The proud record of a tramp

Gustave Sonnier got religion for a little while, but the lure of the road overcame his piety. He traveled the highways and byways, proud to represent his hometown of Lafayette among the Knights of the Road.
“The object of this sketch ... is well known,” according to the newspaper report in August 1894. “At the mention of his name many readers ...will recall numberless reminisces of ‘Tay,’ ...[who] grew up to manhood in this community as other boys ordinarily do.
“He was the son of Villeor Sonnier and the youngest of two brothers, and is now the only surviving member of the family. During his lifetime in this community nothing occurred to draw other than usual attention to him until after he attained the age of maturity, when there suddenly developed ... a degree of religious piety. … His devotional exercises in the Catholic church were unremitting and bore the outward indication of sincerity.
But “after several months of the religious life” Gus got restless and gradually became “initiated in the regular fraternity of wanderers more commonly known as ‘tramps,’ the report continued. “And thus it is we learn from his own lips that ‘Frenchy’ (as ‘Tay’ has been aptly surnamed by his associates) has visited the four corners of the United States in the companionship of other members of the profession.
“He relates some thrilling experiences he has had ...whilst plying the avocation of a tramp – an appellation in which he seems to feel a pride all the more because he lays claim to the distinction of being the only representative Lafayette has among that gentry.
“Some of the instances he relates are full of amusement, as, for instance, when, after cultivating to some extent the friendship of a good natured old cook at a rural hotel ... he steals from off the range a juicy roast, pot and all, during an interim in which the cook leaves the kitchen unguarded. Afterwards [Gus] undertakes to convince the old [cook] that he is mistaken in believing that the roast had been stolen for [Gus] had ... been within sight of the range all the time and saw no one enter the kitchen.
“You have simply mislaid the roast you look for,” [he told the cook].
And again, in another part of the country, he calls at the home of the mayor of the city ... represents himself as being in great distress, but cannot accept assistance until he be permitted to do some work in return. The mayor ... directs the deserving young man to the back yard to cut wood for the stove, and breakfast being ready shortly afterward, serves Gus with a nice warm meal, besides presenting him with a good quantity of clothing. [Gus then says] that he cannot leave without showing his gratitude and does this by returning to the wood pile, where he remained only long enough to escape ...at his first opportunity, carrying off a new saw and ax.
“He tells numberless other tales in which he figures quite romantically and appears to feel highly satisfied with his record thus far in the life of his adoption.
“Gus Sonnier is now at New Iberia ... having passed through here last week. ... He came from a good and respected family and it is to be sincerely regretted that he has gone so much astray. That he is not of sane mind is the only conclusive explanation that can be given of his conduct – although, from the accurate descriptions he gives of many distant localities it cannot be doubted that he has visited them in person.”

You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.