Tuesday, July 5, 2011

What is a Hobo?

 A hobo is not, as many people may think, a traveling bum who rides trains. The term hobo actually refers to a type of migratory worker. The term came to be widely known in the US in about the 1890's and was used to refer to the growing number of migrants who took advantage of the burgeoning  railroad system to migrate across the country. They often financed their travels with whatever work they could find, the journey itself being the objective for many. They had their own "Code of Honor" and felt themselves above both the tramp ( a fellow traveler who avoided work if possible) and the sedentary bum. The term hobo may have come from the french "hobereau"  which translates to "gentleman of the country" and may have been introduced by French-speaking migrants during the 19th century or earlier.
   So knowing all this I can take on the moniker of Bicycle Hobo with a sense of pride and history.

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