Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-02-07
Half an Hour in a Railroad Ticket Office


the same destination, but who occupies much
more time in making his wants known, some
thing after this style:
Whats the fare to New York ?"
-Four dollars"
How long afore you start ?"
Ten minutes"
"Ah-er-can you change fifty dollar
bill ??
"YeS, sir"
"Give me change in Boston money (laying
out the ffty) and in FIVE dollar bills if you
can"
almost second of time
I" Do you get in New York as early now as
usual ?"
Yes, sir"
"What time does the Fel:delfy train leave
tomorrow morning?"
"Seven, thirty"
By this time the gent has gathered up his
bank notes, folded them up,put them smoothly
into pocket book, poked his umbrella into
the stomach of heated individual from the
rural districts who was waiting uervously be-
d ind him, and by the delay caused the coilec
tion of half.a dozen of other applicants for
tickets
Next comes the Countryman'S turn.
BreathIessly -" Ticket for Boston ?"
"You are in Boston now, sir"
"Oh oh-er Yes, ah! ah! ah! all! ah!
| want to go to Plymton-vilie y no show
Of money
"Forty-fve cents ?"-(waiting for a show
of funds.
"Yes wal, III take one ticket"
Yes, sir, fortyfve cents"
By this time gent from the rural district
comprehends the pay in advance principle
adopted at all weIl-regulated railway stations;
and fishing into the profound depths of his
pautaloons pocket, wIthdraws, in a acapaciouS
hand, miscellaneous collection, which, from
hastv glance, appears TO be composed of
piece of cavendsh tobacco a lead pencil, a
a piece of red chalk, large jack-knife, polit
ical medal, leather shoe string, couple Of
buttons suspender buckle, and some change.
From the latter twenty-five cent piece, two
half dimes, two three cent pieces, aud four
cents are Iaboriously extracted and deposited
on the counter, from which they are rapidly
swept by three or four dexterous passes of
the clerk, who turns to serve lady.
81 want lady's ticket to Providence, y
deposting FIVE dollar note. Clerk throws
out "lady's ticket" which bears striking
similarity to, and in fact would be called a
twin brother of "gcntIemans ticket, and
also the change at the same time. Lady
cautiously examines bank note she has re-
ceived in exchange Is this good bill !"
Certainly, madam, We give uone other"
Lady retires perfectly satisfied The next
customer is an iiIustrious exile, whom we have
every reason to suppose has recently Jared
10 which
must have figured conSpicuouSy as a vegetable
and moderate-prced whiskey as the principal
beverage
"Shure, what is the phrice of tckhet
now to Nee Yarrk %
Deck passage, two dollars and a half"
"Wouldn't yon take a dosr and seventy
five ents shure it's all the money Ive got
at all, at ALL
q" No, two dollars and fifty cents"
fPersuasvely -" Shure, wouldn't ye take
two dollars :"
Not cent less than two fifty. En-
phatically] Pass out your money or pass
on 7"
Pat finding blarney and persuasion of no
use in this instance, counts out his cash, which
the quick eye of the clerk discovers to be
little short Of the required amount.
Three cents more
The stray three cent piece is reluctantly
dropped from Patricks warm palm, and the
individual who succeeds anxiousy inquiries
what time the i've o'clock train leaves" and
is seriously informed at sixty minutes past
four"
The next inquiries Has Mr.. Smith bought
ticket for this train?"
Can't say, sir don't know him"
"Oh, he is dark complectioned man, had
on dark overcoat, and an umbrella under
his arm"
In consideration of the fact that about
fifty L" dark complexioned individuals, with
dark overcoats" on, had purchased tickets
of the clerk, some having umbrellas under
their arms and some not, it is not extraord-
nary that he does not rocoect which one is
Mr. Smith.
All the time these negotiations are going
on eager interrogators on the outer circle OF
the crowd about the Office are propounding
questions. aud a running fire of them and re-
plies fill up every possible pause.
"When does the next train start 2"
"Ten minutes to five"
"Say you What do you tax to Mans
field ?"
"Seventy.fve cents"
Sailor" Purser give us a card to New
Bedford" Slaps down the gold coin, sweeps
ticket and change back all into the crown of
his hat, takes bite of the weed, and rolls of
to car well forrard"
Does this train stop at L."
"No! this is the express train"
Which one does? ?"
ccommodation-leGves at 2 l-2 o'clock" ="
"TiCket''n'arf to Providence"
"How ole is that half ticket ?"
"Hey%