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March 18, 2008

On hobos and things...


And, in the interest of preserving individual history here is an odd collection:

700 Hobo Names

with a curious musical backdrop, consisting of guitar strums and a searching radio signal (played live for an hour! one take!). With names like "Tear Baby Hannaby Stew" and "Human Hair Blanket Morris Burns", and "Thermos H. Christ" you really ought to hear this. Really.

After hearing this, I think I might change my name to "Astonishing Shaun Eyelash." Or "Stupifying P, the Riddle Maker."

And to make matters better, each hobo is illustrated, at e-hobo.com
Here's my favorite:


And to go along with it, here's the Hobo Code:

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!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I love your blog and I love this post! Have you seen "Who Is Bozo Texino?" It's a great modern-day hobo doc, by my friend Bill Daniel...check out:
http://www.billdaniel.net/who_is_bozo_texino/

Thanks for the Rev. Gary Davis, too. One of my faves and I didn't have any of those.

I doubt you'd find anything of download-interest on my blog, but check it out. At least you can read my stories (kinda funny) accompanying the posts.
http://pessimistclub.blogspot.com
Thanks again!
Peter

Anonymous said...

Just on a sidenote...I believe the strumming in the background of the 700 hobo names is actually the accompaniment to 'The Big Rock Candy Mountain', which is undeniably THE hobo anthem...

Just for the curious... ;-)