Evening journal., 1898-10-11
TIIEIR ANNUAL DINNER.

tiOns just like PERSONS enjoying the |
benefits OF permanency Of abode and |
social distinction. It so happened that !
on that day he was ON his way 10
Spring Hill when he noticed a party |
Of tramps sit down to dinner I'm the
woods on this side OF Wooddale quar-
rles. Something inspired him to stop
and make inquiry concerning the ma
ture OF the repast in such a sylvan re-
treat about camphres containing cuh- !
naly utensils emitting savory odors.
Just one year ago sixteen OF us as
sembled here for dinner, and we
pledged ourselves that one year from
that day, at II o'clock noon, we were TO
meet here again for another dinner; the
first ones to reach the grounds to do
the cooking, because we cannot always
reach a point on the Royal Blue and on
schedule time. In that new washboiler
there is vegetable soup, and you can
see for yourself that it is pretty near
up TO date"
soup to be eaten by the Oldest man in
the party. It looked fairly good.
"You see" continued the tramp 1--WE
are somewhat disappointed because
there are only eleven OF us, and it lei
ncw almost 1 O'Clock. Will you Join
as, friend?"
The invitation was declined, although
the dinner was seemingly as good as
many camp dinners OF which the Way
farer had partaken. AZ its conclusion
they lighted their pipes and talked over
the situation, speculating ait length on
the non-appearance OF their recreant
comrades.
1--WE are on our way South, now, "
said the spokesman. ''Some Of us work
in the packing houses in Baltimore,
while others of us go down the Chesa-
peake bay and dredge for oysters. This
boy" indicating a colored lad, "trayels
all over the country. He is an artist
jim, give him that plate there and let
him see what little coon can do"
The negro lad painted on the plate
for few minutes and then exhibited
his handlwork. 1t was a Winter land
seape, fhe subject being am ancienI
church and it's surroundings, several
rabbits playing in the snow, the whole
fairly we'll executed, artist and condi-
tions considered.
For the last two Winters he has
gone to Florida lie paints all sorts
Of things on shells and sells them. His
home is in Boston, and he is 10 years
old"
Other members OF the band tod TN
stories of their lives and some OF tnen
were almost as entertaining as thosi
found i'm the Arabian Nights. SOM
said that they made money enough Il
six months to keep them precariousl,
The other six.
They waited dinner for the absen
five until about o'clock, when the
cleared up the dishes" IL such an ex
preston may be used. Then they de
cided to meet on October 9, 1899, u
the Iron Hin woods, between Newar
and Ellzton. In making the announce
ment the leader said that he hope
there would not be a falling off of tiv
men from each annual dinner for,
there was, the list of diners woul
soon be exhausted.
One Of the members of the party Wa
a woolly dog. They said that one (
their number brought him from Cal
ton, o., and that he was an Englis
bulldog. He looked as much Hike
bulldog ais a setter looks like 70,
terrier, but he was an intelligent an
NAL, and trained to perfection. One
his tricks was to go and look for
"hand-out" as the tramps call VIII
they get to eat from the door OF
house. Before applying for the cham
OUT the dog would drop his tail, hal
his head. and present a most woe-h
gone and hungry appearance. After
had received food he would run straig
to his master with it.
When the Wayfarer was leaving t
gang made him a present Of the pla
painted by the co,ored boy, and invit
him to be present at the next annr
dinner at Iron Hill in October OF {
coming year.
INTELLIGENT BLUE ROCK.
Foreman Cameron, Of tine p, w,
B. wrecl1ing train has, the Wayfarer
told. a fayorite cat named Blue re
which is possessed Of unusual int
gence. One day recently he missed
feline pet. and when he found her (
was sitting up on the mantlepi
winding the eight-day clock-at le
that is the story told by some Of mis-
sociates in the service.
GLOBE-TROTTERS IN TOWN.
Several literary tramps invaded
citv Yesterday The Wavfarer