The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-10
WAR ON THE HOBOES
The Weary Wraggleses Are Fleeing
10 More charitable Camps
WALKING WAS NEVER WORSE
A Novel Letter Of Inquiry Received
by the District Clerk--weet
Strains of Music Taken
Down i'm Shorthand.

Missoula. Feb 9.-The vigorous pol
icy pursued by the police during the
past few days seems to have had a
wholesome effect upon the hobo ele-
ment. The recent roundup served as a
warning to some who were more fortu-
nate than their fellows, and recently
there has been "A regular exodus. Most
of them walked out. as the brakc-bea
and blind baggage routes are not in
vogue at this particular season of the
year. The elements ar" not propitious
for travelling in summer style Now
and then this nomadic element fur
nishcs a victim of adverse circum-
stances. an object worthy of charity,
but il is more than probable that a
majority of them are tramps from
choice. The average professional tramp
is not particularly ambitious. Free
lunch. free rides ami no work is his
motto. lie is evidently a convert to the
theory that blessed are they VINO do
not want much. for they shall not be
disappointed"
Some very amusing letters Of inquiry
find their way into the Office of the
clerk of the district court. They are
not confined 10 any particular geo
graphical point. but rather come from
about every quarter Of the globe. Every
style of chirographN is represented
and the Queens English is sometimes
distorted into marvellous and fantastic
forms. Nearly all of the correspond
ents have their troubles. Ia some in
stances Information is desired as To the
whereabouts of a truaut husband, "A
lover or just a plain friend. The clerk
is supposed To he familiar with the
written and unwrittcn history of Mis-
soua county. Furthermore. ne is eN-
-
Acquaintance Of every man, woman
and child. who has resided here in the
last - years Here is a specimen in its
entirety:
"Pawnce city. Ncb.. Feb. I. 1896
District clerk of MissOula county,
Montana:
Dear Sir-Was there an Irishman
hung by the name of Mathew McCaf-
frey in your county from the year 1850
To- 1854, by due process of law, or any
other way If So. please give a de-
scription of him, If YOU have one, and
oblige very much. Yours truly,
u \. Jacobs.
"Pawnee city, Pawuee County, Ne
hraska. Box G92.
The clerk has no recollection OF such
man being hung 10y the name" by
due process of law or any other way"
Perhaps somebody else can furnish the
desired information.
Just now "A good story on Waddy Ly-
den. the miNoloEist. is going the rounds.
Joe has a foudncss for music Recent
ly he heard And the Band Played on"
for the first time. Iic fen in love. fig
uratively speaking. with the piece.
Lately il has developed into a mania.
He sang il by day and dreamed Of il
by night lie hummcd H. whlstled it,
and listened To IT i'm the music box for
hours at "A time. His weakness for the
selection soon became pretty generally
known. one day this week w. @ Rant
the Well-knoWn Stcnographer. met
"Waddy' in a prominent business
house. Nj. Banft expressed desire
e. learn the tune. lie proposed that
WaddN sing IL and ne i'm turn would
take the tune IN shorthand At first
Waddy was Cryluious and doubted
Rants ability 10 perform the feat, but
the latter's fine persuasive powers pre-
vailed Waddy sang the piece through
t. the 'ditIcatIou Of large audience.
When he had finished M Eauft cNhih-
tied some strange hicroElNphiCs for his
inspection. But Waddy WAS still skcp-
teal and demanded that he sing il
Now Mr.. Eanft WAS familiar with both
words and music, and holding M his
notes proceeded To- reel or a few
fuatchos. Naddy was dumbfaundrd
for a moment but recovered sufficiently
10 say something that sounded strange
" Ills, Bate