The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-11-02

wants to rove the seas. Why Is q
tramp a tramp? Nineteen times out OF
twenty it Is because he wants to rove
the land. 1t is n. nervous. restless feel.
ing that he cannot withstand. He
wants to get somewhere, and he is no
sooner there than he wants to get
somewhere else. The majority Of
them are sober men. They are as
honest as the average. Not one In
twenty will refuse to work FOR u meal
or for pay. Not one In twenty com.
mits n crime for which he should be
Jailed. You can't make statistics talk
any other way. The whining. lying,
vicious tramp has his home In the city
and stays there.
at is the press of the country that
has got the farmer down on the tramp.
You may drive for fifty miles and in.
tervicw each farmer as you come TO
him and you won't find five to say that
n tramp ever caused them any trouble.
In summer the tramp may steal few
apples or turnips. Any one driving
along the highway is free to do that.
Should he steal an AK. shovel. plow,
sheep, calf or break into the house and
steal n watch or clothes. what Is he
going TO do with his plunder? The
instant he tries TO realize on it he is
nabbed. The tramp who entered n
house and stole $50 in cash would be
worse off than If he hadn't cent.
81 can walk into that bakery over
I ~ hnn Il
the woman will give me q stale loaf.
| can tackle most any man passing
here for a dime for lodgings money
nndNgct It. l can wander down most
any residence street and raise hat. a
coat or n pair of shoes. How is II out
in the country? Wen say I've hoofcd
IL all day. making about fifteen miles.
I've stopped TO rest now and then
and view the scenery. Don't you
make no mistake about that scenery
feature. If any art company wanted
TO publish Il thousand views il couldn't
do better than TO ask the tramps where
TO find the best ones. For lunch
drink was from brook. Along about
O o'clock | hunger for cooked victuals
and. as it looks like rain. would like
TO get lodgings In barn. turn aside
10 n farmhouse. The farmer Is wash
ing his hands at the well TO 90 in to
supper. Out of the tail of his eye he
sees me approaching. but he pays no
heed until stand before him aud say:
Accused of Being Jaibird.
"'Mster, I can milk COW. chop
wood. NOW weeds or hoe in the gar
den If YOU will give me supper and
lodging on the haymow. will work
an hour at anything you wish
"When did you get out of jailY he
asks.
"'I have never been in JAIL
"'But you look like the burned
skunk who stole pitchfork from me
last year.
"'Last year was in California;
"'Want TO set my barn afire with
your old pipe, do you?
"I don't smoke
"IIe stands and thinks for moment
and then grudgingly tells me to take a
seat on the kitchen doorsteps. The
wife brings me out stingy supper.
There's an abundance on the table,
and part of It will 90 TO the hogs, but
she cuts me short, thinking TO get
ahead of me. ] have cleared my plate
in ten minutes, and then | am set TO
work and buckle in until too dark TO
see longer, My bed Is on the hay, and
twice during the night the farmer
comes out TO see il haven't stolen the
shingles off the roof. In the morning
II want a meager breakfast ! must
put in good hours work for it. That
means an hour and half, and when
| thank the farmer for his generosity
and get ready to go On he says:
"'Goin', eh? Well, that's the way
with you burned critters. I've filled
| You up and lodged you, and now you
want TO play the sneak on me-.
MY friend, don't look for much sen
timent in humanity these days and
| don't look for a bit of Ii out i'm the
country. You won't find it. The farmer
| can't afford It, He has been beaten by
sharpers and squeezed by trusts unit
he has lost faith In every one. He has
| buttermilk, but it's for sale, and before
| selling it TO you he wants a certificate
! that you have never stolen a haystacl
| or run away with field of buck
wheat M OJIAD