I have some answers (but not the big one).

A “loafer” is an old timey word for tramp, from German/Dutch “landlaufer” meaning “land walker”.

The rest is speculation, but I think this is a sort of anger at nobody returning his umbrella. Nobody does this, which is why this “person” is just a stick. Someone stole Ev’s umbrella and didn’t return it. But you can beat up nobody, so, here’s a literal strawman to beat up.