The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-11-28
HOW THE GENUINE HOBO WORKS
NEW TowN-sEcUREs
DATA.
The professional" Tramp Makes Good
Use of the Idea of Human
Brotherhood.


to be well supplied with data concern
ing it. They, who thus illicitly travel
the trains, and cover the country from
east to west, and from north TO Soutn,
are travelling geographical and social
encyclopedias. A fraternal instinct for
the mutual protection of members OF
their order renders tramps always
eager to impart to others any desired
information of this kind. Thus it is,
not wait for his train to stop; but he
leaves it Immediately when it COM
mences to slow down, for he is well
aware that blue-coated guardian of
the peace has been stationed at the de-
pot, for the express purpose of catch
ing him unawares. He heads at once
for the back streets, to beg water and
soap, and any garments he may re-
quire, to make him appear like any
other orderly, well conducted member
of the community. He is careful to ia
miliarize himself with the streets lead
ing to the railroad and to and from
the main thoroughfare, memorizing al
so the name of street or two in the
workingman's quarter Of the town.
All this carefully mastered, he betakes
himself to it's heart, to begin serious
no he ic
thoroughly safe, in this guise, from
detection by the police, unless he be
careless or taken off his guard. If a
city be exceptionally hostile he win
leave his train some miles below it,
and, if he has nickel, will ride in on
the street car; if not, he will approach
it on foot.
Once in the business section, the
''phoney'' union cards, referred to in
the previous articles, come again into
play. He makes round of the va
rious shops, employing the trades of
which he processes to be a member,
and with it's aid and the use of skill
full hard-luck story, many are the
nickels, dimes, quarters and half-dol-
lars, which make their way into his
pocket. Union men, as a rule, are ar
dent, sympathetic disciples of the doc
trine of the brotherhood of man, and
fully practice their own preachings in
this regard. The willy tramp recognizes
this, and plays upon their sympathies
by the aid of the union card he has
obtained in some tenderloin quarter,
where thieves. rOgues and grafters of
all descriptions manufacture or steal
them as the case may be. The union
man never suspects he is being
''gulled'' and, indeed, seldom discovers
it; but continues his work with the
feeling inspired by a supposedly char
liable act worthily performed, while
Mr.. Hobo has much ado to hide his
contemptuOus grins at the simplicity
OF his victim. tramp regards his
card as a Christian does his Bible: to
him it means transportation, food,
lodging and a drunk.
AS the midnight hour approaches,
our hobo commences to bethink him.
self of sleeping quarters, if he con-
templates a longer stay If it is sum-
mer knowledge box (school housed
church, porch, Clubhouse box, cars, or
even a sheltering tree by the roadside
IN the suburbs suffices. But when the
winter season clutches the land in it's
icy embraces, these resorts are not
quite comfortable enough. Our friend
isn't fastidiOus, however, so he takes
molety of his beer money, and Sc
cures quarters, for the night, in a ten
cent lodglng mousse Imagine the scene
A low-roofed, whitewashed room of
dimensions sixteen by twelve feet. con-
tanning eight cots with occupants The
doors and windows closed tightly to
keep out the cold, and incidentally, to-
tally obstructing ventilation. All the
HoA' " uiluToSS Dy is what comes
from glimmering candle about an
inch long, which must be blown out
immediately upon undressing by or
der of the proprietor. The beds (?)
nave for accessories, rough canvas
over an armful of straw for mattresses.
and sacking for covers.
But even the discomfort of these
rough surfaces might be endured, were
II not that these downy luxuries are
INFESTED with myriads of vermin. For
mat reason hobo not yet on friendly
terms with these obnoxious animals.
seldom does more than loosen his
clothmg and take off his shoes
imagine the healthful, delightful con-
ultions which the purchaser of a ten
cent bed gets for his money. On one
SIDE a husky, fat CRATER with heavy.
iapored snore. On the other a ferret