The Queen of Tramps

1878

The Bangor (Me.) Commercial says: Mrs. Mary Merriman is a respectable appearing woman of thirty, is not bad-looking, and has every appearance of being upright and of good character. She is, however, without doubt, the queen of female tramps, and can discount the great majority of male tramps.

She was born in St. Albans, in this state, and her folks were farmers. She has since lived in Hermon with her brother, Joseph Merriman, who does a good deal of trading in this city. Three years ago this fall she took it into her head to see the country, and started out with neither scrip nor staff, but a good pair of thick shoes. She walked across the country, braving all kinds of weather, and finally brought up in Clinton, Iowa, when she took the back track and returned to this city.

Two years ago she decided to start out again, and this time selected a long tour. She walked through portions of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and on to Washington, where she remained a few days, and "did the capital," and then made a bolt for Savannah, Ga., where she remained a short time. Then on she went again, doing the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa, Indiana, and finally got round to Kansas City. Here she stopped awhile and earned a new tramping outfit. Again she started, this time with the intention Of crossing the plains to California, but finally stopped when told by many persons that it would be very unsafe for her to think of attempting it alone. She then started on a return trip, walking from Kansas City to Chicago, thence to Detroit, doing Niagara Falls, and crossing to Canada, thence to New York and through Massachusetts, arriving at her home in Hermon a little more than a week ago.

She says she averages twenty-six miles a day. She says when she gets tired and out of clothes she finds no trouble in getting a few days' work, and in this manner enjoys her life.