....Hi Josie.....The Hobo Code is one of my favorite episodes.... I think it embodies Dick/Don's struggle as a whole.

Unlike some others (Snivelling Twit Campbell and Insane Roger), Draper knows better....he has a conscience and a sense of morality and justice, but he's acting out, and at odds with that.

You described the flash-back scene where Dick Whitman learns not only of this mysterious, unwritten code of honor, but how the home of his roots would be forever labelled as "dishonest."

Cut to the end of the episode, when Don Draper shuts his office door. There on the beautiful, polished hardwood is a plaquard.....the name is"Donald Draper."

....and now, in his heart, Draper knows that is the mark of a dishonest man.

..........sorry, just want to repeat that the post time should be 5:21 pm EST.... therefore it puts my post above the one to which I am replying....

.....sorry, that should be ....

....and now, in his heart, Dick Whitman knows that is the mark of a dishonest man....

Hi Josie,
Thanks for pointing that out. I just looked up some stuff on the Hobo Code and it's really fascinating.

Dry Manhattan, I loved that episode, too, It might be my favorite because of the flashback. I wish they would do more of them -- I wonder if it's more expensive for them to do? Anybody know where the location was for the Wittman house?

Below is the 'Hobo Code', as inscribed in the Annual Convention Congress of the Hoboes of America held on August 8, 1894 at the Hotel Alden, 917 Market St., Chicago Illinois. Don appears to subscribe to much of them, but fails on other counts.

1.-Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you.

2.-When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.

3.-Don't take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos.

4.-Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along, but insure employment should you return to that town again.

5.-When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.

6.-Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals treatment of other hobos.

7.-When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as bad, if not worse than you.

8.-Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.

9.-If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.

10.-Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.

11.-When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member.

12.-Do not cause problems in a train yard, Another hobo will be coming along who will need passage thru that yard.

13.-Do not allow other hobos to molest children, expose to authorities all molesters, they are the worst garbage to infest any society.

14.-Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.

15.-Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.

16.-If present at a hobo court and you have testimony, give it, whether for or against the accused, your voice counts!

Lastly, here's a link to the 'hobo signs.' You're right, Josie, the ones from the show are accurate.

http://www.hobo.com/hobo_signs.htm

60'schild, I know -- isn't that so cool? Amazingly, they are still around. There is a 'Hobo Museum' in Britt, Iowa, and they have an annual convention. Next time I drive across country, I'm going to that museum. I've always been fascinated by the 'Riding the Rails' era (there's a good book by that name, and I think PBS did a show on it, too but I've not seen it). Hobo.com website actually has scenic rides throughout America on freight trains; I may try that sometime.

I seem to remember the hobo code being used in one of the first episodes, in a flashback when Don (Dick) was a little boy. His step-mother would try to be nice to the hobos when they came to work for them, but his dad would cheat them. Don (Dick) ran out to the fence post one day to see what a hobo wrote and saw the mark for "dishonest man" or something like that.

What a great post!! There was actually a Hobo Convention? With a national code? Wow! Are they still around?
Of course, with the decline in freight trains, I guess they would have a hard time finding transportation, and learning how to jump from the trains!

I have heard stories from family members that lived by rail lines and they would get a knock at the door from a hobo looking for work or a meal. Usually there was no work to be had anywhere but they would give them a meal anyways and usually the hobo offered to do some chores around the place in gratitude.

.....This is amazing to me. Everyone should have such a code. Pretty sure they covered everything.

Wow!

Old Fashioned and Josie, Thank you for looking into The Hobo Code. It is fascinating that it still exists and originated over a hundred years ago. Those are a good set of rules. I wonder if we'll see more hobos with the onset of another depression. It would be really crazy but interesting to see Don leave it all behind and take to the road as a hobo for awhile. After all, he learned what it was to be honorable from the hobo. (The hobo did a day's work for a quarter, then Dick Whitman's stepfather didn't pay up).
As of now Dick doesn't have anything--no luggage; no identity in California--just that person he phoned. They better not end the season not telling us who that call was to!

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