Henry Stuart Baker at the Boston Union Workhouse, Lincolnshire, 1911.

"Weary Willies" in Boston.

———

A NIGHT IN BOSTON WORKHOUSE TRAMP WARD.

———

(BY AMATEUR CASUAL.)

As a writer studying that lower stratum of life in which the thousands of nomads at present roaming the highways and byways England move, I have spent many nights and days in various Casual or Tramp Wards, and shared the joys and sorrows of thousands of vagrants.

It has always been my purpose to discover some scheme to remove this waste humanity from the aimless state to which they have descended, and I await with interest the movement of the Rt. Hon. John Burns and Poor Law Commissioners in this direction.

On the wall of a cell in a Lincolnshire Casual Ward a facetious tramp has scratched "Johnny Burns, the Tramps' Friend." Whether this is so or not I cannot say, but the statistics of the Boston Guardians show that during a year hundreds these wanderers seek shelter in the Casual Ward of the Workhouse at the expense of the ratepayers of the town.

So I venture to think it may interest readers of the "Guardian" if I tell them something of the treatment meted out to tramps who visit Boston Workhouse.

Before, however, a writer on "Tramp Life" can enter into any description of the nightly shelter, he must tell something of the class of vagrants who visits such places.

FIVE CLASSES OF WANDERERS.

Five classes of wanderers visit Boston every week. First comes the "Gagger," a wastrel of the first water. This personage, if he were to adopt an orthodox method of obtaining a livelihood, might rank high in the world of finance. He "pitches" to those benevolently inclined persons he meets on the "road" or in public-houses a pitiful tale of unemployment. Sometimes he hawks boot-laces, purchased at the rate of about 2d. dozen, and very often in a day clears as much three or four shillings.

The next class who visits the Boston Casual Ward is the "Griddler," viz., the street-singer or musician. What Bostonian doesn't know this class — his raucous voice as he paces slowly up some back street declaring that "He is Rocked in the Cradle Deep," or, especially on Sundays, "Abide with me," is painful to the musical ear.

At certain seasons in the year, the Griddler does well. I know one, who, in Boston on Christmas Eve made 9s., and on Christmas Day, working the town as far as Freiston, cleared nearly a sovereign from his "Griddling."

Then comes the "Door Thumper" — the "Moucher" — practically the lowest order of the nomad on the great "main drag."

This "Tramp" approaches the back doors of Boston householders carrying with him a small tin can — his DRUM, and after carefully watching "Johnny Gallagher" (the policeman), knocks on the doors and appeals pitifully for food, also butter or tea.

My fourth class is the burly navvy. This "roamer" is a great workman for a time, but unfortunately he cannot "stick" at a job very long. Something upsets him, he throws up his work and once more takes to the "road."

BOSTON CASUAL WARD.

I ask my readers' sympathy for the last class who visits Boston Casual Ward, viz., the genuine unemployed workingman. I am glad to state that probably only about 5 per cent. of the casuals visiting Boston, and being compelled by circumstances to "put up" at the Workhouse, are the genuine class deserving better food and better accommodation than the "Reg'lar" tramps who roam the highway.

But to describe my experiences of a night in the Boston Casual Ward.

This institution is known to the ordinary tramp a "Spike," a "Grubber," or a "Derrick." The bed is a "lay down," and the food supplied is termed "scran," "tommy," "rooty." or "grub." The Workhouse inmate who assists the Porter is spoken of as "Tramp Major."

Now, Boston "Spike" said an old "Weary Willie" to me as we trudged along on the Spalding road, "is good un. It's a fine lay down, an' you could stand yer spoon up in the skilly "a testimonial to the thickness of the porridge).

However, as an "Amateur Casual," I tried it. On entry I found myself in the company of nearly a dozen vagrants. Some were very ancient, one acknowledging to have been 40 years the "Toby" (road). Others were younger, one stripling of eighteen, having been released the day before from Lincoln Gaol. When any turn came, I gave in to Porter my name, age, occupation, place journeyed from and destination, also a small bundle containing pipe, tobacco, matches, etc., for smoking is strictly prohibited in Boston Casual Ward.

Then came the "Ordeal of the Bath." Now, a good, hot bath occasionally is beneficial to any person, but as one tramp expressed it, "When you get a bath every night for fortnight, you're likely to be wasked away, while another "Weary Willie" said, "It let the cowd awfu' in his bones."

Then I went to bed, into a small, well-warmed cell, with three rugs for a covering and a bed to lie on.

My supper consisted of 8 ozs. of bread and a drink of hot water, but I was "under shelter," and slept well in my little cell. About half-past six the next morning, however, I was aroused and ordered to dress. By 7 clock I received my breakfast — a pint of the famous Boston "skilly" with 6 ozs. of bread, and an hour later paraded for work.

Now the tasks imposed for the accommodation given in Lincolnshire Tramp Wards differ considerably.

According to the Poor Low Regulations, a vagrant detained for one night can be compelled to

(a). Break from 1½ cwts. to 3 cwts. of stones, or

(b). Pick 1b. of unbeaten oakum or 2lbs. of beaten oakum, or

(c). To perform 3 hours work, as wood-sawing, corn-grinding, pumping, or gardening.

The Boston Guardians, however, are humane, and only insist on the vagrant working 3 hours at oakum picking, a task, however, not in favour with the regular "Weary Willie," and not easy for the new roadster.

Just before eleven o'clock we were released. Once outside the gates, pipes were produced, and smoke indulged in, then the motley crowd set out on their devious ways.

I may here add that at certain times of the year the casual thresher, pea-picker, potato setter, and harvester, claims Boston "Spike" as shelter just before the season for such work to commence.

However, in concluding this brief article, I may state that, in my opinion, Boston Tramp Ward amply fulfils all the requirements set forth by the Local Government Board. The rooms and cells are kept very clean, and the officials use a tactful discretion in dealing with the many difficult vagrant cases that come under their notice.

Certainly I may conclude in the old tramp's words, "Boston Spike' is a warm 'un and a good 'un."