Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 281, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1912 — Genus Hobo Approves of Kiosk Tent as a “Flop” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Genus Hobo Approves of Kiosk Tent as a “Flop”

. < . . ■- - - • CLEVELAND, O.—The populace stormed and fumed about the kiosk In the Square the other day, wondering how the thermometer and the rest of the public-spirited instruments located there were conducting themselves In the gelid air. Everybody who came to see and could not was frankly angry. Even the Socialists excogitating aloud on the Square were aroused. The kiosk is surrounded by a little tent without a roof, formed of -painter’s flies. A week or so ago an energetlic painter and decorator painted the kiosk a nice, peaceful battleship gray color. Thpn, to keep the folks from coming up and demonstrating the efficiency of the Bertillon system in their excitement over learning that the mercury had gone down a point or so, he put up the tent. Quite accidentally he left a large sign bearing his name and business in bold letters on each side of the tent. The paint had been dry for three or four days, but the tent remained. No doubt the man has forgotten all about it. Detective Julius Spees of Central station walked by there the other night, and, shivering a bit in the chill air, bethought himself of out what wds what. He no- , ticed a movement of the canvas that

made him suspect someone was beneath the tent Lifting it and looking underneath, he discovered the recumbent figures of two members of the box car gentry. They had calculated that the tent would not be a bad place to sleep, albeit there was no roof. “Wot are you doin ’there?” demanded Spees. “Well, we thought it would' be a good place to ‘flop,’ ” replied one. “Out of the wind and all the modern conveniences—pretty swell to have a regular thermometer and all the regular tools for knowing just what kind of weather it is, right in yer bedroom.” t Spees advised them to move on. As they starred away a diffident youngster approached him and said: “Please, mister, when does the show start, and can I carry water fer the eleyfunt?”