The humor was not only in the contrast which his words implied and his appearance belied11, but in a certain definite and not unkindly characterization of the bum12 as such, that smug and even defiant13 disregard of the conventions and amenities14 which characterizes so35 many of them and sets them apart as a species quite distinct from the body social—for that they truly are. And for that very reason they have always had a peculiar15 interest for me, even a kind of fascination16, such as an arrestingly different animal might have for others. And here in the great city, from time to time I have encountered so many of them, suggesting not poverty or want but a kind of devil-may-care indifference17 and even contempt for all that society as we know it prizes so highly—order, cleanliness, a job, a good suit of clothes, marriage, children, respected membership in various orders, religion, politics—anything and everything that you will. And yet, by reason of their antithesis18 and seeming antipathy19 to all this, interesting.
For, say what you will, it does take something that is not social, and most certainly independent, either in the form of thought or temperament20, to permit one to thus brazenly21 brave the notions and the moods, to say nothing of the intellectual convictions, of those who look upon the things above described as essential and permanent. These astonishingly strange men, with their matted hair over their eyes, their dirty skins, their dirty clothes, their large feet encased in torn shoes, their hats with holes in them and their hair actually protruding—just as though there were rules or conventions governing them in the matter of dress. Along railroad tracks and roads outside the large cities of the country I have seen them (curiously enough, I have never seen a woman tramp), singly or in groups, before a fire, the accredited22 tin can at hand for water, a degenerate23 pail brought from somewhere in which something is being36 cooked over a fire. And on occasion, as a boy, I have found them asleep in the woods, under a tree, or in some improvised24 hole in a hay or straw stack, snoring loudly or resting as only the just and the pure in heart should rest.
But here in the great city I have always thought them a little strange and out of place. They consort25 so poorly with the pushing, eager, seeking throngs26. And arrayed as they are, and as unkempt and unwashed, not even the low-priced lodging27 houses of the Bowery would receive them, and most certainly they would not pay the price of fifteen or twenty cents which would be required to house them, even if they had it. They are not of that kidney. And as for applying to a police station at any time, it were better that they did not. In bitter weather an ordinary citizen might do so with safety and be taken care of, but these, never. They would be driven out or sent to the Island, as the work-house here is called. Their principal lodging resource in times of wintry stress appears to be some grating covering a shaft28 leading to an engine room of some plant operative the night through, from which warm air pours; or some hallway in a public building, or the ultra-liberal and charitable lodging house of some religious mission. Quite often on an icy night I have seen not a few of them lying over the gratings of the subway at Fourteenth Street and at other less conspicuous29 points, where, along with better men than themselves, they were trusting to the semi-dry warm air that poured up through to prevent death from freezing. But the freeze being over, they would go their ways, I am sure,37 and never mend them from any fear of a like experience.
And it is exactly that about them which has always interested me. For, by and large, I have never been able to feel that they either craved30 or deserved the need of that sympathy that we so freely extend to others of a less sturdy and different character. In truth, they are never as poor physically31 and nervously32 as many of those who, though socially fallen, yet appear to be better placed in the matter of clothes, food and mood. They are, in the main, neither lean nor dispirited, and they take life with too jaunty33 an air to permit one to be distressed34 about them. They remind me more of gulls35 or moles36, or some different and unsocial animal that still finds in man his rightful prey37 or source of supply. And I am positive that theirs is a disposition38, either inherited or made so by circumstances, which has not too much chemic opposition39 to their lackadaisical40 state, that prefers it even to some other forms of existence. Summer or winter I have seen them here and there, in the great city, but never in those poorer neighborhoods, frequented by those who are really in need, and always with the air of physical if not material comfort hovering41 about them, and that in the face of garments that would better become an ashcan than a man. The rags. The dirt. And yet how often of a summer’s evening have I not seen them on the stones of doorways42 and the planks43 of docks and lumber44 yards, warm and therefore comfortable, resting most lazily and snoring loudly, as though their troubles or irritations45, whatever they were, were far from them.
38 And in these same easier seasons have I not seen them making their way defiantly46 or speculatively47 among the enormous crowds on the principal streets of the city, gazing interestedly and alertly into the splendid shopwindows, and thinking what thoughts and contemplating48 what prospects49! It is not from these that the burglars are recruited or the pickpockets50, as the police will tell you. And the great cities do not ordinarily attract them; though they come, occasionally, drawn51, I suppose, by the hope of novelty, and interested, quite as is Dives in Egypt or India, by what they see. Now and then you will behold52 one, as have I, being “ragged53” by one of those idle mischievous54 gangs of the city into whose heartless clutches he has chanced to fall. His hat will be seized and pulled or crushed down over his eyes, his matted hair or beard pulled, straws or rags or paper shoved between his back and his coat and himself made into a veritable push-ball or punching-bag to be shoved here and there, before he is allowed to depart. And for no offense55 other than that he is as he is. Yet whether they are spiritually outraged56 or depressed57 by this I would not be able to say. To me they have ever appeared to be immune to what would spiritually degrade and hence torture and depress another.
