The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-06-02
AUSTRALIAN TRAMPS
In IDEAL coUN RY FOR "WEARY
WILLlES."

a.. usundowner" ard His Mode Of Exis-
t.nce-As a Rule Ee Ii Well Informed
md Fairly Moral-He VIII Work at Times
hut Loves His Rest.
Australia is an ideal country for
eramps because of its universal hospi-
taty and delightful. climate. There are
M hardships of we: Their, no dangerous
lila beasts to con, end with, very few
nothes required, and there is seldom a
niebt. up-country a. least, that a man
L nv not roll himself il his blanket and
aeep in comfort.
The sundowner, so called because he
Invariably claims the hospitality of a
@tation" ranch) a. sundown-an hour
4hen he knows he will not be turned
away empty handed-is the white
ramp OF Australia. He has so long
been recognized as necessary evil
tbat at most stations a travellers hut
a now provided fo.. his special accom-
notation; and a re- ular ration, usually
4 pannikin of flour and pound Of
meal, is served out to every applicant.
In other places, more democratic,
ne sundowner takes his seat at the
hble in the mems quarters. He can
Always depend upon his supper, bed,
nd breakfast at any station; and he
mualy steals or begs from the cook
mficient to make hearty midday
meal If the distances between sta
Hons are too far to be travelled in a
dnge day. the swG sman rolls himself
IN his blanket and camps by the road
ode If the dista ce be but a few
miles he revels in a genuine holiday,
picnics for the day, perhaps, under the
made Of giant g. m tree and arrives
at the station onestead with all the
appearance of long days walk, just as
tAe sun is setting.
The Australian tramp is of a type
wholly different from the ignorant,
Low bred scum of humanity that one
mees in some countries, and from the
whining, professional beggar of Europe
and America.
As class these tramps are well in
formed, fairly moral, and as the world
soes, honest The sundowner stands
apart from the rest of his kind mas
much as he never begs for money.
lie will ask for pipeful of tobacco
or drink, meal or a bunk, but for
TIC coin of the realm he does not pc
ution. He is cOntented philosopher,
Nth all the instincts of a nobeman;
born, of course, under an unlucky star,
yet satisfied with his lot so long as he
Is not obliged to work, and so long as
Tie "squatters" feed him.
One is constantly surprised at the
speech and manners of those whom one
meets on the road, and it is probable
thai fully one-third are men who were
DOR of gentle parents in the Older
countries" Australia being an English
colony, the sundowner is usually
native of the British Isles, though
there is sprinkling of other rationale
ties in proportion 70 their number in
the colonies. 1t is due to the native
born Australians to say that they sell
dom turn tramps.
Although against his principles, it
must be said, to the landowners credit,
al times when even he feels the need
Of change.
AL shearing time, when the sheds
@e full Of jolly shearers and good
Whges may be demanded, he will often
Ntrk for few weeks or he may find
One other easy way that suits his fas-
udous fancy.
With the proceeds he buys himself
Nw clothes, perhaps, and knocks
Qown" (spends) the remainder in the
Hst bush public. Some there are who
wander aimlessly from one colony to
mother, ever seeking new paths;
ofhers, more methcdical, have a regu-
lar route laid out, which takes from
We to three years to cover. In this
way they do not visit the same station
often enough to be recognized.
Sundowning is tire outgrowth of the
pundless and uncqualled hospitality
"a the Australian bush. The occasional
nndown petitioner of the old days,
RWever, has now become an army.
p-day the squatter fears this wander
~ tramp, and feeds him under protest,
moving we'll that by refusing him he
pms the risk of having a woolshed
hrned down or some of his fat sheep
flled.