THE HOBS ON WHEELS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 100, 24 October 1925, Page 23

THE HOBS ON WHEELS

Vagranls with automobiles are making their appearance un tho American highways. They, supersede tins > familiar tramp oi 1 "hobo." Tho extremely low value of well-worn eheiip cars in America has been responsible for the creation of this new genus of tramp. An idle fellow with 40 or 50 dollars i;an obtain an obsolete cur from a "junk" dealer, and commence his tour. As with tho pedestrian tramp, tho tour is a succession of spasmodic journeys in which legitimate work is avoided as far as possible. The motor vagabond may perhaps havo.to sliow a little enterprise and ingenuity in his wanderings, and possibly resorts to work occasionally when a mechanical breakdown occurs. These "knights of the road" who have become "knights on wheels" rely on cadging worn tires en route, which they run tn the last shred of rubber. Oil and petrol is "borrowed" on tho strength of a breakdown story, and tho unfortunate lender finds his loan is not repaid. Undesirables who obtain old cars to extend their gipsy activities are a cause o[ no littfc annoyance. If they exercise their light-fingered propensities and rattle off at full speed, detection is a difficult matter. Of course, the motor vagrant sleeps in bis vehicle- and scorns the shelter of sheds and stables.