Posted on 05/06/2021 7:23:04 PM PDT by Jamestown1630
No mention of trains?
Fascinating.
I love the way he was so proactive about protecting children.
Just #10 & #11.
Well, I suspect that Jeff Davis never jumped trains.
But a lot of real ‘hoboes’ didn’t either. They back-packed around.
I remember my Grandmother telling me about ‘hobo codes’ that itinerants would write on the sidewalks, barns, etc., letting others of their ilk know that this was a good place to get a meal - or a place to stay away from.
he was obviously a benevolent traveler like the guys at the L.O.O.F
they all have codes
Bump
What is L.O.O.F.?
Did you even read the excerpt? Rules 10 and 11 both directly reference trains.
I was caused to wonder if there might have been some personal experience or witness behind that...he certainly seems vehement about it.
legion of odd fellows
The Hobo Convention occurs in a small town in Iowa every year. https://www.britthobodays.com/
My senior citizen friend remembers attending the Hobo Convention in Britt in the 1930’s. Yes, the always elected a king.
travelers
Relative to #4 of Jeff Davis’ ‘rules’, a lot of the old hoboes seem to have been gifted in certain arts involving carving and constructing art objects from waste wood - which art became common during several depression eras. Some surviving items are apparently pretty valuable, now.
It’s interesting that this is now called ‘Tramp Art’, even though it wasn’t only ‘tramps’ who engaged in it; and there are even little museums dedicated to it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramp_art
I saw something about Britt in my searches. Thanks!
I once learned to make ‘apple dolls’ on a trip to the Eastern Shore - apparently this idea first came from the American Indians.
You peel an apple, carve a face into it, and then let it dry.
Over time, it shrinks, and winds up looking like a funny old person. Then you wire it with a body - spine, legs, arms - and make clothes for it which you stuff. Great fun for kids:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_doll
http://www.wikihow.com/Create-an-Apple-Doll
yup, wood is the same but does not shrink
thanks for the post! very enlightening “Americana.” and brings back memories of my dad.
apparently hobo traveling was a common means, by no means, of travel for my dad’s generation. he used it to do a year at Kent State back before he went to the Pacific as a Marine. funny, told me once he also tried his hand as an amateur boxer in the service. had a few bouts on island venues and gave it up after encountering a “pro,” a guy whom he said was so quick he couldn’t even hit him. said the guy couldn’t knock him out, though.
also a handsome guy back in the day too, apparently he was the poor boy, hired help, at a Kent State sorority house for whom all the girls made a play for before he left for the war.
boy, it strikes me, he’d done more, and had more adventures, before he was 25 then i’ve done all my life. and he was just getting started. greatest generation indeed. or maybe the most fearless generation, nothing to lose generation?
shoot, we boomers better man up after the mess we’ve made of everything. i’m sure my dad is looking down and shaking his head.
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