The Hobo Code

Joe_Stax · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:14 am Post subject: The Hobo Code

While looking for something else, I stumbled across the Hobo Code. I think this is a very important thing to consider when taking a trip...

As inscribed in the Annual Convention Congress of the Hoboes of America held on August 8, 1894 at the Hotel Alden, 917 Market St., Chicago Illinois;

1.-Decide your own life, don’t let another person run or rule you.

2.-When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.

3.-Don’t take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos.

4.-Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along, but insure employment should you return to that town again.

5.-When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.

6.-Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals treatment of other hobos.

7.-When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as bad, if not worse than you.

8.-Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.

9.-If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.

10.-Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.

11.-When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member.

12.-Do not cause problems in a train yard, Another hobo will be coming along who will need passage thru that yard.

13.-Do not allow other hobos to molest children, expose to authorities all molesters, they are the worst garbage to infest any society.

14.-Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.

15.-Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.

16.-If present at a hobo court and you have testimony, give it, whether for or against the accused, your voice counts!
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One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

Joe_Stax · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:20 am Post subject:

More info for all you happy wanderers:

http://e-hobo.com/

All the latest in Hoboland!
_________________
One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

Joe_Stax · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:23 am Post subject:

If you're wondering "WHY?" I can't really give you an answer for my sudden fascination with the hobo thing. But here's what got me started on this:

http://grapewrath.blogspot.com/

Homer D'Brave · Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

My Uncle bummed as a teenager during the depression. He told a story about riding a train once and another bum asking him for help piling coal. They went along the coal cars and piled up coal in short piles. When they reached a certain location along the track they began kicking the coal piles off the train as fast as they could. When the train slowed down a few miles up the track the guy jumped off, walked back, and gathered the coal for heating his house....thus a classic case of " sticking it to the man". And Mr. Peabody's Coal Company probably never missed it !

theeffindr · Site Admin Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 9

http://www.ghostvillage.com/legends/leatherman.shtml

This guy named the leatherman is my idol I acyually have framed pictures of him displayed in a small shrine at my house - it turns out his walk took him right past the home I grew up in, then within a couple of blocks of the first home I bought, and now I found out he came within a couple of miles of my current homestead, which we afffectionately call "The Compound". It is almost like we were meant to know of each other.

BTW - in the link below, the story about who he truly was was made up. There is a movement of people who want to dig up his bones to try and get a dna sample, to find out more about him. When I found out about this, I began my own movement (3 members strong) whose Slogan is "Leave the Leatherman Alone" In life he wished to remain anonymous, so it should be in death. You may see my picture in the news laying across his gravesite chanting my slogan while the backhoe operator patiently waits for backup if they ever get permission to dig him up.

-Doc
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Stick it to the Man, man.

Astrakhan · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 135 Location: nowhere, man

Wow! What a great, weird tale, Doc. In the wider photo, you'd almost think his clothes were stitched together cuts of meat...
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What a shame Mary Jane caught a pain at the party!

theeffindr · Site Admin Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 9

Well, technically, they are cuts of meat, right?

The funniest anecdote Ive ever heard about this guy was that in the summer, when it woud be 95 degrees out, you would see him walking down a country road, then taking a quick detour off the side of the road, into a pond up to his neck, then make his way out, and let the sun dry him off, but he would never stop walking.

-Doc
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Stick it to the Man, man.

JimENight · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 183

I knew Joe's poast on the Hobo Code would resonate with thee effin dr.

Exclamation

Joe_Stax · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 3:23 pm Post subject:

Mm, mm, good!

_________________
One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

Astrakhan · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 135 Location: nowhere, man

Hobo Soup? I've heard that throughout the current economic crisis, one of the only stocks to rise was for Campbell's Soup... Lay in a supply of canned goods for the future, I suppose.