New-York tribune., 1907-07-07

other method Of transportation open 70 him that
is rarely enjoyed by his brother in the States
The mounted tramp is by no means q rara avis
in Argentina Horses are held lightly in that
country. branding IS the exception rather than
the rule. and equestrian tramp Is likely TO
have had his horse given TO him rs he IS to
have stolen It. Even the latter act Is about the
least crime that one can commit IN Argentina.
and there IS really great deal OF truth in the
saying of 4 Wisconsin thrashing machine expert
who had spent season in the country. that It's
a dUrn sight safer 10 steal horse on the pam
pas than IT IS TO steal kiss"
The "atorante" also enjoys novelty IN the
way OF a dormitory. Except in the houses OF the
rich "estancieros," stoves are unknown article
on the pampas. the baking being done out of
doors in n huge earthen oven. once heated up
these ovens will remain warm FOR ten or twelve
hours. and. they are used every day. q snug
comfortable waterproof refuge IS at the service
Of the lucky tramp in just the hours OF the night
that he requires II.
The tomato can Of the American hobo and tho
billy Of the Australian swagman have no
counterpart In the outfit OF the "atorante" Stews
not in his line, and the extent OF his cook
ing IS "asado" roast. made by setting up
and slowly turning hugo hunk OF beef NUT
ton n stake before bed Of Goals. The out
side Of the "asado" IS usually burned to n cinder
and lot Of good Juice gets away. but there is
always a plenty Of rare. rich. red meat left in
the middle. and even tramp can afford TO be
wasteful with beef in Argentina.
The "atorantes" first choice in drink is cana"
but his standby is mate" or Paraguayan tea
water IS only dernier ressort. Gaia" is a spe-
cies Of sugar rum OF tho liquid lightning
variety, and its fiery intensity IS calculated TO
make a bad "atorante" out OF n good one about
as eXpeditiously n similar transformation IS
worked by the "redeye" Of the Western plains OFT
our own hobo. If he gets all he wants OF Il he Is
ultimately made good again-this the
sumption that the old which rates the only
good Indian as the dead one holds in regard to
tramps.
For a travelling experience party Of Argen-
tine tramps who were drifting down the Rio
Parana from Corrientes to Buenos Ayres prob
ably deserve the international record in its
class The river in food and while the
voyagers were camping on the bank one night
the rising water not only carried away their boat
but also cut IN behind and left them marooned
on an island about hundred yards square. The
next day the food undermined the island which.
held together by the intertwined roots or the
dense growth OF vegetation that covered 1t,
noated off down stream like gigantic raft. The
tramps noated for two days and night, with
their island gradually crumbling away around
them and the fragment on which they ultimately
grounded near Rosario was hardly large enough
for comfortable standing room. None of them
was the worse for his remarkable two hundred
mile Journey.
The future of any institution body of men,
Of whatever character, depends largely upon the
constant infusion of vigorous young blood to
keep up it's vitality and force In this hght II
must be gratifying to the venerable "atorantes
who begin to falter by the way to note the num-
her and quality of the youngsters who are falling
in 10 take their places. Reform schools are
scarce in Argentina, and youthful stowaways'
with the most, restless blood of Europe pulsing
in their veins are legion. Two of these embroyo
"atorantes" recently foated hundred miles
down the Rio Uruguay and lost set OF toes 10
a bunch of alligators they encountered Two
otbers forced their way through the deep SHOWS
Of the high Andes last winter and came down
into Chile with nothing worse than frozen noses
nG diI.J eara such is boyhood in South America.