A
V ONES and twos—a
steady stream—the
army of the Ameri
can hofcces, 100,000
strong, is drifting
back to the country
side. It has already
started; it will be
warm weather be
fore the last of this
\ host has left the
cities.
All summer long
these men will be
traveling "deadhead"
' throughout the Uni
ted States, working here and there
a few days, but always moving on
to the far-away fields that looked
green. They will help gather the
berries, the hops, the hay and the
harvests. They will wander as far
west as the coast and as far south
as the Gulf of Mexico.
All the-men in this army are not
“tramps," in the common accep
tance of the word, for some are
willing to work. Therefore the real
\
I1? "HITTITTG #
^ Ttf£ GFIT*>\
tramps despise
them and call
them "gay cats.”
But from this
great host of casual workers—ihe despair of so
ciologist?—ihe ranks of the tramps and the yegg
men" are kept full. Indeed, in this great aggre
gation of men that the city pushes forth each
spring and receives back each autumn the tramps
might bo likened to the non-commissioned officers
and the "yeggmen" to the commanders of regi
ments and brigadiers. These "gay cats"' are sim
ply the private soldiers. But no matter by what
name they are known to penologists, they all
spring from the same soil: the slums of the great
city or the tactory town. Freight trains carry
most of them about the country. Despite the at
tempts on the part of the various railroads to
abate the tramp evil, it appears to be Irrepressible.
As fast as it is subdued on one road it is sure to
break out on another with increased force.
The "gay eat" is the lowest order of the peripa
tetic underworld. He is generally devitalized, in
competent and lacking in physical courage. There
fore he sneaks into an empty box car and makes
/* his journey slowly, hut in comparative comfort.
The professional “hobo" and some of the "yegg
men.” on the other hand, scorn the freights and
disdain to ride on anything but passenger trains,
especially the much-advertised limited flyers, so
they can boast about it afterward and vaunt them
selves around the campfires of their kind.
There are not a few "gay cats," however, who
travelon passenger trains, and these are. curiously
enough, those whose trade is setting the stoel on
big buildings or bridges, men of nerve and daring.
These ride either "blind baggage" (between the
front—doorless—end of the baggage ear and the
v locomotive tender), or on the trucks of the wheels.
under the cars themselves. Riding “blind bag
gage" is comparatively comfortable, but the riders
are liable to have lumps of coal thrown at them
by the firemen. "Holding down the rods." though,
which is one of the slang terms for riding the
trucks, is more dangerous and dirty, but less sub
ject to interruption en route. It is when the train
lakes a curve at high speed that the "gav cat"
who is riding on the trucks goes on his last and
longest journey. Sieep or hunger or fatigue
may loosen his grasp for a second, and he goes
under the hurrying wheels. This manner of death
is called "greasing the rails,” which is quite
graphic enough to warrant avoiding further de
scription. Thousands of "gay cats" and others
risk fhi ir lives blindly in this way every hour of
the 24. This item in the butcher's bill of the rail
ways is enormous.
There are some travelers' tales (hat. have been
told so often by “gay cats" and by tramps that
they have become tradition—almost classics of
their kind. One is the story of a man now known
as "Portland Shorty.” He was a “gay cat” riding
the trucks on a fast passenger train in the west
some years ago. There was a bad wreck during
the night and many wore killed. “Shorty." cov
ered with dirt and blood, and really very seriously
hurt, finally succeeded in extricating himself from
ihe wreck and crawled out. By that time it was
daylight and the relief train with its surgeons had
arrived. “Shorty” was a man of education and
inteHiger.ee Groaning with pain which was not
stimulated he let the company surgeon and claim
agent betid over him. "He'll be maimed for life
if he lives. Better settle with him as well as you
can,” he heard the surgeon whisper to the claim
agent. “Shorty” signed *a waiver of damages in
ride of ten minutes and got in cash. He
was taken to the company's hospital, cared for
and cured. Strangely enough he kept his money.
winter in jail or in
tile workhouse. The
workhousa is ill
namosl; there is no
work 10 be done
there. Others "work
the missions"—"go
'round the Horn.”
they rail It. There
are over twosccre
misrions of various
denominations in
-\'ow lie is running a
large and gaudy saloon
in Portland. Ore., and
trying to l'orget that
he ever rode the trucks
on a fast train.
