100 years ago in the Inland Northwest

100 years ago in the Inland Northwest

A bizarre “personal” ad appeared in the S-R from an Eastern author, requesting the assistance of a genuine hobo in putting “real life” into a book he was writing.

The anonymous author received a reply from a man in the Coeur d’Alene district who called himself Weary Willie. Here’s a portion of Weary Willie’s letter:

“A bum is a penniless man who never works; a hobo is a man who works on rare occasions. I am a hobo, for I worked once. The recollection is still vivid, and it brings a blush of shame to my cheeks …

“I have shunned hard work and have jerked a living from the horny hand of fate by the use of an oily tongue that would have reaped honors and fortune in the political field. … I weigh 160 pounds (160 pounds of mellow sunshine) and wear a smile of sweet simplicity and other out-of-date apparel. I was going to tell my height in sock feet, but am unable to borrow socks.

“I am 24 years of age, or will be June 1 next. I choose June 1 so that the nation can celebrate it and have the festivities all over and out of the way in time for the Fourth of July.

“I should like to write a book of my life so that every father or even stepfather could give it to his son and say, ‘My son, read this and do – differently.’ Please let me hear from you, signed, Weary Willie.”

The Eastern author did not hire Weary Willie, but he passed the letter along for a “quiet little laugh.”