the term oringinated in the Western-probably Northwestern-United States around 1890.
Unlike a `tramp` who works only when forced to , and a bum, who does not work at all,
a `hobo` is a travelling worker.
The origin of the term is unknown, the word was first noticed in American English circa
1890, people believed it derived fromthe term `hoe-boy` meaning a farmhand or a greeting
such as` Ho Boy`, Bill Bryson suggests, in his book Made in America,that it could either come
from the railroad greeting, `Ho, beau!` or a syllabic abbreviation of `homeward bound`,
it could also come from the term `homeless boy`
H.L Mencken in his book The American language wrote;
`Tramps and hobos are commonly lumped together , but see themselves as sharply
differentiated. A `hobo` or `bo` is simply a migratory labourer, he may take some
longish holidays, but sooner or later he returns to work. A tramp never works if they
can help it, he simply travels. Lower than this is the `bum`, who neither works nor
travels, save when impelled to motion by the police`
These nomadic workers roamed the country at the start of the 20th century and through
the Great Depression, taking work wherever they could and never spending too long in any
one place. In their extensive tavels the `hobos` learned to leave notes to each other,
giving information on the best places to camp or find a meal, or dangers that lay ahead.
This unique code was known to the brotherhood of freight train riders and was used
by all to keep the community of travelling workers safe and fed in work.
The `hobo` code helped add a small element of safety when traveling to new places.
The code is a fascinating system of symbols understood among the hobo community.
Because `hobos` weren`t typically welcomed (and often illiterate) messages left for
others in the community had to be easy to read but look like little more than
random markings to everyone else to maintain an element of secrecy. It
features certain elements that appear in more than one symbol, such as the circles
and arrows that made up the directions symbols, while hash marks or crossed lines usually
meant danger in some form or other.
they were spotted, a curly line inside a circle, for example, meant that there was a
courthouse nearby, other symbols were simplistic and easier to decipher.
Two cirlces together stood for `Don`t give up
A circle with a diagonal line through `Good road to follow`
A large circle with two arrows through it `Get out fast`
A grid pattern meant `Jail ahead`
An oblong block with a dot in meant `Danger`
There are many others, indicating which place was friendly or not, if the police were around,
If the place wasn`t safe, Beware of dogs` etc etc.
Homeless City Guide
The code below was developed in 2007 as a means for homeless people to reveiw
amenities and share their ecperiences with other rough sleepers.
These chalk symbols can be seen all over London and other large cities, in walls
and even printed on the pavements.