New-York tribune., 1911-12-24
AMERICAN BUNS ABROAD
Most Numerous OF All in Cities
of Mexico.
THE PEST OF TOURISTS
Many of Them Fall Victims to
Strong Drink, but Few Be-
come Criminals.

While the American tramp and bum is
IN evidence in every foreign city, no mat
ter IN what part of the world you may
travel in Mexico he is not only evident
but numerous. and so much so that to the
tourist he IS a pest The American tramp,
hobo, INDECENT American, Weary Willie"
or what you care 10 call him. will be found
in every city and village of Mexico. With
his pleading, begging story OF hard luck
and distress he is as strong with his plea
for assistance as any bum you ever met
on the Bowery.
The Republic OF Mexico Las for many
years been a haven for the american
Weary Willies." There are several rea-
sons FOR the presence OF this great numee;
OF begging Americans in every city in
Mexico. For many years nearly all the
skilled labor Of that republic has been per
formed by Americans, ana many OF these
men fell victims 10 the white drinks OF the
tropics and finally became common street
legsars The American tramp found Mex
ico a warm. plei SAINT country, with thou
sands of prosperous fellow citizens to beg
from and always the sympathetic tourist
10 prey upon.
The government Of Mexico has until re-
-
tramps The stringent vagrancy laws Of
Texas and other Southern states drove
many OF the hobo element TO the MeXi-
can Republic Until recent years no pun
ishmcnt for drunkenness and disordcrly
condcct was mc,ed out TO American tramps.
in Mexico City to-day Americans are not
punished FOR drunkenness, but receive med
zeal attention, and are held only until
,,,Fg q
Potosi. Salinas Cruz and several other Of the
larger cities the American tramp is nom
inally fined, and if he has not the where
Uithal 10 pay he must help clean the
streets. II he does join the chain gang il
only opens another way and means to
graft The gendarme OoBce) under whom
he works will allow him to beg and bum
all Americans who pass by. Such graft is
evenly divided with the police in charge.
Seven years residence in the tropics and
daily contact with the professional tramp
element convinced the writer that -
per cent Of the American tramps in Mexico
are victims Of tequila or mescal. which
drinks have killed more Americans IN the
tropics than disease
Genuine teQuila or mescal, II drunk in
moderation, would compare with the strong
drinks of this country. But u seems I'M
possible for d foreigner 20 partake mOder-
ately Of these drinks. The average life Of
the tequila fend is from three TO seven
years. though / have known men Of strong
constitution TO fight these poisonous drinks
much longer.
The American bum in Mexico can be truly
called a scientific worker. Class among
them is as definitely and strictly defined As
It is between the -Four Hundred of New
York and its underworld.
The writer spent the night until the clos
ing hour Of % o'clock in the Area de Noe,
"a san Juan de Letran. Mexico City. This
place has for many years been the rendez-
voys and haug-out for American tramps.
Located, as 20 is few minutes walk from
all the leading hotels, the American bum
has found 20 a ycritable haven OF refuge.
In this small. dark. foul, ill-smelling place.
with it's six iaarb.e-topped tables, drink
may be purchased for two. three, six or
twelve cents Mexican money. In this place
j met many brilliant and intelligent men,
many o. them Americans. who have helped
reconstruct and build up Mexico. Here !
met the harper known as the ceverest
American bum IN Mexico. / found the
"dueno" (oWneD paid him all the respect
due a gentleman.
Il have been q bum in Mexico for ten
years" said the harper" and while |
manage 90 a.; along, things are not what
they once Uer mere. Many American buns
and tramps 80 = the tourists. but they
are poor graft, The railroad and tourist
companies warn their patrons nowadays
against the American bum, and the limit