Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-06
Ghost Stories They Make Up to Fit
Different Occasions.
METHODS IN SUMMER AND WINTER
Sunday is the Hardest Day Of All
the Week
WORKING THE SYSTEMS
Copyright. 1000, by Josiah Flynt.)

SopSIiSut lpVp, ny JOslaH
Written for The Evening Star.
Besides studying the persons of whom
he begs and to whom he adapts his ghost
stories their different natures require,
the tramp also has to keep in mind the
time of the day, the state Of the weather
and the character of the community in
which he is begging. 1 refer. Of course, to
the expert tramp. The amateur blunders
on regardless of these important details,
and asks for things which have no relation
with the time of the day, the season or the
locality.
1t is bad form. for instance, to ask early
in the morning for money to buy a glass of
whisky, and 1t is equally nopportune to re-
quest a contribution toward the purchase
Of a railway ticket late at night. The
"tenderfoot' is apt to make both Of these
mistakes; the expert. never. The steady
patrons of beggars, and all old hands at
the business have such, seldom realize how
completely adjusted to local conditions
ghost stories" are. They probably think
that they have heard the story told to
them time and again and in the same way,
but If they observe carefully they will gen.
orally find that, either in the meditation
of the voice or the tone of expression. it Is
different on rainy days, for instance from
what Is Is When the sun ShlneS. Ii taxes a
trained ear to discriminate, and expert
beggars realize that much Of their tinesse
Is lost even on persons who give to them,
but they are artists in their way, and be-
heve in art for arts sake" Then, too,
1t is always possible that they will en-
counter somebody who will appreciate their
| talent, and this is also a qualification.
Seasonable Begging.
Speaking generally, there is more begging
done in winter than in summer, and in the
east and north than in the south and west.
but some Of the cleverest begging takes
place In the warm months. 1t is compare
lively easy to get something to eat and a
bed In a lodging house when the Their
mometer stands ten degrees below zero A
man feels mean in refusing an appeal to
his generosity a this time Of the year. Il
may be cold and hungry some day myself
he thinks. and he gives the beggar a dime
or two
In summer on the other hand. the tramp
has no freezing weather to help him out,
and has to invent excuses. Even the story
of no work. is Of little use in the summer.
This is the season, as a rule, when work
is most plentiful and when wages are high
est. and the tramp knows 1t and Is aware
that the public also understands this much
of political economy. Nevertheless, he must
live in summer as wei as in winter. and
he has to plan differently for both seasons.
Summer and Winter.
The main difference between his summer
and winter campaigns Is that he generally
travels in summer, taking in the small
towns whore people are less ION to him.
and where there are all kinds of free
DOSES places to sleep In the shape of
barns and empty homes. In November he
returns to the city again to get the benefit
of the cold weather dodge" or goes south
to florida, Louisiana and Texas.
Probably 1900 eastern and northern
tramps winter in the south every year.
Their luck there seems to be entirely indi-
vidual; some do well and others barely live.