The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-11-28
AN AFIsTccRATlc TFANP.
he Eats Only NJ the Houses % the Rich
AInnE the LInn.nn.


ne Eats ONLY NJ the Houses oc the Rich
Along the und-on-
The most aristocratic tramp IN the
United States holds frst mortr rage
On the route from Garrisons to Rhine
cliff, along the Hudson River. For
more than score of yeas Henry Madi-
son. known 20 every school boy ard
girl between these places IA But
tons, has lCurneyed along the river
and levied tribute on the kitchens Of
the ml-lIonaires whose homes crown
the hLlt0ps Of the Highlands.
Madison IL extremely Jealous OF
other tramps, and refuses 10 associate
with them This exclusivenass has
nearly cost him his life on more than
one occasion when knights Of the
road have taken umbrage at his high
toned ways. Only the personal inter
veutlOn of a we'll known millionaire
prevented gang Of Albany hoboes
from cutting Button s. career short
one summer
ii - more than 4 score Of years since
Madison made his first appearance az
GfarrIsons Nobody knew whence he
came, and he has not since given any
mixing as TO his past history. He
hung around the railroad station for
several days, picking mp meal when
ever and wherever he could. Then be
begged h-s way across the ferry 20
West Point, but 4 Police Sergeant cap
tured him at the landing. and like an
undesirable emIgrant, the boat that
70 nrr h,. 4 e., d.
ride back. It vas then that he deci-
ded that the rich should support him.
and they have done so ever since.
The Sloans then, IS now, occupied
one Of the finest country seats along
the Hudson, and Buttons" made his
FIRST call on the ex-President of the
Delaware, Lnclawanna and Western
Railroad. He got i good breakfast.
and went for dinner at the house OF
Hamilton Fish, ex-Secretlry of State
under President Grant. John VI
Toucey lived on the hill opposite. and
to him Buttons applied for supper.
Three square meals IN one day we're
too much for his tIght-ittiug garments.
30 he raubled down 10 the village that
night, and on his way every button on
his clothes had burst OF, and Sheriff
John p. D0nohue christened the tramp
Buttons Since that time Madison
has used safety pms so that when he
teasts extrlvagantiy, he Just let's them
out Dit and feels comfortable.
Buttons soon discovered that 4
change Of boarding houses was not
only conducive of good digestion. but
10 made his greeting more agreeable
not 70 call SO often at The same house.
This is Why he started north and
made the acIIlInta OF Charles Dc
Rham, Jr., and Captain Henry Met
caI- II Cold Spring, where he usually
dIned. His next meal would be with
G. 81. Van AmbUrgh, and his supper
was sure 10 be supplied by K. Brock
way. the brick manufacturer Of Fish
kill Landing. After a good nights
sleep be resumes his travels, and be
fore entering New Hamburg calls on
Reginald ". RIves and W. r. Sands.
At New Hamburg Buttons" invarl-
ably mas meals Mt Mrs. C0Ira5e's, Mrs
Banks =, Mrs Gerlrds, and the Don
slows.
It 10 bfwee- P1uzhkeepsie and
---44-ls-.AA- LOW ever. EllL LDilUllS
teasts on the Fat Of the land. He calls
a5 the McPherqOns'. the WinsIow
estate, the Roosevelts', the RvmDhs'.
the Livingst0as', and 10 sure 70 stay
at least one day around the kitchen Of
Levi 2. Norton house at Rhineclif
Buttons never forVe=s go make a
social call upon Jacob Ruppert. n
S5aarsbErg and on more than one oc-
caalon he has done Justice 20 the Van
ierbil5 llrder ut Hyde Park.
It is at Ehilebeck. however. that
Buttons feels most at home. There
the Aston homestead is wide open all
the year r0uud, and Buttons" stays
near the kitchen for a week before he
starts On his return trip.
Winter and summer Buttons.
makes his calls With the regularity Of
a pendulum, and he has the proud
distinction Of eating Mt more million
aires houses than anybody else Ia the
country. View York Times.