Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-05-27
PARADISE FOR HOBOES.
MEXICO THE HAVEN TO WHICH AMER
ICAN TRAMPS ARE DRIFTING
TOURISTS ARE AN EASY PREY.

|
AS far as immunity from arrest il
lconce,ned the American tramp il
Mexico enjoys a paradise which BIZ
brother in the United States might
we'll envy. Vagrancy is not the crime
in the land of manana that in the pop
uar mind it has become in the greater
and progressive republic!of the North
Not many miles from the Mexican Dor
der the tramp comes into conflict with
severe statutory laws that have been
enacted for the suppression of one OF
the growing evils of modern civiliza
tiOn. There are several towns in Tex
as where the hobo is given scant cOur
tesy and bis departure requested with
little ceremony.
There is town in Arizona that
adopted plan of ridding itself of the
tramp nuisance few years ago which,
while lacking in the principle of hu-
manity, was successful in effectually
dispOsing of the itinerant beggar.
The plan was this: AS soon as
tramp was spotted, even before any
iOyert act of begging or other miSdt-
meanor was committed, he was escort
ed to the city hall by a policeman,
where he was closely examined by the
Mayor, who took pains to find out if
the man was really professional
l fro 10 mi
ned, and if they showed horns he was
given the benefit of doubt and told
to leave town, which he generally did;
but il his hands bore no evidence of
labor recently performed and the Ma
| yOr was satisfied that he was a genuine
tramp, the enemy of soap was confined
in the city jail. where he was given a
diet of bread and water and lsft to
sleep the following night On the bare
| floor.
The next morning he was put to
work on the streets, where be had to
toll all day, bis food being bread and
water. He passed second night In the
city Jail aid next morning was escort
ed to the edge of the town, where he
was told to "hit the trail" and never
show bis face in the place again. Ii was
not very long before Blue Gulch, al
though this is not its read name, enjoy |
ed an OdiOus reputation among the in |
habitants of trampdom, and the re-
suit was that the town was blotted from |
their list of snaps and more lenient |
places were selected for the levy of
food required by the gentlemen of the
road during their annual tour through |
the country.
AS soon as the American tramp finds
himself in Mexico he Immediately |
adapts himself to it's customs, for he
knows he is in land where he has
little to fear from officlous policemen
with penchant for asking questions
about bis financial condition and where |
the poorest pe0n will divide half his
tortilla with him if told that he is
hungry. He soon realizes that charity
in Mexico is universal and that it is a
religious mandate which has been
preached into the very marrow of the
people 8 bones. This is usually the
tramp's first introduction to the Mexi- |
can paradise, but after while he lays |
for bigger game than poems and religi-
ously inclined senoras, and be begins
to tackle the tourists from his own
country.
His method of procedure is well
known to most Americans. He is un
erring in spotting his cOuntrymen,
and is always certain to address him
self to the generously disposed. On
account of his success in avoiding |
stingy man. the American tramp is
nearly always sure to obtain some
money from his fellow citizens. He has
hardluck story, of course, which he
uses so frequently that in short time |
he becomes extremely proficient in the |
art of spinning it out so that it will |
awaken the most symapthy.
The sympathetic tourists who have |,
read so much about the hard side of
Mexico are more than half willing to
help a poor and stranded cOuntryman
out. and the American tramp leaves
the hotel patio where his studied talk
was made with enough United States
currency to see him through a week 8
spree. A speculIar thing about the
American tramp is that so far none of |
| the tribe has ever been known to be In
sympathy with the temperance move
| ment.
| One of the most prominent traits of
his character is his undaunted nerve.
A wel-known resident of this city was
walking along San Francisco street
not very long ago when be was accost-
ed by one of these gentry. who was
fairly we'll dressed. Stopping up bold
lily to the gentleman in question, with
the air of a brisk business man, he said
lquickly: Just one moment, Mr..
Through unavoidable circumstaL ces
my funds have become depleted and,
as you are cOuntryman of mine, l re-
lspectfully request the loan of a dollar"
The well-knOwn resident saw the hu
imOr of the case and handed him
lquarter.
The common hobo who begs for the
lprice of meal is of course familiar to
IeverygOne. He is about the same in
Mexico as be is in the United States,
Ibis habits being somewhat modified
by his easier mode of life in THE en-.
ioyable climate. Mexican Herald.
"Are you III favor of clubs for wO-
men ?n asked the female with the
nh