The men who ride
thus on the passenger
trairs—if they do much
of ii—soon grow deaf
in one ear or blind in
one eye—sometimes to
tally deaf and sightless.
This is caused by the
terrific roar of the
wheels against the rails
and the continuous hur
ricane of dust and
gravel. Many t ram ps try
Iiiu.rei men- neacs and faces In some way. l»it
it is impossible to avoid tlie danger of bursted
ear drums or hopelessly damaged eyes. When a
man crawls out from under a fast ti*tin after a
-00-mile run he looks but little like a human be
ing.
During the summer the “gay cat" works with
such persistence as nature has given him. If he
cannot find work lie is not above begging or steal
ing in many cases. Dong ago the farmers used to
lodge and feed them In their own houses. Now
they make them lodge in abandoned barns or in
open air camps. At berry or hop-picking they are
paid by the quantity gathered; in the harvest or
hay fields they receive the minimum of a dollar a
day and their food. Fn a camp of "gay cats" at
night they gather around the fire and play cards
for stnail stakes or tell stories. Sometimes a “gay
cat's" money goes in garni) ing. but ho is oftener
despoiled by the professional "holK\" who takes
his coin away from him by brute force. One
brawny, able-bodied tramp, with or without a gun.
will "stick up" and rob a group of several “gay
cals" without much difficulty. The tramps' roost,
too. by the way. is often held up and robbed in
turn by tlie prowling "yeggman" with a pistol of
large caliber in his fist.
At any rate, the poor “gay cat" returns to the
cities in the autumn as penniless as when he
left it in the early summer. If by any chance he
has any money left, it goes in the cheap saloons
along the tough streets. During the winter he
keeps soul and body together by washing dishes
or acting as waiter in the cheap restaurants; by
doing odd jobs, such as carrying signs and snow
shoveling: by addressing envelopes—if he can
write well enough—and by doing other such hope
less work. Then, too, there are the missions and
pickings and stealings now and then when there
is not too much risk of arrest.
A portion of the ‘ gay cats" are dish washers in
the cheap restaurants. They \fork from 15 to tS
hours a day for an average wage of three dollars a
week and food and lodging Their surroundings
are very bad. Their feet tiro almost constantly
wet with water heavily charged with washing
soda that is used to cleanse the greasy dishes;
and the air is as foul as can be imagined. The
poor "gay cat." misnomer—devitalized by heredi
tary ills and dissipation, soon,gets to the end of
his moral tether. Of all the legitimate work there
is. dishwashing in a cheap -.restaurant is the low
est. There is no depth beyond it, and the only
sequence is the city hospital, the almshouse, the
morgue and the potter’s field.
Other less industrious "gay eats" spend the
PLAYING CAPDS Ilf A 5OX. CAP.
the rity. No outcast above the rank of
a 'gay cat" would think of entering one.
The "gay eat" can get his bed and two meals by
simply applying, and if he pretendf to be convert
ed and gives "testimony" now and then, per
haps he can get meals and lodging for two or
three weeks, with possibly an odd job occasional
!y. When the "gay cat" grows tired of one mis
sion or has outstayed his welcome, he moves on
to the next. There are punugh of them to last
him til rough the winter if he is discreet. The
election is also a source of dishonest revenue to
these by-products of an industrial age. Money,
shoes and winter clothing circulate freely then,
and the number of nomads is augmented.
The majority of this vast army of 100.000 or so
are American born, but of foreign parents. The
Irish and Germans head the list, of these chronic
wanderers. The first generation apparently was
hard working and reasonably honest. The second
seems to have a large sediment of the "gay cat"
or “tramp" element in it. Why this is so never
has been explained satisfactorily. Possibly it ia
because Ihe fathers and mothers worked them
selves nearly to death trying to bring up their
children on a higher social level than they them
selves ever had enjoyed. At any rate, the fact of
degeneracy in the second generation remains.
