The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-02-15
FRIEND OF TRAMPS
PENNSYLVANIA PARSONS Shell
TIERS A NUMBER YEARLY.
For Forty Years He Has Helped the
WEARY Wanderers" and Has Re.
fused TO Let Them Labor
Puts Them In a Tenement.

PottstOwn Pa $500 Known as III
friend of the tramps,' because he ha
fed and sheltered them for years III
many as 800 in IL months--Rev Jacol
| h, Mensch, a plain Mennonite preach
| erfarmer, has won for himself warm
| place in the hearts and affections ot
| the friendless and homeless wanderers
| who came his way.
Down in Skippack township, Mont
gomery county. Mr. Mensch has lived
for more than 40 years. and in all that
time he has dispensed hospitality in
his own quiet and original way. It is
original because he fitted up a tene
ment directly opposite his own large
farmhouse, into which he puts beds
for the tramps. After giving them sup
pers he would shelter them and then
give them their breakfast; but in no
instance would he accent their labor
in payment for his hospitality
But one night several OF the migrate
full hoboes stole the beds and de
parted with them, and then Mr.
Mensch hit on the plan of putting iron
bars at the windows and locking the |
door securely so that his guests could |
not "skiddoo" at night, even if they
had a mind to
Mr.. Mensch is known all over east
ern Pennsylvania and especially
among the Mennonite sect. as the own,
er of library exceedingly rare he,
cause it contains BIBLES and common
taries on sacred literature from 100 TO
400 years old He has almanacs of
zach year from 1850 to the present.
ime. the nucleus of his collection hav
ng been laid by his grandfather aud
hen added to from year to year by his
ather and himself
Recently former Gov PennypGcker
listed Mr. Mensch and was 50 i'm
,ressed with the value OF his old Bib
cal and literary wcrks that he made
n effort TO buy some of them. Butt
he old preacher. who is well to do. de
lined the offers, and said so long ~
e lived no money in the world eould
reak mp the collection. which he
olds sacred and above price.
Mr. Mensch is "a years old. and al
1ough his form is bent and he secs
70 shadows Of life growing longer as
vening falls he still journeys every
unday 10 the little meeting house on
le crest Of tho ridge just beyond his
ONE to preach the Word in German !
Advancing years compelled him to
We up active farm life, and when he
I'D his farm, two months ago It !
'vered INK IN TamiIy possessions,
r the place had belonged to his fl.
er.in-law.
The story of how the farm was q
ven 10 Mr. Mensch was interesting "
told by him. He bad been living OF j
lS0-acre tract in Berks county. when
5 father-inraw, getting in III health. +"
Id him If he would move on his farm p
would be his when he died. Four
,eks after he hed moved there the
-her-inlaw pasbd away. and the
rm became Mr. Menschs. On an Il
les around him he can see the Wei ,,
led acres OF his sons, for they have
lowed in the footsteps OF their sire 70
d become farmss, too M
Like others Of his faith, Mr.. Mensch
serves a religious worship that is
verely plain and shorn OF all the
ills" OF most churches. He looks ID.
fanCe az music as an essential Of ,,
lrch service, and az his own home.
en- a company Of guests were about
indulge in vocal and instrumental 60,
ections, he courteously explained 49,,
views and excused himself add
/, that he had no objection 10 their
loving IL If they saw proper. but
= for his own conscience sake he o..
uld 60 to another apartment. As
people having photographs taken "i
themselves. he regarded that as he
iity.
~ \ u