A Tramp's Philosophy

Book excerpt: A discovery in Feral House’s Tramp Lit Series, Bart Kennedy’s 1908 A Tramp’s Philosophy is Kennedy’s late work distilling his life and experiences into a concept for living. He includes insights on everything from religion to civilization to crime to the lure of the open roads. “No social system or state can be really worth anything where the paramount aim is not to allow the individual to develop to the fullest, both mentally and physically. And this aim has never been the aim of any civilized state. ... The aim of all civilized states has been to keep the masses in subjugation for the benefit of cliques. And this is as true of republics as it is of autocracies. ... The money clique that rules America is more oppressive than is the Grand Ducal clique of Russia. It has a far worse effect on the American character.” About Bart Kennedy: Bart Kennedy was born in Leeds, England on March 9, 1861. He was raised in Manchester where he began his career at the age of six working part-time in a cotton mill. He worked in mills and machine shops throughout Manchester before joining the merchant navy as an able seaman in 1881. Jumped ship in Philadelphia where he tramped and worked odd jobs throughout the United States. Was illiterate until his early twenties until a fellow tramp taught him to read. He travels included all of North America and Europe. Occupations included: oyster fisherman, gold miner, opera singer, actor, writer, lecturer, and builder.