Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 186, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1913 — Pathos in the Comedy of Actors at Hobo Benefit [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Pathos in the Comedy of Actors at Hobo Benefit

CHICAGO. —Hobos of Chicago spent «their “bed money” the other night in hobo entertainment. For their dimes they received shudders and tears and homesickness. The show was the “Hobos’ Ragtime Benefit,” at Bowen hall, Hull House. The actors were bos; the audience was comprised of bos, and there were reporters who had gone expecting to find comedy, only to see tragedy in its most pitiable form. Tattered clothes, unshaven faces, bands that needed soap and water — the regulation markß of the “Weary Willie” —were plentiful. Funny stories, hilarious songs and Jigs had been listed on the one pencil-written program. Harry Wilson, whose voice has won him fame throughout hoboland, was greeted with shouts as he walked onto

the poorly lighted stage. He recited the old, old “Face on the Barroom Floor.” And there were no shouts when he finished. Begrimed hands rubbed equally begrimed faces and a few torn bandannas appeared. The gloom was mad% even more gloomy a shudder went through the audience. as he encored with "The Dope Fiend.” Then came two more “Jolly knights of the road,” whose offering was any. thing but laugh-starting. Upon accordion and guitar they played “My Old Kentucky Home." Somebody started singing. This was the song: You will eat; by and br. . In that glorious land above the sky; Work and pray, live on hay. You’ll get pie in the sky when' you die. That was the nearest approach to comedy. When it whs over the weary ones who had spent their bed money struck out for busy corners to try and find “live ones” and "mooch” another dime. The proceeds of the efcow went toward defraying the expenses of an official labor agent for the International Welfare Brotherhood association.