The Washington weekly post., 1899-05-16


sit down. The door, which is so con-
structed that it follows the lines of the
chair, is then closed and locked, and the
victim is confined as firmly as though he
were glued to the seat. Another peculiar
thing about the chair is that when the
door is locked he cannot draw his feet
up or move any part of his body enough
to obtain rest. The chair resembles some
of the ancient instruments of torture used
by the Inquisition, in being only moder-
ately formidable as to appearance, but a
terror to those who are forced TO spend
only few hours within its confines.
Not q Pleasant seat.
When first introduced the chair to my
surprised townspeople, attempt after at
tempt was made to induce some one to
sit in the chair as an experiment. but no
one seemed to be willing to go back far
enough in Puritanic days to allow himself
to become a subject. AS a last resort, to
show its workings, by the assistance OF a
s. bill, ! persuaded one man TO enter the
chair and remain there for two and a half
hours. The victim remained in the chair
for the length of time agreed, but at the
end of his penance grasped the money
considered he had earned the reward
many times over.
Through the experiment II was shown
that l had substantiated one of my
claims, that no man could remain in the
chair for any length of time and when
he was out of the chair say that he had
been thoroughly comfortable, or that he
would be willing to repeat the expert
ment, even with a money consideration
as the reward for the time he had spent
doing nothing.
Cure for Law Men.
The suggestion of doing nothing is one
of the strong points of the tramp chair
idea, for the true hobo spends his life in
studying new ways and means of accom-
plishing that greatest desire Of mis- lazy
soul-absolute inaction. To be wheeled
about in a chair like a big baby seems to
him TO be the acme OF slothful ease. He
steps in for his first ride in the chair with
alacrity, finds it not unpleasant for the
first ten minutes, then begins to feel un-
comfortable, gets cramped. and finds his
bones aching and before the end OF an
hours ride he is yelling murder and dy-
Mantle. and promising all kinds of ref
ormaticn If only he can get out When
his punishment is over and he Is fully re-
leased, the tramp makes a bee line for
the open country, and theEceforth comes
nowhere near the town that chairs its
tramp guests through the streets / hope
some day 10 get the Maine Legislature TO
adopt the tramp chair punishment for use
throughout the State. IL Is sure cure
in every case.
Two tramp chairs have been in the Oak
land lookup for some time. In proof of
their usefulness l quote two reports, one
from Augusta, a neighbOring town, and
one from Oakland. On February 5. 1885,
the following report was printed in Au-
gusta:
city Marshal Morse gave a nights
lodging 10 275 wanderers during the month
of January, thirty having been sheltered
ON a single night"
The Oakland report for February !. 1899,
says: "A tramp was given lodging in the
lookup Sunday night. Oakland has been
quite free from tramps this winter, this
being the first that has asked for lodging
for several months"
KeeDs the Tramps Away.
Just think Of the difference! Two hun
dred and seventy-tive tramps in one short
month in Augusta, and only one here in
where the tramp chair wos in
vented and kept on exhibition in our lock-
up for tramps 10 look at. IT looks as
though the chair had surely got The best
OF the tramps.
In a number Of cases reliable men have
told me that tramps inquired in their
hearing what town this was, and on being
told that it was Oakland, said: What?
Is this where the tramp chair is?' The
Dystander told them II was. "Nell- rhen,"
answered the tramp, we will not stop
here" and went on.
Our Lawmakers have rackei their
brains for the last fifteen years 20 make
VS. that would drive the tramp from
Maine, but everything except the tramp
chair has proved a failure. | will pay
any nan or woman 800 IL they will pro-
duce one tramp that I cannot cure OF
tramping, if l can have control OF the
case The tramp chair is the only thing
ever invented by mortal man that a
tramp ever feared. Not even powder and
ball. for TWO can play at that game, and
with the chair only one.
A tramp Is a man travelling pretend
ing 10 be looking for work, and praying
10 6Ou di4 lAC Ailhc tAah AS may never
ind any.
As long as the tramp IS looking for
a Job Just invite him 10 sit in the chair
instead OF saving wood. TO pay for food
and lodging, tive ana Oue-hslf hours at
a time, and see II ne wants 10 repeat the
experiment.
The tramp tax Of the sixteen counties
Of Maine, in the year lSse, according 10
the State report amounted 10 zji50s.
Just think o. the enormous expense 10
zach town that has villages and has q
arge population. Nearly one-third Of all
bur county tax ~ 10 pay the tramp's
board for thirteen OF fourteen weeks Ia
Jail every year. The jail is the tramp's
home ia winter That has been proven
BY the county reports OF two OF our
that have no jaiIs-Piscataaui
and SaEsdahoc. They have no tramps 10
winter. because they have no jalis; conse-
4uently the tramp keeps clear Of these
TWO counties in winter because they have
no jails and goes % his winter nome In
some other county, where the TAILOR
smscks his chops al the sight OF his
powerful lever-the tramp-the man that
the county towns send 10 jail IN hopes OF
getting rid OF them a few weeks. even al
the expense OF an enormous tax thar
must be levied on the taxpayer and must
BE- paid In money. Isn't that a poten,
argument in favor OF my tramp chalr7
SANFORD j. BAKER.
DriviHg Ose.