Polish tramps and tramps from other nations of Eastern and Southern
Europe were declared to be more apt to turn to petty crimes when
pressed to it by want. They are, however, according to statements of
tramps, easily found out. They somehow are hasty in their actions, and
just as they brandish their knives and pistols thoughtlessly they
fall into the hands of the police simply and easily.
The Jewish tramp was a rarity until recently. However, the large
number of Jews which poured into this country from oppressed countries
in Europe since 1881 have also furnished a "first generation," many
of whose members have found their way to the barrel houses and slums
of all large cities. The Jewish tramp, however, was declared to be
entirely of the class of the petty criminal. Out of the penitentiary
for some petty crime committed, or having been a go-between for
thieves and the person who buys the goods stolen, the Jewish youth for
the time being takes to trampdom.
His commercial instinct, however, together with the wide system of
charity which the Jews maintain in every city where they are found,
soon enables him to get out of the hobo class. He becomes a trader of
some sort and soon leaves the barrel house and his hobo companions
behind him.
TALKS OF THE TRAMP--WHY DILAPIDATED GENTLEMAN DOES NOT
GIVE UP WANDERING AND SETTLE DOWN--LIKES THE CARE-FREE
LIFE--MINGLES AMONG THE PEOPLE AND GETS TO KNOW THEM
WELL--CHANGES IN COMMUNITY.
"Why don't I give it up and settle down in city or village and become
a respectable member of the community?" echoed the dilapidated
gentleman as he pocketed his usual fee. "I have been asked that
question a thousand times, it seems to me, and my answer has always
been the same. I tramp as a profession, and I stand at the head of
it. I like it. There's a good living in it. I come in contact with
human nature at every turn. I am respectable as it is. The cities and
villages are overcrowded, and the man who butts in has little chance
of success. I have less to worry about and sleep more soundly than any
business man in America. You newspaper fellers think you know it all,
but you'd take a drop to yourselves if you were on the tramp for a
month. You'd see more human nature with the bark on in that time than
you can find on the East Side in New York in five years.
"Say, now," continued the man, "can you name me one single newspaper
in the state of New York that felt sure of Roosevelt's election as
governor? No, you can't. I hit his majority within 2,000. Why? Because
I was among the people and knew how they talked. Plenty of politicians
and newspapers said he'd be elected as president when he ran, but
no man or no newspaper came within a thousand miles of the popular
majority. I don't say that I hit it, but I could have given pointers
to a hundred editors.
[Illustration: SHOWING A "MEMBER" GETTING INTO THE FIGHT LAST NIGHT.
Roaming Rowley--"I've just gotter break inter that nice, warm jail fer
de winter. Here goes dat old shell I found on de battlefield."
(Bang! Flash! Boom!)
"Yes, Mr. Sheriff, it wus me did it! I'm a desprit dynamiter and jail
bird."
Sheriff--"Git out of this township, quick! I won't have you blowin' up
my nice, clean jail! Gwan, git!"]