The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-19

more than enough beer. a riotOus time
is. some deadfal groggery where chance
had more than offset the gamblers
Skill all these come back to him re-
peatedly day and night while the sun
turns the streets into slush.
Never Thinks of Troubles
Never once does he stop to think of
the cruel beating at the hands of the
policeman, of the days in the filthy
Jail, days of hunger and thirst, fights
with brakemen. perfidy of pals. un-
cared for sickness or any of the thou
sand and oQe miseries that fill up the
chinkssof his life. None of these is
given moments thought, and it. is
doubtful if they would have any
weight If they were given long and
serious consideration.
To the vagabond the fiirtations of
spring cause untold worry. His mind
is made up to go as soon "as II gets
warm" and he does not care to stay a
day longer than is necessary. Never
theless, he has enough common sense
not to start out on the road until IL
Is certain that hs will not freeze to
death, and he anxiously and impa-
tiently awaits the time for his depar-
ture. Then with no one to bid fare
we'll to he makes his last round of the
saloons where drinks come easy and
-
Once he begins sinking in the shad-
ows, noting the makeup of freight
trains he is himself He has plenty of
difficulties to overcome. but he knows
them all and is satisfied with his abil-
ity.
The freight yards are the starting
places Of all these pilgrimages, be-
cause the vagabond's idea of going
some place is too large to do any
walking He VIII undoubtedly have to
do no. end-of hitting the grit before
he is through with his seasons jaunt,
but he'll not walk step more than is
absolutely necessary. The payment of
railroad fare Is of course something
that never enters his mind. so he hur-
RES to the freight yards to steal a ride.
In the stealing of rides the old tramp
is genius. They take chances with
life and limb that a sane man would
never think of for a moment, and that
they aoften come to grief Is demon
strated by the brief announcement of
the killed In a train wreck:
Two unknown tramps, stealing a
ride"
Inside the Box Cars
| Even the tramp prefers to ride in
side box car, but there Is some trou-
bic about this. The rule Of the road is
"a dollar a division" the dollar going
into the pockets of the brakeman,
(which generally insures his keeping
away from the particular car contain
ing the Dos" until the run is ended.
The dollar is not a numerous article
With the simon pure tramp, and even
If he has one his self-respect and
other necessities viii forbid his giving
1T up to the brakeman. Generally the
brakeman Is in that category Of hon.
est public officials who stay bought"
but It is not infrequent for the reverse
to be the case. and the man who has
parted with his final dollar for the
ride Is told to clear out and walk. The
knight of the road takes great salts
faction out Of his ability to beat the
brakeman. or the "shacks'' as they are
CONTEMPORARY called. at their. own
game, and he will stop at nothing.
Riding, the rods" is the common
method. and a more agonizing place to
ride could hardly be imagined. Be-
meath the floor CT the box car there are
four or six rods running fh~ length OF