Comments on: On Hobos, Hautboys, and Other Beaus. Also, On Suffixes as Midwives http://blog.oup.com/2008/11/hobo/ Introducing brilliant authors to the blogosphere. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:43:07 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Athel Cornish-Bowden http://blog.oup.com/2008/11/hobo/comment-page-1/#comment-148256 Athel Cornish-Bowden Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:53:57 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/?p=2302#comment-148256 I can't do better than Stephen Goranson, as my example comes from December 1893, but at least it shows that the word had spread beyond the US by then, but was still not well established enough to appear without quotes. This is what my grandfather, then an immigrant to Manitoba (from England), wrote in a letter: "I believe on the American side it is appalling -- it appears as soon as a man is dead broke over there he goes on a train and becomes a 'hobo'... One reads frequently of a gang of these hoboes boarding a train and travelling where they like with impunity because the force on the train is not strong enough to prevent them." I can’t do better than Stephen Goranson, as my example comes from December 1893, but at least it shows that the word had spread beyond the US by then, but was still not well established enough to appear without quotes. This is what my grandfather, then an immigrant to Manitoba (from England), wrote in a letter: “I believe on the American side it is appalling — it appears as soon as a man is dead broke over there he goes on a train and becomes a ‘hobo’… One reads frequently of a gang of these hoboes boarding a train and travelling where they like with impunity because the force on the train is not strong enough to prevent them.”

]]> By: Stephen Goranson http://blog.oup.com/2008/11/hobo/comment-page-1/#comment-148008 Stephen Goranson Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:05:10 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/?p=2302#comment-148008 Kansas City Star April 19,1888 Volume 14; Issue 184; Page 2; col. 6 [America's Historical Newspapers] "KANSAS NOTES ....Wichita is struggling with the problem of reducing its "hobo" surplus. "Hobo" is Wichita for tramp." Earlier, and not west coast. Wichita Indian language, obviously--kidding. Kansas City Star April 19,1888
Volume 14; Issue 184; Page 2; col. 6 [America's Historical Newspapers]
“KANSAS NOTES
….Wichita is struggling with the problem of reducing its “hobo” surplus. “Hobo” is Wichita for tramp.”

Earlier, and not west coast. Wichita Indian language, obviously–kidding.

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