Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-01-06
Tho Model Railroad Conductor.

The position of n railroad conductor 10 one of
great responsibility. and can cnly bo well filled
hy man possessing combination Of peculiar
qualifications. lie must necessarily be n gentle
man, Tor his daily duties require tho CONSTANT ex
crcisc OF every quality which mnkes tho gentle
mnn, lie must pos>essa temper Of admirable and
unyielding cqunnimity. His conversational pow
crs must he immense. und his fund Of Information
upon every variety Of topic musthe nexhaustiblc.
| nlcr all circumstances nt all times aud in all
Places he must he prepared to answer NIL sorts OF
questions TO all sorts oi people politely aud salts
iactor,ly.
The duties of his aypcalon liipg him into owe
~ variety Of collision with all ,orts Of characters.
The lnhcxible rules which define his duties must
be enforced with manly Independence and the
most perfect courtesy. lie must possess tho de-
termination Of Napoleon with tho sunyly Of Chcs-
tcrcld. llc has constantly in charge the lives of
many hundreds oi people, and, at the same time,
must devote his talents TO the interests Of en-.
ploycrs, who will hold him to Ito striotest accoun-
liability
When ON duty his judgment and his temper is
nlm, st constantly tried Here he comes across a
brave fool who m0 stand on tho rlattorm--there u
consequential gentleman who solh4hly insists upon
occupying two seats, to tho manifest discomfort
OF n half dozen standcrs. This gentleman, whom
he has just aroused from II bacchannl sleep, has
left his home aud his money behind him. and in
hls muddled condition Is uttcry y ignorant where
ho has come from or whittier lac is going. Mark
how politely the Conductor hands him from tho
Mt the frat stopping place, aud assures him he
will find most excellent accommodations round
tho next corner. Next comes customer who
travels on his impudcnce, a commodity which
does not pass current with railroad conductors
and he is assured that unless he produces his tick
ct or his money TINT he will reach his journeys
end Mt the next stopping place. The Conductor
receives his abuse with smile, and while his IN
cry ca ,tcmer is promising to report hin, at head
quarters he lands him on the platform, there to
wait for the next trnln nnd play the somo game
for another ten miles ride There are women as
we'll as men who will attempt to travel ON "shapc
and talent without money. Doubtless necessity
nmccs mnny to attempt 10 travel without money.
hut the larger number who refuse payment do 50
out of pure ''cusscdness.' All these classes of
persons tho Conductor must dispose of without
unnecessary annoyance to others. lilo must en-.
fore" stiict obedience to evory regulation Of the
rnnd. and still upon him in great degree de-
rcnd4 its popularity. lie must do disagreeablo
ihurs IA POLITELY as he would nsk "a lady to dance
and for IL large share Il the annoyances and disa-
-loeulilics Of travel, hight or wrong he will be
held responsible
Men who cannot put up with ovorv phase Of
human weakness, never make good rnirond con-
luct,rs. Tho,e VIII succeed in this become mo-
lcls ia their rrolession They nro the necessities
II the railroad system created by it. The public
ewcs them much and tler employers more They
nrc high minded and honorable mon, and tho con-
slant annoyance and dangers Of their business
renders them brave. icsolu'e. decided, cautious Of
rink. aud just and courtenus 10 all.
The profession is ono If danger, responsibility
and hardship. but il hns its pleasures and perhaps
the greatest of these is found in the high esteem
which tho intelligent public gave /, the model
railroad con!u ctor..-P P&iY}i0y Post, December 20.
.