Hobos, those nostalgic, if not romanticized characters who freeloaded on trains have their own iconic language. They communicated to other Hobos about matters of survival. Matters of survival about food, clothing, shelter, and avoiding trouble.
This iconic language is slowly dying out as today’s so-called “homeless” don’t have the same ethic as yesterday’s hobos. Hobos seem to have been homeless people on an adventure; or at least that is how it has been romanticized.
There is a site called Hobo.com who’s purpose is to preserve the by gone days of the American Hobo. Hobo.com is hosted by the Hobo Convention located in Britt, Iowa.
Yes, there was an ethic that Hobo live by, at least some Hobos. This code was created by the Tourist Union #63 during its 1889 National Hobo Convention in St. Louis Missouri.
- Decide your own life, don’t let another person run or rule you.
- When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.
- Don’t take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos.
- 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 ensure employment should you return to that town again.
- When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.
- Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals’ treatment of other hobos.
- 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.
- Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.
- If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.
- Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.
- 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.
- Do not cause problems in a train yard, another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard.
- Do not allow other hobos to molest children, expose all molesters to authorities, they are the worst garbage to infest any society.
- Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.
- Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.
- If present at a hobo court and you have testimony, give it, whether for or against the accused, your voice counts!
This is remarkable. Imagine if present day homeless operated in such an ethic. Would we have a homeless issue or a lifestyle choice (homeless with mental disorders not included)? Here is a list of people who have actually lived the hobo lifestyle at some point in their life: Jack London, Jack Dempsey, Woody Guthrie, John Steinbeck, Louis L’Amour, and George Orwell.
If you want to participate in making hobo symbols in Mikons, sign in and add your own. Over time they will by added by the user of HoboSymbols. There is a site by Fran who has put together a dictionary of hobo symbols.
