to what. instrument we played. My friend replied the alto horn and I answered the cymbals. lie had bought our tickets through from Terre Haute and his face grew black as thunder cloud
 T thought you played brass?" sput- tered he.
 Well, ain cymbals brass 9 inquired I, innocently.
 T am not sure whether it was my nerve or not that did the trick. Atany rate, he engaged us, and we remained with him for two seasons. Another in- cident that had spice of humor in it happened to a hobo of my acquaint- ance one summer in Long Branch. l was working for an ice dealer, but my chum could get nothing to do. How ever, he was logged out in great shape, in light plaid suit. russet shoes, straw hat, etc; no one to look at him would have taken him to be anything less than a guest at one of the swell hotels. He was very particular about the cut of his hair, state of his linen and the rest of it-quite an oddity in the tramp line. But he hadn't a cent, and was in the habit of letting him bunk upin the hay loft over the stable in which my em- ployef kept his teams. He was aeeus- toned to hit all the back doors in town for 'hand-outs'-and thereby hangs a tale. Two girls, who were stopping in town during their vacation, had been struck by his neat attire and dashing dress, and he had made up to them in great shape-having learned that the father of one of them was in business in New York and was worth considerable money.
 "One day, while stroHing along one of the shady streets of the Branch, they encountered him just returning from 8 foraging expedition. He had a number of beef sandwiches done up in a news paper, and when he caught sight of them he jumped the parcel up the back of his coat, out of sight The three stopped and engaged in a pleasant chat. the would-be gallant holding tight to the bottom of his coat in order to pre- vent the 'hand-out' from slipping. But finally he became so interested that he let go with one hand that he might make an appropriate gesture to punetu- ate some remark. when To. the bundle of sanqWasleS 4umbleq out upon the side walk. the paper opening and it's con tentsscattering about the feetof thetwo shocked young visitors. The gentle man hobo did not endeavor to make any explanations, but vanished around the nearest corner enveloped in sul- phuric atmosphere generated by curses loud and deep.
 But, taking everything into consid- eration, the life is hard, purposeless one. A few years of it suffice to break down the health of the most vigorous. and the end is a charity hospital-and finally the potter's field" = Philadel- phia Times.
 When furniture is creaky rain is i'm nline1t.