In Massachusetts many misdemeanors, such as
trespassing on railroad tracks, riding in box cars,
tramping, begging and vagrancy in all their
phases, are punishable by sending the offender to
the East Bridgewater farm colony. Last year
there were over ",000 commitments to that in
stitution. Vagrants are sent to East Bridgewater
on indeterminate sentences. Ihe maximum time
being at present, two years. Until recently the
maximum term was three years, but the shorter
term has been found to be sufficient. In the
case of first offenders, release on probation is
permitted at the end of nine months if conduct
lias been exemplary. It is estimated that but 19
per cent, of the men thu* paroled relapse into
vagrancy in the state of Massachusetts. Boubtless
many cf them do elsewhere, but more than half
of them are regenerated, so that instead pf be
ing a charge upon the state they become an ub
sc-t. The East Bridgewater farm colony is looked
upon by penologisls as an unqualified success.
So far as can be judged now, this is the only
practical way of regenerating and revitalizing this
large class of mental and physical incompetents.
Life and work, under proper discipline, in the
open air do more to make good citizens—or at
least to transform parasites on society into pro
ducers—than anything else, so the pcnoiogists say.
KEEP YOUR CHILD FEARLESS
From the moment of the average
child's first fall, when the mother
cries out and picks him up with such
manner and words that he screams
with terror, the instilling of fear goes
on. The average child begins by be
V ins carefree, but the average loving
, mother undermines that confidence
with the most earnest industry. The
forbidden fruit of the tree of knowl
edge is forced upon the child until his
naturally erect, fearless mental car
riage gradually becomes distorted, and
he stoops and bows to the inevitable.
So writes Clara Louise Burnham, in
Appleton's.
To allow fear-ridden conversation to
take place in the presence of children
—talk concerning sickness or disaster,
is another molding influence, robbing
them of their gladness, teaching them
fearful resignation to inimical, irreslst
ible lowers. Even though they show
no evidence of it at the time it is sink
ing into the curious, eager thought and
must hear fruit.
A Very Odd Clock.
An extraordinary addition lias been
made to the exhibition of inventions
now being bold in Berlin. A shoe
maker named Wegner, living in Stras
burg, has sent in a clock of the grand
father shape, nearly six feet high,
made entirely of straw. The wheels,
pointers, case and every detail are
exclusively of straw. Wegner has
taken 15 years to construct this
strange piece of mechanism. It
keeps perfect time, but under the most
favorable circumstances cannot last
longer than two years.
"Darling,” said the American heir
ess, "it is Dot. true, is it, that you want
to marry me for my money?"
"No, dearest,” answered tl e duke
de Ragges ct Patchez, "but I don't
hold it against you.”—Baltimore Amer
ican.
MUST BELIEVE IT.
Every Reader Will Concede the Truth
of This Statement.
One who suffers with backache or
any form of kidney trouble wants a
lasting cure, not
i merely a temporary
benefit. Profit by
the example of
Rev. J. M. Suffield,
of 2179 S. 8th St.,
Lincoln, Xebr.. who
confirms a report ;
of his cure after
several years. "I
told in a state- ;
ment made for pub
lication in 1900 how
Doan's Kidney Pills |
had relieved me
after other reme
dies had failed,"
said Rev. Suffield. “I have no hesita- •
tion in confirming that statement now. 1
I have used Doan's Kidney Pills at i
various times and they have never '
failed me.”
Sold by all dealers. 50 cents a box. j
Foster-Jlilburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
A Dubious Tribute.
The young theological student who
had been supplying the Rushby pul
pit for two Sundays looked wistfully
at Mrs. Kingman, his hostess for the |
time being. "Did you like the sermon
this morning, if 1 may ask?" he in
quired.
"You done real well with the material
you selected,” said Mrs. Kingman,
with much cordiality. "As I said to
Zenas on the way home, 'I've heard a 1
dozen or more sermons ‘treached on
that text, and this young man's the
first one that ever made me realize
how difficult 'twas to explain.’ ”—
Youth's Companion.
Sheer white goods, In fact, any tine
Wash goods when new, ewe much of
their attractiveness to the way they
are laundered, this being done in a
manner to enhance their textile beau
ty. Home laundering would be equal
ly satisfactory if proper attention was
given to starching, the first essential
being good Starch, which has sufficient
strength to stiffen, without thickening
the goods. Try Defiance Starch and
you will be pleasantly surprised at the
improved appearance of your work.
The First Word.
