The Detroit times., 1917-08-11
Tramps, Explorers
nv ~. ADDINGros BRUCE
Author OF This Riddle Of Person
Eiity." Psychology aud
Parenthood." etc.

There are many points OF dissimi-
larlty between tramps Nplorers.
That gees without saying But there
Is at least one point of striking simi
iarity Both tramps and explorers
have an exaggerated "wanderlust,
an abnormal craving for travel.
Whence comes this craving? What
IS IL that makes the tramp-and
equally the explorer unwilling 10
adapt himself 20 thee settled. routine
life OF the average mani Why do
tramPs and explorers prefer 20 keep
eyerlsstingly on the move9
These are questions OF psychologi
cal interest and OF sociological inter.
est Rui they are Questions TO which
neither psychology nor sociology has
as yet given the attention they
merit.
For myself would not pretend TO
answer them with any dogmatic as
surance I would. however. offer
this suggestion
Every man. as he begins lie. IS IN.
stinctlvely attracted and az 'he same
time instinctiveN repealed By the
unknown In infancy and childhood
his Imagination sees something do
hehtiul in an thai is new and
strange but also invests the new
and strange Nith fothidilng dangers
Thus he 0sclllatc- between desire
90 penetrate lhe unknown and fear
IN penetrate TIE unknown or other
wise stated. the Instinct OF sclfpres
cryauon continually conflicts with
The instinct OF curiosity
As D. grows older. tho unknown
undeg thr influence OK experience
nnt education. loses much ~ IT'S
SAVIOR and much os rs terror An.
Increasing sense OF resp possibility
involved for example. IN the neces-
sity OF his earning living. IN mar
rage and IN rearing children " hts
further operates 20 steady and
anchor him
This Is the ordinary course OF de-
yci0pment but suppose that The cir
Cumsanccs ~ his carly D'e are such
as "a cause "a Hvation % he feryent
childhood interest IL fhc unknown
in that case obviously. The later
Development il likely no b. out az
the ordinary And b wlll differ ac
cording 20 The outcome ~ the inter
nal confic' between the instinct %
self preservation and The instinct 81
curiosity
T, me forme, gains the upper
hand. y the Individual becomes
haunted hy conscious or subcon
seious fear ~ he unknown. then.
medical psychologists tell Us no Ia
su-s 70 pass thru lige IN a sad con-
dit0n OK nervous stress.
His character viii be- adversely NJ
fected. his health itself may be un
dermined In the words % one emf
nenf medical psychologist
Thru errors IN trimming tho fear
Instinct NAV easily become over de-
veloped ln childhood n n is not
hen moderated hy education Tho
foundation is laid FOR all sorts OF
psvchopathic affections
search back thru tho life history
~ any nervous patient and 'he
chances arc YOU VIII hnf 'he roots
" Nis Disorder IN an excessive fear
~ he unknown experienced in his
early years
Similarly. would suggest. over.
d~yeiopracnf ~ The instinct ~ curl
ffgfff. NNTfN .Nf 90 |fff NN Rf"itf-tf y
the unknown tu become familiar
With the unfamiliar accounts ~
least in part for The abnormal crsv
ing FOR travel that Is characteristic
alike ~ fhc true tramp and 81 The
t-ie explorer
The Explorer answering tho coll
~ the Wild. Is In reality responding
10 the cali ~ his cwn over developed
curiosity With regard 20 the neV and
tho strange Likewise the tramp.
tho the latter lacks The energy ana
initiative % the explorer
lie simply roams. he knows not
whv. and without any definite object
such as that which the explorer
cherishes
Hut in HE ros'lessncss. and In me
origin ~ that restlossness, he has, y
seems 10 me. a real kinship with the
roaming investigator who is AZ 80
cially valuable IA tho tramp - so
ciallv valueless