Their approach to life, if anything, appears to be one of hoyden58 contempt for conventional processes of all kinds, a kind of parasitic59 indifference to anything save their own comfort, joined with a not unadmirable love for the out-of-doors and for change. So often, as I have said, I have seen them about the great city,39 asleep in the cool recesses60 of not-much-frequented doors and passageways, and in lumberyards and odd corners, anywhere where they were not likely to be observed. And my observation of them has led me to conclude that they do not feel and hence do not suffer as do other and more sensitive men. They are not interested in material prosperity as such, and they will not work. If any one has ever seen one with that haunted look which at times characterizes the eye of those who take life and society so desperately61 and seriously, and that betokens62 one whom life is able to torture, I have yet to hear of it.
But what an interesting and amazing spectacle they present, and what amusing things are to be related of them! I personally have seen a group of such rowdies, such as characterize some New York street corners even to this day pouring wood-alcohol on one of these fellows whom they chanced to find asleep, and then setting fire to it in order to observe what would be the effect of the discovery by the victim of himself in flames. And subsequently pursuing him down the street with shouts and ribald laughter. On another occasion, in Hudson Street, the quondam home of the Hudson Dusters, I have seen six or eight of such youths pushing another one such about, carrying him here and there by the legs and arms and tossing him into the air above an old discarded mattress63, until an irate64 citizen, not to be overawed himself, and of most respectable and God-fearing mien65, chose to interfere66 and bring about a release. And in another part of this same good city, that part of the waterfront which lies east of South Ferry and south40 of Fulton Street, I have seen one such most persistently67 and thoroughly68 doused69 by as many as ten playful wags, all in line, yet at different doors, and each discharging a can or a bucket of water upon the fleeing victim, who sought to elude70 them by running. But, following this individual to see what his mood might be, I could not see that he had taken the matter so very much to heart. Once free of his pursuers, he made his way to a dock, where, seated behind some boxes in the sun, he made shift to dry himself and rest without appearing to fret71 over what had occurred.
On one occasion I remember standing72 on the forward end of a ferry boat that once plied10 between New York and Jersey73 City, the terminal of one of the great railways entering the city, when one of these peculiar creatures took occasion to make his very individual point of view clear. It was late afternoon, and the forerunners74 of the homeward evening rush of commuters were already beginning to appear. He was dirty and unkempt and materially degraded as may be, but not at all cast down or distrait75. On the contrary. Having been ushered76 to the dock by a stalwart New York policeman and put on board and told never to return on pain of arrest, he was still in an excellent mood in regard to it all. Heigh-ho! The world was not nearly so bad as many made out. His toes sticking out, the ragged ends of his coat flapping about him, a wretched excuse for a hat on his head, he still trotted77 here and there, a genial78 and knowing gleam in his eye, to say nothing of a Mona Liza-like leer about his mouth. He surveyed us all,41 kempt and worthy exemplars of the proprieties79, with the air of one who says: “Well, well! Such decent and such silly people. All sheep who know only the conventional ways and limitations of the city and nothing else, creatures who look on me as a wastrel80, a failure and a ne’er-do-well. Nevertheless, I am not as hopeless or as hapless as they think, the sillies.” And to make this clear he strode defiantly to and fro, smirking81 now on one and now on another, and coming near to one and again to another, thereby82 causing each and every one to retreat for the very simple reason that the odor of him was as unconventional as himself.
Finding himself thus evaded83 and rather scorned for this procedure, he retired84 to the forward part of the deck for a time and communed with himself; but not for long. For, deciding after all, I presume, that this was a form of defeat and that he was allowing himself to be unduly85 put upon or outplaced, at least, by conventionalists, for whom he had absolutely no respect, he whirled, and surveying the assembled company of commuters who had by now gathered in a circle about him, like sheep surveying some unwonted spectacle, he waved one hand dramatically and announced: “I’m a dirty, drunken, blue-nosed bum, and I don’t give a damn! See? See? I don’t give a damn!” and with that he caroled a little tune86, whistled, twiddled his fingers at all of us, did a light gay step here and there, and then, lifting his torn coat-tails, shook them defiantly and contemptuously in the face of all of us.