“That is what I call an ideal mar
riage,” Hardy declared to his wife as
they were walking homeward after an
evening at the Carrolls’. “Actually,
l believe both think absolutely alike.”
“Y’es. they are certainly charming,”
assented Mrs. Hardy; "but about
thinking. Joe. if you will notice, she
generally thinks first.”—Youth's Com
panion.
Important to Mothers.
Examine carefully every bottle of
C ASTORIA a safe and sure remedy for
infants and children, and see that it
Si
In Hse For Over 30 Years.
The Kind You Have Always Bought.
Finance and Fasnions.
Howell—I thought you didn't like the
way the tailor made that cheek suit
and that you were going to make iiint
take it back.
Powell—I tried to, but I found that
protested cheeks didn't go with him.—
Bohemian.
For Colds and Grip.
Lane's Pleasant Tablets (laxative) cure
eolds in an hour and are the best treat
ment for griii. Do not wait a minute when
you feel a cold coining on. but get a box
of t!»<-—<* iablets and save suffering and ex
fiense. They are sold hv druggists and
dealers at 25 cents a box. Orator F.
Woodward. Lc Roy. X. \'. Sample free.
The Insignia.
"What makes you think that man
would make a detective?”
“Because it. some natural to him tc
wear a slouch hat and a white neck
tie.”
Try Murine- Eye Itemedy
For Red. ttcak. Weary, Watery Kye*.
Compounded t»v Experit-nred Physicians.
Conforms to tne Pure Food and Drugs
Law. Murine Doesn't Smart. Soothes Eye
Pain. Try Murine for Your Eyes.
'true friendship can afford true
knowledge. A want of discernment
cannot be an ingredient in it.—Thor
eau.
Lewis' Single Binder cigar—richest, most
satisfying smoke on the market. Your
dealer or Lewis’ Factory, Peoria, 111.,
The best thing to do when you catch
a cold ia to let go of it.
ONI.T ONE “BROMO oriXINE "
That is LAXATIVE BHOMO yltlNINE. lxiok foi
the signsiure of K. W. liHOVK. I ,ni the World
over u> Cure a Cold in One Day 2uc.
One way to remove paint is to sit
down on it. before it is dry.
Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup.
Tor children teething, softens tbe gums, reduce* In
fimmmstlon. Alleys pstn, cure* wind colic. SJc» bottle.
It sometimes happens that a distant
relation is too close.
5c
and
10c
Perfect Crackers
—Always
Taken a Biscuit retain their freshness—
until last cracker is gone—
The triple - scaled, wax - lined package
keeps then crisp, flaky and whole—free
from dust and exposure.
Are the product of a million dollar
bakery—
They are made in white tile—top floor
ovens—surrounded by air and light.
Think how good these crackers must be.
You can’t help buying them again and
again after you try the first package.
At your grocer’s—5c and 10c.
l00SE-\VlLES biscuitco.
~ Positively cured by
BARTERS <facsc L"“e Pi,,s’
* They also relieve Dis
{jyT| p tressiroin D\ spepsia,In
£ £ \ digestion arul Too Hearty
| |f p Eating. A perfect rem
■L g I | edy for Dizziness, Man
t I LLv* sea, Drowsiness, Hud
Taste in the Month, Coat
'd T t:gne, Tain in the
! — -_(Side, TOKPID LIVER.
They regulate the Hotels. Purely Vegetable.
SMALL PiLL SMALL DOSE. SMALL PRiCE.
Genuine Must Bear
Fac-Simiie Signature
REFUSE SUBSTITUTES.
- _
For 16cj
^ Everybody Iovcpearlier? vegetables
Panel brilliant flowers. Therefore, to HUB®
gain you as a customer we offer: H
I0C0 kernels Fine Onion Seed. Rfl
Rich Carrot Seed.
Celery, 100 Parsley. 49H
Juicy Radish Seed. apa
Buttery Leituce Seed. AWfm
Tender Turnip Seed.
Sweet Rutabaga S’d.
Melons. lOOTcmato.
L. .t T.r v.rrinx As a c jl's AHm
rIn all 10,000 kerneis of warranted
northern grown s?odH. well worth vJSB
$1.00of any man's money (Including Ww
lllf Catalog; all postpaid for but 16c
in stamps.
