The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-12
Tramps of Long Ago.

There have been tramps- along English
high roads and byways for many a long
century. In the earlier stages OF our his
could not have been of general nor Of
an encouraging character. The people
lived In small. separate communities, and
each was intensely jealous Of It's inde-
pendence. The advent OF a stranger was
suspicious. and possibly dangerous. DAN
gerous. evidently. not only to the com
munity. he came among. but also to him
self When stranger came through
the wood or orver tho wasteland dividing
one settlement from another custom bade
him blow his horn as he came. for II he
stole through secretly he might be taken
FOR foe. and any man might lawfully
Kill him.
Advancing civilization and order In due
course OF time altered this. he wanderer
developed qualities that. on the other
hand. guaranteed him a warm welcome.
He might be minstrel one learned In
the healing art, a mountebank, or a ped
dler.
He was also news carrier, and from
the very fact OF his being a wanderer.
something above the grade OF those
pinned down to the one spot in mental
capacity and alertness. To understand
nized tramps Of the middle ages. the
conditions OF the country and OF society
must be held In mind. There were no
railways, no stage coaches. no telegraphs.
not even letters, no books. no concerts,
no theatres, mono OF theaids 70 the carry
ing on OF the affairs Of life. grave or gay.
work or amusement, that by long use and
custom have become to bo regarded as
indispensable to US In a later age. The
wandering minstrels and gleemen were,
perhaps tho most popular wayfarers or
tramps Of those times They recited as
wei as sang. and were always welcome,
as much at the village feast as when at
the bottom OF the baronial hall they ap-
pealed to a more select audience.
The minstrels' gallery, n prominent
feature I'm many old and well-known
halls. IL q survival OF this practice OF
listening TO tho songs OF reoitations OF
wandering minstrels. In Exeter Cathe-
dral there Is a "Minstels' Gallery" upon
which ar scriptured angels performing
upon tho various musical instruments I'm
use I'm the fourteenth century. These
Ministries probably did very we'll Lang
land. in his Piers Plowmsn." deplores
the valuable larReness bestowed upon
these interesting old musical tramps,
and expresses his regret that they were
not given instead TO the poor who 60
from door TO door like these intinerants.
ana arc tnc nllnlHNefs oI 0tlils VI
spite OF the serious Langland. and while
admitting doubtless many abuses, the
wandering singers and reciers OF his
time must have fulfilled q useful func-
tlon. hey distributed news. stirred up
stagnant brains and duh imaginhtions
and frightened with occasional fash Of
color the prevailing drabs and grays OF
life. raveling quacks wero In general
but little less acceptable than the min
strels. In the particular case. whore
there was illness. they must have been
more so. Their medicines and methods
Of recommending them are not TO be
Judged by the pharmacopoeis OF today,
and the views that present-day DOCTORS
hold upon the heresy OF advertising.
Their mehods. II not their medicine. sur
vive clearly in their wandering medical
descendants Of today. 10 be seen and
heard In many country fair and market
place.--London Globe.