Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-07-15
THE TOlLER.
The intellectual Hobo Corrects q
Popular Mistake.

There is an ancient superstition
that gentlemen of my profession
won't work." said the intellectual hobo
with honest Indignation. 1T is false
and unjust. Look at these handsi
Are they not stained by honest toil?'
They are stained with tobacco or
something" said the sympathetic
citizen.
The attitude of the public toward
me is entirely wrong" declared the
intellectual hobo. Il see YOU have a
lawn, with real grass on it, and il
needs moving. If a man came along
with mower and asked to do the
work the chances are you would tell
him to go ahead, and when he had
finished the job you would ask him
how much you owed him. and then
you would pay him in cash without
a murmur. thankful 10 have had his
services. But if l came to your back
door and asked for a sandwich you
would put on a look of incorruptible
virtue, and say: My good man. |
have conscientious scruples against
indiscriminate charity. Go and NOW
that lawn and then I'll give you a
sandwich and glass OF water Isn't
that about it?'
81 confess that do talk in that
strain sometimes under such cOndi-
tions, but what would you have? So
many OF you homeless men call in
the course of a year that one must
require something in exchange for his
sandwiches and cold water If a man
applies at my door for pie or a sec
ond-hand hat. it seems to me he
should be willing to labor in the vine
yard"
That's what I'm coming to-" ex-
claimed the hobo. Il venture to say
that there isn't respecting
tramp in this country who wouldn't
be willing TO give satisfactory service
for anything he gets, but the trouble
is that the opulent householder isn't
satisfied with reasonable service.
You would pay the ordinary man 10
cents for moving - your lawn, and
thank him for coming to the rescue at
crucial time, but if l did it you
would hand me a cheese sandwich
with a pair of tongs and ask me not
TO carry anything away when | left the
ed to labor with enthusiasm when his
toll is without recompense? I'd just
as soon NOW that lawn as not. if you
paid me a satisfactory price"
We'll, what will you charge ?"
'Tll NOW that lawn" said the in
tellectual hobo, surveying the grass
patch with a critical eye. for 500.
see you start with surprise. OF
course, you can have it moved for 10
cents, but the man who does IL for
such n price is a traitor to the sacred
cause of labor. / am the best friend
labor has. believe that labor
should get all that's coming to it.
The thermometer registers about $50
degrees in the shade, and the flies
are extensively active, and the man
who pushes a lawn mower for two
hours should receive at least 80 an
hour. and il he takes less, he trails
the banner of labor in the dust"
Your logic is sound, my friend, and
50 an hour seems a reasonable price.
but you asked $40 for doing the job.
object to that 40 cents. 1t is by
saving the pennies and dimes that a
man acquires a competence for his old
age. and | can't afford to spend 40
cents unless l get its full equivalent
in labor Suppose you come around
next winter. when the heat is less
trying, and NOW the lawn then?
Meantime, 1 see a policeman approach
ing, 10 extend the courtesies of the
city to you l telephoned for him
when you first arrived. as ! wanted
YOU to enjoy our hospitality for a
time."-Chicago News.