Hobo Signs, sometimes called gypsy signs in Europe, is a comprehensive name for a group of similar ideographic systems used for drawing or carving into trees, walls, doors, or other surfaces. Each ideogram gives specific information concerning the place where it is found. The type of signs and their meanings are influenced by the situations the vagabonds, tramps, homeless, and destitute found themselves in up to the time of the Second World War. Different parts of the world produce their own, individualized systems of hobo signs. What these systems have in common is their mutual concern with basic tramp problems, such as the availability of food, money, a night's lodging, or temporary work. They also serve as warning systems that inform whether there are police or dogs to deal with. All the systems also contain an ideogram for a kindhearted woman or a gentleman.
Naturally, there does not exist a dictionary that covers hobo signs. A long period of time would be needed in their company to learn the signs and their meanings and uses. The systems of hobo signs show, however, that even the poorest and least educated create their own communicative medium to help them survive. The most interesting aspect of this is that it shows the latent goodwill of people, a sort of subconscious tendency to help each other survive. No superior authority has forced this troublesome tribe of vagabonds to create their own system of writing. Nor does there exist any clear reason that a miserably poor tramp should inform others of his or her kind as to whether a place will offer them food and money or not. On the contrary, it may spoil his or her chances to use the place a second time. The lesson learned would seem to be that it is more valuable for everyone's survival to share whatever is found out and that this is of greater value than the damage done by keeping it to oneself.
