The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-03
SAILOR JEANS" TRIP.
Aspiring Authors Plan to Get
Material For Book.
VISITS STATE CAPITALS ON FOOT,

jean A. Tzrohn, Who Has Already
Worn Out Eight Pairs OF shoes In
His Novel Journey, VIII spend the
winter TrampIng the Southern
states-over 5000 Miles Covered.
sailor Jean" who is visiting all the
state capitals Of the nation afoot, ar
rived at Macon, Mo-, the other day,
says the Kansas City Star. He had
at that time completed his three thou
sand eight hundred and nfty-second
mile and had worn out his eighth pair
Of shoes. sailor Jeans real name is
Jean a. Krohn. He was feeling first
rate and hopeful He had only 49,
200 miles ahead OF him. He has the
postmaster Of every town through
which he passes register his name with
the Office cancellation stamp. at state
capitals the secretary Of states issues
him a certificate Of his presence, at
tested by seal. sailor Jean" trun-
dies a small barrow which has a cask
and a flag on it and which he calls his
'trolleyette" lie left Boston April l
without a penny. The revenue comes
from little aluminium card trays he
sells at 10 cents each. jeans wife
and baby travel ahead on the railroad.
They wait at a designated point, which
he reaches Sunday, and he spends the
day with them. Jean is now averag-
ing $40 a week selling his souvenirs.
aSailor jeans statistical report up
to Oct. % was as follows: Bitten by
snakes, once; bitten by dogs, eleven
times; killed ten Of the biters; held
up" By highwaymen, once; loss, q gold
watch and $3.50 in cash; attempted
s'holdups,7 two; miraculous escapes
I from suffocation in railroad tunnels
three; sick, two hours; best day
march, thirty-eight miles; worst grub
in mountains west OF Virginia, colo
cornbread and dried apples. 1t takes
? eight pairs of shoes to travel $780,
miles aud five tires for the trolley
ette'' wheel.
why is sailor Jean" going to al
, this trouble? Because he has fallen Z
victim to the universal desire to be a.
r author. He explains it in this wise:
Il had observed that most people
! who wrote stories Of travel journeyet
over the country in first class coaches
! They visited only the great cities anC
points Of known interest They are pl
I loted around by guides, from wi.on
2 they acquire most Of their information
Their stories are Of beaten paths and
dress them as artistieally and original
~ as they may, they are only telling
tale that has been told. While making
, no particular claim TO superiority il
I writing, | thought by assuming tn
!. garb Of a sailor and travelling as on
5 of the plain, everyday toilers ! couI'
t get closer to nature and her childrel
!. and tell story Of our country such a
Q had never vet been told. | meet th
r farmers. the miners, the railroad men
the workingmen, not Of one state or
dozen, but of all. | make notes con
corning the condition Of crossroad
hamlets that are so small they do no
appear on the map. AIT the minin
camps ! so through the pits ana slee
: in the homes of the miners. It woul
surprise you to witness the variety Q
people in our country. There is wild
2 difference in the characteristics Of th
( Americans iii different sections, just a
the climate differs
"Sailor jeans route was made ou
in detail before he left Boston. Az
7 cording to his contract with his pull
Usher, he must complete his tour !
three and a half years. lie is nor
southwark bound and will pass ia
winter tramping the southern state.
His schedule requires him to report j
/ Topeka. Kan, in the spring. He il
so on foot the entire distance, except
/ crossing streams, where ferries are til
i only method.