The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-07
HoBoEs EASTWARD BOUND.
The Army of TramPs En- Route to
Their Summer Resort

irrln the Lewiston JcurnaL)
The hC5oes. the vags. the tramps. and
the buns are getting back into Gods
Country"
That is what the East-the Northeast
IS called in the lingo OF the Dusty Tommy.
From the sagebrush country the orange
country. from the West and the South. he
Is coming On truck frames and on the rods.
PerilOus IL is. Three tramps have already
creased the track In Maine this season.
But the hobo misrltes as surely as he
Wild goose and the bobolink
Mere tramps are killed in the East than
in the Wet There are not so many cars
here that nave the spacious truss rods OF
the Western roads Out there in the West
are long runs The tramp doesn't have to
keep lodging OF ar frequent junction
points ana catching back again at he risk
OF MS life. With a length Of board to
. stretch between the rods or piece CT
slit hose pipe 20 clasp over the rod 10
soften its surface a bit the tramp will
ride in the West for hundreds Of niles.
But Notwithstanding all the dangers and
the annOyances here in the East the hobo
is bound TO come this, way in the spring
and summer. II is q part Of his profess
sion.
You understand. OF course. that the hobo
has raised his idle existence TO the level
Of a trade The professional hobo has
MS AdlS OF pace OF LeetinS. MS mo-
sarka. CT emblem. so that his
trail may be recognized by his
fellows, has the patter of the cant
words OF his craft so that he can recog-
nize a conrade even in the dark. IL takes
long and patient study TO master the craft
Of being a professional tramp. Some men
would not put as much effort into learn
ing a useful trade. Easy existence-they
want nothing else. That is the eharacteris-
tic OF the hobo.
Said the trainman the other day:
A dusty chap cTawled cut from under
enc of the cars in the freight yard close to
where was eating my dinner. He hsdn' I
expected TO see anyone there. and for mo-
ment was a bit abashed. But the next in
stant he took off his rag Of a hat and said:
Boss. il ye are throwing away any Of that
gump there in the pail, just remember cat
used to be the champion catcher of the
Pkillies.'
Il gave him piece Of bread He had
been all over the country, that fellow had
And he had seen the country. too. He
could tell me mere about the people AMI the
customs and the cities of the United States
than any lecturer l ever heard.
The man was educated and shTewd and
capable-one could see that But he was a
hero. He couldn't recover from the dis
ease Here. can give you his character
in few words.
He was as ragged a chap as I ever saw
Why don't you beg some c'othes?
asked
"'Dey don't have dudes in my business
he replied Can We see me gettin' grub If
1 promenaded up to a door on the main
drag of the town and took of a tall hat
to the lady of the house? Not much We
can't. Have to wear old clothes il We are
gcin' 70. be hobo And If they warn't old
hundred mile trip on the reds of your
old train would make 'em So
But don't you ever need money! 1
asked.
Always carry a quarter said he.
'Dey can't pinch me up for yag under
lose circumstances when l fash my coin
at EN-.
But wouldn't you like to find a ten
dollar bill2' / asked.
Nav he answered If should il
would be Jest my luck to be pulled I'd and
searched to see il l knew anything Of
some store robbery Ten dollars YOU'D
send me TO State prison. Den, again, I've
known the gang to kill a man for less dan
ten
But don't. you want money fer any
thingy persisted
He meditafed moment. Wal. now
that We mention il. boss he said L do
believe could use a quarter / want an
sther pair OF suspenders. But / can't
think or another thing on earth that
need.
as tat philosophy Or