You got me thinking about a story I was told of a famous man who would disappear and ride a box car for the "freedom" it gave him. I guess you called them hobos back then. I can't verify the name so won't post it, but he was given food in his travels at the Shaker Village in Maine (still there - Sabbath Day Lake) and upon returning home sent them a gift of silverware. (so the story went). But while trying to research and verify this story [Shaker tale), it was interesting to note that those hobos that rode the rail's DID WORK 2-3 days at a time for food, lodging, etc. They were called bums and hobos but set out to find whatever job they could. This Riding the Rails: Teenagers on the Move During the Great Depression [source] talked about the number of children that rode the rails, "the boxcar kids"looking for work.
Artists rode the "free" rails and gave of their talent for food and lodging. One itinerant artist [a rock, a tree, a bush] has large murals on stage backdrop in an old Grange hall in N.Anson, Maine. I spoted a simple painting at a flea market, and my friend grabbed it up to add to his collection of that same artist (name escapes). Simple art often painted on used carboard (now collectible) in exchange for a warm place for the night, whatever labor was available.
We've all seen Tramp art which was created by hobos, said started by German or Scandinavian immigrants who traveled the countryside selling or trading their wares for a living.
Jack London, Supreme Court Justice William Douglas, Woodie Guthrie, actor Burl Ives rode the rails.
How the world has changed....where's the adventure or just the romance of taking an adventure into an unknown.
Great points.
What you have described is the difference between the pre-radical-60’s generation and the current generation which I have labeled...
the “Gimme” generation.
I am disgusted at how willing to take without doing anything in return they are — manifest by how few of them say “thank-you” when they ring up your sale — AND RATHER EXPECT YOU TO THANK THEM FOR ACTUALLY WORKING.
Your link on teen hobos during the Great depression was awesome. It moved me to tears just now.