A TRAMP'S DIARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3242, 21 November 1881, Page 4

A TRAMP'S DIARY.

John White, a professional tramp, was recently bi-ought before the borough bench at G-uildforrl on a charge of suspected larceny. "He was remanded for inquiries to be made, and was ultimately discharged. Upon him was found a diary, which, as a narration of tramp life, is not without interest. The diarist would appear to have confined his rambles to Surrey, Sussex, Kent, and Hants, whiling away the winters as best he could in the warmth of the London smoke. The accommodation at the various Unions in Surrey, Sussex, Kent, and Honts, is described, and the writer, for the essential requisites of good fare and kind treatment, awards the palm to theJSussex Unions. The names of the benevolent, or those known as likely to relieve tramps, are given, under the heading of the various towns which were visited. One fact is particularly noticeable, that during the! whole period covered by 'the diary from June, 1878, to the present time this tramp boasts that he only did two days' work. One of these was at Dorking, and is thus described, ' All day tying up wheat. Awful work. Every bone seemed to quiver, and no end of suffering. Came to the conclusion work only fit for slaves.' The other day's work was at Crawley, at harvesting. He describes it aa ' Awful. All the steam taken out of you. More money earned by cadging. Governor insolent and not pleased.' Amongst the social reminiscences are the following:—'Called at house of a gentleman at Caterham. Treated like a Christian. The daughter, a beautiful girl, the image of purity.' At Reigate he records, ' Saw a charming child, about fourteen years of age, standing at a lodge gate. Gave her a sweet kiss, and passed on.' Wherever practicable this tramp appears to have preferred sleeping under haystacks and dry hedges rather than avail himself of the casual wards of the various Unions. Describing a tramp from G-uilford to Gf-odalming and Petworth, he says, ' Good luck, cadged 4s 10d, and slept on the road, mostly under hayricks. Often heard county bobbies go by, and laughed in my security. Tell asleep smoking my pipe.' W r hen at Guilford our hero appears to have hao. 1 command of sufficient cash to put up alternately at the Wheatsheaf and the Half Moon. The particulars of petty thefts are most ingeniously described, and these are supplemented now and again by efforts at rhyme. We subjoin an extract: — I would no day was done. Till good hath crowned It. Calm may my future run, And joy surround it. Godalming is described as the woret place for a tratnp, and Guildford as the best. The whole diary, while recounting hardships undergone, yet places the balance on the side of enjoyment. We commend it to the attention of the indiscriminate givers of alms. Price and Innes