The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
SIGN LANGUAGE
 USED BY HOBOS Symbols and Marks Used By
 the Tramps KEEP EACH OTHER POSTED Railway Water Tanks Are Regular Tramp Directories Where Strange HyerogIyphics Communicate
 Information to Fraternity.
From the New York Press.

From the New York Press.
 Painted on the pedestal of the Frank lin statue in Park row, nearly opposite Spruce street, is what appears to be some mystic symbol. There are other markings and scrawls on the statue, made proba- bly by members of that peculiar class who seem to derive a curious pleasure from defacing any fair surface, but this particular sign is different from any other. The lettering is distinct and appa- rently was made by some person who was somewhat familiar with a brush. The main letters are AR" To the right and parallel with the upper half of those let ters are the figures '01." On either side are brackets in the shape of arrowheads. Below is the date 1907.
 Those who have noticed this sign have indulged in some speculation as to it's meaning and origin. Who put it there, and what does it mean?
 Of course the sign may have been put there by some idler with a paint brush who had nothing better to do. But one gentleman who has noticed 1t says he has seen the same sign on water tank near a railroad track in New Jersey and that it is tramp sign put there by some knight of the road for the information of his fellows who know its meaning, or
 
 ''paP' to whom the hieroglyphics would mean much. Jack London, in his recent book, "The Road,' testifies to the fact that Water tanks are tramp directories" If this sign on the Franklin statue, then, is the same as that seen on railroad tanks about the country, it may be tramp monica"
 'Monicas,' Jack London explains, are the "nom- -de-rais" that hoboes assume or accept when thrust upon them by their fellows. A monica" is composed of a hobo's Christian name or his nickname in conjunction with an adjective suggest ing his nationality, physical peculiarity or the city of his birth or residence. Thus New York Jimmie," Frisco Mike French Pete'' and Red Joe" are mon icas' which are used exclusively by the friends and acquaintances of these gen. tlemen in addressing them or referring to them. In the course of time hobo will adopt some symbol which stands for his "monica." He marks this on some conspicuous object along a pathway much used by members of his profession, and then his friends who see 1t know he has been along there. Additional symbols will indicate where he is bound for and what his route will be.
 London describes how pair of hobo pals may become separated from each other. One of them gets "ditched'' from a train, possibly without the knowledge of the other, or lands in jail. The hobo who has escaped then keeps a watch out for the monica of his unfortunate pal. Pos sibly he wanders around for months and covers thousands of miles. Then some day he comes across the monica of his lost pal, along with other symbols show ing the date and his possible course Im- mediately- he sets out along the route in- dicated until he finds his mate London says that he has known a hobo to follow pal half around the world on the strength of a monica found in some unex- pected place.
 It is well known that the tramp frater- nifty has number of signs and symbols which they chalk up or otherwise mark on fences, billboards, rocks and other