The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-20
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
MAKES TRAMPS "A STUDY
Marsh Gnne Man Who Pursues Interesting Branch
Of Study in Philadelphia Three Well Defined
s#. Glasses 0 Tra1ps in This Country.

made very little trouble about letting him
stay in such quarters as they had-not
half as much as he had in controlling his
desire to get out Immediately or sooner, In
getting rid of the vermin which began to
collect on his clothing as soon as he arr
rived. This, OF course, was clothing
donned for the occasion, for when Mr..
Marsh starts out to do any stunts as
tramp or a beggar he dresses the part
and does them in costume.
He has found out that there exists In
Philadelphia, and presumably in every
other big city, a regular beggars' lodging
house or club where, when new man
comes to town, he is given lists of names
and addresses Of the charitably minded
the soft marks"-and what particular
spot in the makeup Of each Is the softest.
He says:
ION entering the place I informed the
clerk that was broke and asked him
whether he could not direct me to some
one to give mo some money. He referred
me to a man sitting in the room who
could furnish me with list Of givers.
Frank, as they called him, was partially
drunk and reticent at first, but soon re-
terred me to rector near by who would
give me tickets to the Samaritan Shelter
and probably 80 cents beside. If would
tell him belonged to DR.. Walpole War
ren's church, st. James's, on Madison av-
enue, New York, as he had given Frank
the same before. The rector was absent
so returned to my mentor. In the course
OF the evening, he grew communicative
and told me that most of the ministers
here In Philadelphia were dead easy
blokes,' and II q man could put up any
kind of a front and talk a decently
straight gait he could get money. He
cited several of<his successful raids on the
credulity and sympathy Of prominent cler-
gymen and business men, and promised to
| give ComnIafa LIST
morning.
Zone Of his chuns told me that Frank
had lived here in Philadelphia, on what he
had grated, and had been drunk a good
part of the time. He is good type of
the Intelligent beggar. He has travelled
in New England, where I also had been
within few months and I found that
he had imposed on several of my ac-
qualntances."
Mr.. Marsh tells how on another occa-
sion. In the guise of diabled mechanic,
he had collected at the rate Of $11.50
day. He put on a rough cap and rough,
worn, but perfectly respectable clothes,
suspended one bandaged arm in white
sling and got a friends wife to write out
the following letter, that it might be in
a woman's hand:
ef hs 9R hospital SO hear 1ou tns
go back to work I wish that you would try to
yus to see you. Please come home and spend
! Sunday with me. Your mother. Jane s.
| He went into wealthy part of town
and rang front door bells. He explained, in
a low troubled voice, to the maids or but
lers the predicament he was in, Offering
the letter in confederation and asking them
to see If the master or the mistress would
not give him quarter to help pay his
fare home to his old mother. In every in
stance but the quarter was forthcom-
1ng,- the one being at a house where the
master and mistress were out and a SYM
pathetic butler gave him a dime. In one
| or two instances he was put thru a mild
examination, but so mild that any beggar
worthy Of the name could have come thru
1t with flying colors.
It Is little wonder that, in view Of such
| experiences, Mr.. Marsh has decided that
any beggar can pass a comfortable exist
| ence In any large city without doing a
stroke of work, and that the publics ig-
norance of the very ample provision al
ready made Tor men who are willing to
work is mainly responsible for this state of
affairs. Were it not for this general ignor-
ance, Mr.. Marsh believes that the begging
| tramp would soon cease to exist.
! Tramps in general Mr. Marsh divides
| into three classes-the healthy and rea-
sonably upright tramp, who is a victim
| Of wander lust; the drunken tramp,
| WIZ ~ LIle NlCIIul OIL d pdSS1On 1OT SLCOnS
| drink; the swindling, lying, begging
| tramp, who is not victim, but who vic
| tinizes, humanity at large. The first
| class it Is easy to understand. His desire
to see the world, to have adventures, to
walk on white roads, between green fields,
| to live in the sunlight, are very humane
desires, with which 1t Is easy to sympa-
thize. And it Is a phase of youth, which
frequently passes with youth. The men
find that In the long run it doesn't pay,
and, with a little help at just the right
time-the time when this conviction is
forced horne-are easily reformed.
The second class it is easy to be sorry
for, but pitifully hard to be reasonably
hopeful for. The tramps whom alcohol
has wrecked, like their fellows in every
walk Of life, are hard to reform. And
they have not the incentives of self re
spect, family pride and loving friends.
, Still the institutions for destitute ineb-
rates may do much for them.
} But the third class, the lying, begging,
swindling tramp who Is most common in
the big cities, Is well nigh hopeless
proposition. The authorities cannot be
too hard on this class. He has become a
tramp thru sheer laziness and vicious
} Jail Is his place. His theory in life ap-
pears to be eff you don't want to work
and you don't have to work. why should
you work"
Why, indeed. since the dear public is
: an easy mark?