09.1898 thru 06.1899.pdf - The Lowell

THE LOWELL
A Street-Car Sketch.
To me one of the best ways of passing
time, while on the cars is to notice the
varying peculiarities displayed by the
passengers. These are many and though
usually amusing are sometimes otherwise.
The constantly changing crowd
invar;ably exhibit their characteristics,
habits, manner of life, their thoughts (to
a certain degree) and position with regard
to their fellow-men, to the observant
traveler. To the conductor especially is
shown the little vanities, foibles and the
disposition of his passengers. To him
they turn for information, asking of him
most ridiculous questions which he tries
to answer to bis best ability. Some demand
impossibilities from him, require
favors which he cannot grant. Then he
feels the storm of their wrath unable to
answer their threats and hints of influence
at the company office. The replies the
conductor receives are sometimes very
amusing. The worst offenders in this
class are the women, but they make it up
to the couductor by allowing him to pass
all the foreign and spurious coin he receives,
on them. The other day one of
this class started to .get on a Market
Street car bound for the ferries. It was
packed to suffocation and people were
hanging to all the available room on the
platform. The conductor told the woman
that the next car was right behind and
to take that for there was no room, but
she indignantly replied that it did not
come from the same place, after which
biting sarcasm she triumphantly squeezed
in.
Transfers are a source of much trouble
to some. They are always worried or
anxious if they have to change cars and
are continually asking for their ticket;
when finally the conductor does go round
with them they do not see him and waiting
till the aisle is filled with people
hurrying to change make a wild bolt for
the poor mau demanding one. Others
wish to have theirs punched ahead of
time, with the object of doing a little business
on the side. The conductor turns
a deaf ear to their entreaty and to other
words not strictly belonging to it.
Sometimes the nickel man in blue
turns a passenger into a bank, drawing
several fares from him, I heard a tale
the other day of such a case. In tits
instance, however, the conductor did not
come out ahead. A man stepped on the
platform and offered the conductor a dollar
if he could collect another fare from
a passenger inside whom he pointedout.
The conductor replied that he would do
no such-.thiag for it would be at the risk
of his position. Upon this the stranger
said it would be all right for the woman
was his wife and that he would answer
for any complaints. The conductor, on
the strength of this assertion, went into
the car, making up an excuse as he went,
thinking he would be caught. He called
for fares and. to his surprise the woman
pointed out immediately fumbled in her
purse and handed the conductor a fare.
When he came out again onto the platform
the stranger said he would repeat
his proposition, another dollar for another
fare. The car having gone some distance
the conductor again entered the car call,
ing for fares. The woman looked up
with a question on the tip of her tongue
but seeing the conductor standing before
her she paid him. Going out he gave
the stranger his fares, for he could act
keep them, and asked for his two dollars.
The fellow jumped off before the
conductor kuew what he was about, leaving
the conductor with his thoughts in
place of the expected reward. To this
day the man does not know whether the
woman was, in reality, the man's wifeoz
whether the stranger had thought this a
good way to turn a penny.
It is a pleasant occupation to watch
another class of passengers. Those that
carry on their conversation in a foreign
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