The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-05-14
Ilnpudent Swtmdle.

Mr.. Bayard Taylor, in one of his recent let
tiers to the New York Tribune, thus relates his
experience with a specimen hack driver:
have already said in lectures, and in letters
that we Americans submit to imposition with
more meekness than any civilized people In
the world; and this is the secret Of many fla
grant abuses, which grow and thrive among
US with amazing vitality. ..Gt -
On the morning of the 9th ult., I engaged
carriage Through the clerk of the Metropoli-
tan HoteD to convey my family and
baggage to the pier OF the North German
Lloyds Company in Hoboken The price
stated by the clerk, and also agreed upon by
the agent Of the carriage department, was So,
including the ferry toll-quite sufficient, one
would imagine, for service of an hour and
half. In Europe it would be VI, at most.)
When we reached the Ferry, was obliged to
pay the toll, the driver insisting that he bad no
money. At the per, after the trunks had been
unloaded, and my family were on board the
steamer, L rendered the stipulated Sc. With
an oath and an abusive epithet the driver de-
manded $Si Of course 1 refused. He there
upon threw the money upon the ground, seized
a small trunk and swore that he would keep
it. forced the trunk from him and called for
policeman. Of course none was present,
and the people around looked upon the OUT
rage with sublime indifference. In the mean
time. oaths, threats, and names which any
New Yorker can imagine for himself were
skowered upon me. na
la lew minutes Que OF the pleE-WdtCulha2
Tan honest Germany came to my assistance
Through his fnstrpmentalty apoliceman was
sent for but the only result was that my trunk
was secured from forcible robbery. The driver
still swore, threatened and refused to take the
money, which thereupon put into the police
mans hands, and left. The latter presently
followed me on board and insisted that ]
should 60 before magistrate and make o
sworn declaration of the facts, not-as pres
entity saw-for the purpose of having the driver
punished, but simply to give him a chance of
hacking out of the swindle with dignity. As
we passed out of the steamship yard suspect
that most of the persons considered NE the cul-
prit and the driver the victim.
The magistrate heard my statement for 25
cents. and then handed the S6 to the driver,
who departed without having received word
of rebuke Indeed, the former politely asked
the latter if he would have written copy OF
NV declaration, to which he (the driver) gra-
| ciously replied that it was not necessary Inc
policeman informed me that these swindles oc-
cur "all the time" and that the PASSENGERS
generally submit to them, through fear that
their departure may bs delayed. Submission.
indeed. seemed to be so much matter of
course that did not detect rho least sign of
sympathy with my resistance among the by
ISLANDERS.
The teIkeepers of New York have it in
their power to prevent this form of outrage
For instance, let travellers pay in advance aud
take receipt which shall be available before
Hoboken policeman or magistrate. In order
to complete my own duty to the public adj
wise the Messrs. Leland to inquire into the an
tecedents of tall, slim scoundrel, with short
black moustache, who drives a red coach upon
which Is painted metropolitan Hotel"