The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless ManAnderson, Nels
General
The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man
Anderson, Nels
Chicago (Ill.) -- Social conditions; Tramps
35. This lad was working in a grocery store at the age of
twelve. He became dissatisfied with the job and asked for
a raise which was denied. He was somewhat embarrassed at
being set back and lest he be laughed at for staying on
after making a demand he quit. Someone asked him what he
would do since there was no other job to be had. This was
really another challenge and he met it with the reply that
Podunk was not the only place to work. He left home to make
his bluff good.
He met with many reverses. He was small and no one wanted
to hire him. So he begged and he “managed.” Sometimes he
did odd jobs, but he didn’t go home. Other people had left
home and come back beaten and had to take the “horse laugh”
and he did not admire any of them. He couldn’t think of
going back unless he had more money than when he left and
better clothes, so he went on. He learned to like the road
and he traveled over the country for about two years before
he went back. When he did return he was in a position to
talk. He had some money to spend, he had seen the country.
He had been East and West, and he had been to sea. He had
something to talk about. But he only remained in his home
town long enough to stir up admiration and envy and he
was off again. He is still under twenty-one and is still
traveling in response to the same urge.
Other individuals began their migratory career by fleeing from the
consequences of some offense. If the offense is of such gravity
that the consequences seem to outweigh the advantages of remaining
in the community, then flight is the natural course.
36. A. states that he left home to avoid the wrath of his
father. He had been to town with the horse and buggy. On
the way home the horse became excited, left the road, ran
into a post, and broke the buggy. His father was absent
for the day and he and his brothers tried to repair the
buggy so that the parent would not suspect. It could not
be fixed and they all knew what the consequences would be.
The brothers helped him pack up and he ran away. He did not
return for three years; then it was only to remain for a
short time.
37. Red left home because he feared the consequences of an
affair with a woman. He claims that the woman had relations
with another man and that he was not sure that the child
would be his. The other man was a Mexican and Red says that
he has heard since that the child is a dark-skinned little
fellow and that eases his conscience.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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