Sidenote to Our Reading in Fredrick with Wireman

[Lightning Rod]

We had just set up the equipment in the little coffee house in Fredrick. The place was a half-level below the street and out front at street level there is an outdoor table and some chairs. The piano was in place and I decided to take a smoke break. There were three or four young men sitting around the table smoking and talking and they invited me to join them.

These were street kids in their early twenties. The subject of conversation was some fight that had happened the night before. They were suitably pierced and studded and had tattoos in places where I didn't even know there were places. One of them had an eight inch hunting knife strapped to his leg and a club in his pocket, both of which he displayed several times during the conversation.

Then the subject shifted to what the difference was between a hobo and a bum. According to these experts, a hobo travelled and worked as he went at whatever odd jobs he could find and a bum just lived on the street and panhandled.

I can appreciate this subtle class distinction. I've often noticed the difference between those of us who are on the road and those of us who are just in a rut.

[mnaz]

"Hobo" is still used in hip conversation? Reminds me of all that country music my dad used to play on the stereo back in the sixties. And I think they're right. Seems I remember something about hobos and trains...

[WIREMAN]

check out the movie Emperor of the North...starring Lee Marvin as the king of the hobo's during the depression...Ernest Borgnine's the head knocker on the train.....it's a depression thing....homeless bohemians...the same guys are revered in india and china.....here in the land of e pluribus dollar your just a bum......