New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-30

Complaints are often made about the i'm
pudence or negligence of car drivers, and
sometimes very justly. Who will say that
drivers have no cause to complain Of pas
sengers! 1t should not be forgotten that
their duties are arduous, and their patience
often put to severe test. A person who has
paid the immense sum of five great cents
for a ride seems to think he or she is emit
tied to many privileges on that account.
A fast young man will snap the strap
hard enough to crack the bell, and before
the car can be stopped he is out and half a
square off. A halt is made, and all the pas
sengers are forced to wait space, as the
driver can not know that it is not required
of him to stop longer. Finding that he has
been stopped to no purpose be utters a
growl.
A feminine passenger, when in the middle
of square, rings, rises and staggers, al
though she knows that she does not wish to
debark until the next corner is reached.
Driver is in doubt whether she wishes to
get out Immediately or not, but seeing her
up concludes that she ought to have tapped
the bell twice. A sudden halt and the i'm
patient woman tumbles on other passengers,
when she darts daggers from her angry
eyes at Jehu, and she is quite ready to
launch pithy speech at him, but propriety
prevails.
Another growl is heard from the front. A
testy old man pulls the strap, but the car is
not stopped until the far side of the street
is reached, for the driver has instructions
from his foreman to pass over the crossing,
tor obvious reasons. Again Jehu catches a
score, and again driver thinks bad
thought.
A weak little girl pulls at the bell, but
no sound reaches the drivers ears amid the
rattle, and he whips up his mule. lively
passenger, having taken in the situation.
rises and jerks the strap vigorously. Be-
fore the car is stopped it is half way to the
next crossing. More grOwls, and that is
not the end of the chapter, but sufficient
for those leaving car.
1t often occurs that there is a small
sguabble about change and about fare
short. Then growls are heard above the
din Of rolling wheels, and sometimes blows
follow, but not often.
Then there are those who wish to get in.
An impatient applicant stands on the
wrong side Of the crossing and Of course
the driver is not permitted to stop his We
hicle midway; he must 60 to the further
side. After making several grasps at the
door the passenger finally gains fOothOld,
and is ready to swallow the driver for not
stopping quicker.
Then comes slow person, on side
street, half block off, signaling for a
halt. The driver does not see it at that dis
tance, but an insider does, and the bell is
ruhg. The slow party, putting with exer-
ton and passion, eventually mounts the
step, and is red in the face, feeling like
numbering the driver, but finally sits down
uncomfortable, and hesitates to drop a
nickel. The driver, not altogether good
natured at his treatment, takes occasion to
call attention to the fact that picayune is
needed in the box, first looking in carefully,
and glancing around as if he did not know
who the delinquent is, but he does know.
Next, poor driver is brought to a sudden
halt by some drayman who pretends not to
see the car, and he moves along lazily,
taking delight in annoying so many passen-
gers. Another growl, when the drayman
turns his ugly head and grins at his own
meanness.
These are but few of a car drivers
troubles, which the reader viii readily
recognize.
Remember that he is engaged from six
teen to eighteen hours daily. and leads any
thing but happy life. Therefore have
patience with the poor fellows short
ocv,;uua