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Show U' ENTERTAINING TRAMPS. An Allentown, Pa., farmer makes a proctice of giving tramps lodging in his barn. He has entertained 595 wayfarers way-farers so far this year. He provides a fireplace out under the trees, where in summer they cook meals, and he often lends them flour, salt, pepper, and other necessaries. This gentleman, Henry Heft by name, is surely double starred in the hoboes' Baedeker. Mr. Heft is not the only one. The majority of people feed tramps from a sense of fear or from dislike to seem stingy. There are others that really like sitting down with a good fat tramp, and seeing him surround his handout. hand-out. It gives them a chance to ask questions about tramp life, and they enjoy delivering virtuous lectures on the evil and vagrant ways. Wandering Willies listen to much admonition provided the ham sandwich is properly seasoned. sea-soned. Whether tramps, are best reclaimed by moral lectures or by setting the dog on them, is a fair question for debate. de-bate. Their narrations sound pitiful. That is a part of the business. The dog method at least makes tramp life less alluring. If consistently followed it would lead some of them to adopt occupations less open to public censure. The woodpile is the final and most conclusive test. A tramp who will take hold and saw and split half a cord of wood has something in him yet. The housewife might well listen to his story and offer him advice. But the majority, offered this distressing alternative, find the saw and axe in deplorable condition and the weather wea-ther conditions unfavorable. They should be permitted to move on dinnerless. The sooner tramp fare becomes precarious, the more attractive settled occupation will become. |