Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-02-10
The Tramp Family
Copyright 1905 by American Press Asso-
ciation.1

ask for drink of water. was re-
ceived by a kindly old lady, who gave
me a glass of wine instead of water
and added some biscuits. During my
refreshment a handsome vehicle stop
ped at the house, and gentleman 1t
contained asked me the road to Inter
laken. Seeing me RECALLING myself, he
alighted, joined me on the trellised
porch and asked for a glass Of wine.
The old lady brought him one, with
more biscuits, and we slipped, munched
and chatted. The gentleman proved &c
be a fellow countryman of mine and
asked me to proceed in his carriage, an
invitation l accepted. AT leaving he
was surprised at not being permitted
to pay the reckoning. He insisted, but
the good lady was resolute. Before
getting into his carriage he took q
piece of red chalk from his pocket and
made certain marks ON window shut
ter
Those are tramp marks you have
made. are they nOt?' said. surprised
Light up" was his reply, handing
me a cigar, land as we roll along I'll
tell you story.
"A citizen Of st. Louis determined
for the benefit of his health to drive
with his wife and daughter to Denver
I While crossing the plains his vehicle,
which was not fitted for such rough
usage, broke down, and the party was
CTR nd I'm hn nf ha
American desert The traveller scanned
the horizon for help and fortunately
far to the eastward saw a white speck
which he took for prairie schooner
1t was from twelve to fifteen miles
| distant. and he expected that fully
three hours would be required for it to
come up.
But the white speck grew much
more rapidly than could be accounted
for by schooner. AS it came nearer
those watching it were filed with as
constituent. 1t was q schooner indeed.
schooner on wheels. The body was
boat shaped. and masts extended up
right from the front and rear aXles
each mast supporting a sail. A man
sat In rear of the front axle holding a
tiller. AS he drew near the party he
applied break. lowered his sails and
said:
"Can | assist your
considering the rOughness of the
mans dress and his unkempt appear
ance. the party were surprised at his
respectable bearing
MY dear SIR said the gentleman.
the first favor would ask of you is
an explanation Of this singular appear.
ance Of wheeled boat on this old
ocean bed. Is ii the ghost of some
prehistoric vessel wrecked ages age
many fathoms above us?'
"'No, sir. When an ocean surge6
here there were no boats
"'Well, who are you and what are
you doing in this strange craftY
I'm tramp. born tramp. and
must always be moving just as born
soldier must always be campaigning
My father sent me to school, to college
and gave me a profession. | wanted
to travel. and he sent me abroad
When he wished me to stop travelling
and go to work | became q tramp.
Finally got tired Of making my legs
go or riding under cars and wished for
some method Of propulsion wherein
the cost was only in the vehicle did
a little work for wagon maker and
while at his shop constructed this ship
Of the desert. What can do for your
'There was nothing for the fellow to
do but take the party aboard, which
he did. The gentleman demurred at
the tramp going out of his way to
favor a wrecked party, but the land
sailor said every way was his way
The gentleman and his family got
aboard, the two older ones on back
seat, the girl forward with the tramp
driver. AS they sailed along before a
ten knot breeze, meeting people by the
way who gazed at them In astonish-
ment, the old lady looked sour, the old
gentleman WINGED. while the young
girl giggled, evidently enjoying the
trip immensely. In this fashion they
rode all the way to Denver, and when
they reached the city were followed to
hotel where the travellers proposed
to stop by shouting mob.
what II was about this degenerate
son OF worthy sire to attract young
girl nobody could ever find out, but the
travellers daughter had to fall In love
with the sailor. Seeing her heart was
set on having him, her father con-
sented on condition that he would stop
tramping. or. rather, sailing over the
face Of the earth, and accept position
in his Office i'm st. Louis. The fellow
loved the girl so well that he made the
sacrifice, and they were married
''The tramp stood Office work as we'll
as he could for six months. 1t nearly
set him crazy. During the time of his
Imprisonment in counting room he
disappeared for month. ostensibly
on business. but really to tramp.
Soon after he got back his father-in-
law died and left Mrs. Tramp lot Of
money. The business was sold out,
and the pair came over here for u
tour 1t was really a tramp. They
are moving over Europe today"