Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-03-17
king OF The HOBOS
Story Of an Heir TO Mi.
lions.
JAMES EADS HOW Lives HIS CREED
Unwilling to Use Money That he Did
Not Earn, He Makes His Living by
All Kinds Of Odd Jobs and Refuses
to be Served by Servants. '....

70 p0 OSfN0u W SCtNa"hos
You probably have seen items in tn
newspapers relative to James Fad
How, Of st. Louis, the "millionair
hobo" and have asked yourself ques
tions about him and his peculiar ways
Is he really rich? Is he actually 1
hobo? <
when he might be enjoying all the ad
vantages of very wealthy man, will
a solid and well-invested fortune?
The short answer is that How seem!
a hobo. And, If he gets satisfaction
what more is there for him to get
Furthermore, 1t is strictly his owl
affair.
When l asked him about it he re.
piled:
Read the Sermon on the Mount
and perhaps you will find the answer
To some of his comrades of the roat
How has said:
ut sounds strange to me for mil
lionaire to say that he wants to die
poor. think it is much better for him
to live poor"
James Eads How Is a grandson OF
Captain James Eads, railroad builder
and international promoter, who first
proposed the Nicaragua Canal, and
later made a place for himself In his
tory by building the Eads Bridge over
the Mississippi river at st. Louis
James r. How married Eliza A. Eads
and to them two sons were born
James e. How and Louis How. In the
course Of time the estates of Captain
Eads and Mr.. How passed to Mrs. How
and at her death the fortune was d.
vided between the boys. Nobody
seems to know the actual value Of his
inheritance, but it runs into many mil
lions. It consists of bank and railroad
stock, industrial investments and
houses and lands in st. Louis. The
family connection on both sides is ex-
tensive and powerful in finance and
politics.
Before the death Of Mrs. How, James
e. had shown signs Of his revolt
against inherited wealth.
why should enjoy all this.T he
would exclaim. II did not earn IT,"
He carried his views so far that he
would not let the butler or other serv-
ants wait on him. While he still occu-
pied a room in the Lindell avenue
mansion, st. Louis, James e. got his
own meals in the kitchen, where he
could serve himself.
He became so generous that his
mother was afraid he would soon part
with his fortune. Hence in her will
she gave him one fourth of the prop
erty outright, and put the other fourth
in trust for him for life. The entire
estate is handled by st. Louis trust
company.
Louis How is painter and poet, who
spends most of his time in Rome while
James E. has become king Of the hobos
and founder Of a unique organization
for doing away with hobos, tramps
and buns. To better understand per-
sons, James E. How became a hobo
and for 20 years he has
wandered over the United States, rid
ing in box cars, counting railroad ties,
working at odd jobs, sleeping in flop
houses" and taking part in 'jungles"
composed Of hobos, VINO build fire by
the roadside and cook "Mulligan stew
for dinner When he goes back to his
old home town of st. Louis, he stays
at lodging house, where he can get a
bed for Is cents a night. The Lindell
avenue mansion has no attractions for
him, now that his mother is no longer
there.
How does not use a cent Of his in
come for his personal needs. He has
set 1t aside for the benefit of hobos,
and earns his own living in very
humble way. His favorite occupation
is washing dishes and scrubbing floors.
He also is an expert at peeling pota-
toes.
In crossing the Atlantic, which he has
done dozen times, How works his
way, sometimes as a mule tender, but
in most instances as a kitchen worker.
On one occasion he travelled in the same
steamer with his mother. Mrs. How
had suite de luxe, and was accom-
panied by her maid and attorney, while
James E. worked his passage by help
ing the cook. Neither knew the other
was on board. The lawyer found it
out, however, and he is the one who
told me the story.
How is we'll educated. He passed
through the regular grades, and later
graduated from the College of Physi-
clans and Surgeons in st. Louis with
the degree of M. D. Then he studied
sociology and economics for a year at
Oxford, and finished off with g. year in
medicine at Harvard.
With all his apparent aimlessness
How seems to have a very well-defined
purpose. The net result Of his wander
ings is the formation of the Interna-
tional Brotherhood Welfare Associa-
ton, incorporated, not for profit under
the laws Of Ohio. A committee Of five
comrades" appointed by this associa-
ton disburses the income from How's
pstate