And if yon send 20a weadfl a pack-#iWB
age of Earliest >T>aySwee?<v>rn.llH &
Sig Plant. Tool and S#*d Catalog
Bf-ee to Intending buyers. Write for iWB
ime today. HU
THE JOHN A. SALZEK SEED CO. 3@
LaCROSSE, VMS. w fl|
This. Trade-mark
| Eliminates All
Uncertainty
UJL in ilic purchase of
paint materials.
It is an absolute
guarantee of pur
ity anl quality.
For your own
■»-- protection, see
I that it is on the side cf
every keg of white lead
you buy.
1 NATIONAL LEAD COMPANY
tl02 Trtf*> lnlUlni. Ntw Yat
W. N. U.. OMAHA, NO. 15, 190S.
TOILET ANTISEPTIC
-NOTKINC L(K£ IT FOR
TriTTU Paxtine excelsanvdentifrice
< l»L I bb I n in cleansing, whitening and
removing tartar from the teeth, besides destroying
ail germs of decay and disease which ordinary
tooth preparations cannot do.
SfiAlPaxline used as a mouth
t* KvtUvfln wash disinfects the mouth
tnd throat, purifies the breath, and kills the germs
which collect in the mouth, causing sere throat,
bad teeth, bad breath, grippe, and much sickness.
PUPA when i.'.lamed, t.r-d. aihe
1 alt Ei I bw and burn, may be mstamiy
relieved and strengthened by PaxtLee.
PATABBU Paxline will destroy the germs
VBI Annll that cause catarrh, heal the ru
Oam mat ion and stop the discharge. It is a sure
remedy for uterine catarrh.
Paxtine is a harmless yet powerful
germicide,disinfectant and deodorizer,
used in bathing it destroys odors and
leaves the body antisepticaliy clean.
FOR SALE AT DRUG STORES,50c.
OR POSTPAID BY MAIL.
LARGE SAMPLE FREE!
THE PAXTON TOtLET CC.. BOSTON. MASS.
Worms
“Cascarets are certainly fine. I gave a friend
one when the doctor was treating him for caucrr
of the stomach. The next morning he passed
four pieces of a tape worm. He then got a box
and in three days he passed a tape-worm 45 feet
long. It was Mr. Matt Fteck, of Milleraburg.
Dauphin Cc.. Pa. I am quite a worker for c«seu
rcts. I use them tuyself and find them benefit ial
for most any disease caused by impure blood."
Chas. E. Condon,Dewiston, Pa., (Miffiiu Co.»
Pleasant. Palatable, Pofcmt, Taste Good.
Do Good. Never Sicken, Weaken or Gripe.
10c, 25c, 50c. Never sold in bulk. The genu
ine tablet stamped C C C. Guaranteed to
cure or your money bud;. 921
Omaha Directory
RUBBER GOODS
by mall at rut prices. Send for free catalogue.
VVER8 DILLON DRUQ CO.. OMAHA. NtBR.
Revero Rubber Hose
^Sl.e.or LEWIS SUPPLY CO., OMAHA
MAPLEINE
a flavoring that is used the same as lemon
«>r vanilla. By diHsolvinf granulated sugar
in water ami adding Mapleiiu*. a delleiotre
syrup i s made and a svruu bedcr * haa map *
Mapleine i s sold by grocer?. I f not ^-nd .ifte fur
2ox. bot.and recipe book, i Tiprni *r». to..
F0R THT1TT7 pirp distemper
IJr I |\l K L VL CATARRHAL FEVER
I 1 I 1 |\ Pm I P. AND ALL NOSE
* AND THROAT DISEASES
Cures the siek and acts as a preventive for others. Liquid given on
the tongue. Safe for brood mares and ail others. Bestkidnev remedy; 50
rents and $1.00 a bottle: fo ld and llu.00 the dozen, field by at! druggist*
and horse goods houses, or sente-vpiess paid, bv the mamifuetuers.
SPOHN MEDICAL CO., Chemists, GOSHEN, INDIANA
Registered
U. S.i'at. Office
Ask for the
Baker’s Cocoa
bearing this trade
mark. Don’t be
misled by imitations
The genuine sold everywhere
PUTNAM FADELESS DYES
