Information AboutHobo |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT HOBO | |
| subcultures | |
| itinerant living | |
| rail transport in the united states | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
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DEFINITION AND ORIGIN Hobos generally apply the term ''hobo'' only to Itinerant people who work. Hobos are often times pictured as people with a bit more wit in certain things having to do with the street or smooth talking, almost like a unique charm. In contrast, they define a Tramp as an itinerant person who does not work and supports himself by other means e.g. begging, scavenging or theft. Alternatively, a tramp is somebody who prefers to walk or hitchhike rather than ride the rails. A Bum is a Homeless person who neither travels nor works. The origin of the term is not confirmed. Author Todd DePastino has suggested that it may come from the term ''hoe-boy'' meaning "farm hand", or a greeting such as ''Ho, boy!'' {Link without Title} . Bill Bryson suggests that it could either come from the Railroad greeting, "Ho, beau!" or a contraction of "homeward '''bo'''und. Car Talk has reported that returning Southern soldiers from the American Civil War found their farms and families gone, hoisted a hoe over their shoulders, and hit the road--and they were called ''hoe-boy''s. Others have said that the term comes from the Manhattan intersection of '''HO'''uston and '''BO'''wery, where itinerant people once used to congregate; or from the Japanese word ''hōbō'' meaning "in all directions". Still another theory of the term's origins is that it derives from the city of Hoboken , New Jersey , which was a terminus for many railroad lines in the 19th Century . HISTORY The population of hobos increased during times of economic trouble, and their numbers increased greatly during the Great Depression . With no work and no prospects at home, many decided to travel and try their luck elsewhere. Nowadays there are few railroad-riding hobos left, though there are still small numbers of them. Some itinerant individuals today travel by car rather than rail, but still identify themselves as hobos. Life as a hobo was a dangerous one. In addition to the problems of being itinerant, poor, far from home and support, and the hostile attitude of many train crews, the railroads employed their own security staff, often nicknamed ''bulls'', who had a reputation for being rough with trespassers. If that wasn't enough, riding on a freight train is dangerous. One can easily fall under the wheels or get trapped between cars, or freeze to death in bad weather. When freezer cars were loaded at an ice factory, any hobo inside was likely to be killed. Hobos tended to band together for protection and formed an informal "brotherhood". HOBO CODE To cope with the difficulty of hobo life, hobos developed a system of symbols, or a code. Hobos would write this code with chalk or coal to provide directions, information, and warnings to other hobos. Some signs included "turn right here", "beware of hostile railroad police", "dangerous dog", "food available here", and so on. For instance:
Naturally, hobo code would vary from place to place around the country. HOBO LINGO
NOTABLE HOBOS
HOBOS IN MEDIA Books and movies See article: List Of Books And Films About Hobos And Freighthopping Television BBC Radio 4 recently broadcast a one off programme about the Hobo Convention entitled "Hobo Heaven" Songs
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