There were of course a few terrified squeaks87 from a42 few horrified88 and sanctified maidens89, old and young, who retreated to the protection of the saloon behind. There were also dark and reproving frowns from a number of solid and substantial citizens, very well-dressed indeed, who pretended not to notice or who even frowned on others for noticing. Incidentally, there were a few delighted and yet repressed squeals90 from various youths and commonplace nobodies, like myself, and eke91 a number of heavy guffaws92 from more substantial citizens of uncertain origin and who should have, presumably, known better.
Yet, after all, as I told myself, afterward93, there was considerable to be said for the point of view of this man, or object. It was at least individual, characterful and forceful. He was, decidedly, out of step with all those about him, but still in step, plainly, with certain fancies, moods, conditions more suited to his temperament. Decidedly, his point of view was that of the box-car, the railroad track, the hay-pile and the roadside. But what of it? Must one quarrel with a crow for being a crow, or with a sheep for being a sheep? Not I.
And in addition, to prove that he really did not care a damn, and that his world was his own, once the gates were lifted he went dancing off the boat and up the dock, a jaunty, devil-may-care air and step characterizing him, and was soon lost in the world farther on. But about it all, as it seemed to me, there was something that said to those of us who were left in the way, that he and his kind were neither to be pitied nor blamed. They were as they were, unsocial, unconventional, indifferent43 to the saving, grasping, scheming plans of men, and in accord with moods if not plans of their own. They will not, and I suspect cannot, run with the herd94, even if they would. And no doubt they taste a form of pleasure and satisfaction that is as grateful to them as are all the moods and emotions which characterize those who are so unlike them and who see them as beings so utterly95 to be pitied or foresworn. At least I imagine so.
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1
burlesque
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| v.嘲弄，戏仿；n.嘲弄，取笑，滑稽模仿 | |
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2
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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3
protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
smirk
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| n.得意地笑；v.傻笑；假笑着说 | |
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5
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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7
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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8
oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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9
frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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11
belied
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| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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12
bum
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| n.臀部；流浪汉，乞丐；vt.乞求，乞讨 | |
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13
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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14
amenities
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| n.令人愉快的事物；礼仪；礼节；便利设施；礼仪( amenity的名词复数 )；便利设施；（环境等的）舒适；（性情等的）愉快 | |
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15
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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16
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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18
antithesis
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| n.对立；相对 | |
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antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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20
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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brazenly
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| adv.厚颜无耻地；厚脸皮地肆无忌惮地 | |
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22
accredited
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| adj.可接受的；可信任的；公认的；质量合格的v.相信( accredit的过去式和过去分词 )；委托；委任；把…归结于 | |
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23
degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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24
improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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25
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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26
throngs
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| n.人群( throng的名词复数 )v.成群，挤满( throng的第三人称单数 ) | |
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27
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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28
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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30
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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32
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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33
jaunty
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| adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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gulls
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| n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 ) | |
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moles
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| 防波堤( mole的名词复数 )； 鼹鼠； 痣； 间谍 | |
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37
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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38
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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40
lackadaisical
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| adj.无精打采的，无兴趣的；adv.无精打采地，不决断地 | |
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41
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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42
doorways
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| n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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43
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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44
lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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45
irritations
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| n.激怒( irritation的名词复数 )；恼怒；生气；令人恼火的事 | |
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46
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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47
speculatively
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| adv.思考地，思索地；投机地 | |
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48
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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49
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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50
pickpockets
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| n.扒手( pickpocket的名词复数 ) | |
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51
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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52
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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53
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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54
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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55
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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56
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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57
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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58
hoyden
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| n.野丫头，淘气姑娘 | |
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parasitic
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| adj.寄生的 | |
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60
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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61
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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betokens
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的第三人称单数 ) | |
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mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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irate
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| adj.发怒的，生气 | |
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mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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66
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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67
persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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68
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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69
doused
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| v.浇水在…上( douse的过去式和过去分词 )；熄灯[火] | |
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elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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71
fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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72
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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73
jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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forerunners
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| n.先驱( forerunner的名词复数 )；开路人；先兆；前兆 | |
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75
distrait
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| adj.心不在焉的 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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proprieties
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| n.礼仪，礼节；礼貌( propriety的名词复数 )；规矩；正当；合适 | |
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80
wastrel
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| n.浪费者；废物 | |
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81
smirking
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| v.傻笑( smirk的现在分词 ) | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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83
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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squeaks
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| n.短促的尖叫声，吱吱声( squeak的名词复数 )v.短促地尖叫( squeak的第三人称单数 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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90
squeals
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| n.长而尖锐的叫声( squeal的名词复数 )v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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eke
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| v.勉强度日，节约使用 | |
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guffaws
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| n.大笑，狂笑( guffaw的名词复数 )v.大笑，狂笑( guffaw的第三人称单数 ) | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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