National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-06
LOCAL ,PLUMBAGO SKETCHES
A STREET-CAR SCENE.


| Some mer are excusable for being cross OF even
suspecting; but for streetcar conductor, who re-
ceives the handsome wages OF two dollars 8 day
and the privileges of wearing the alarm-punch
badge, to be both mean and cross is intolsrablc
and highly inconsistent. On Saturday young
merchant Of the city, who had heard q great deal
about the punch got on an Avenue car and made
some inquiries respecting the modus OperGHdi Of
the machine. The conductor, being the head Of
rapidly increasing family, and consequently an
absent-miaded man, Immediately became Inter
esred in the young merchant, and registered the
| fve-cent fare he had re ceived from him several
times. "Dlng, ding, ding" pealed the notes Of
the silver-toned instrument, when suddenly the
conductors countenance was overcast with
frown, and he slung the bell to his side remark
ing in q mild way, through clenched teeth, to q
friend whostood by his side, 'that before he would
be an inquisitive spotter or car detective, Is he
believed tho young merchant was, he would sit on
the hot side Of the big Goals meath the internal
tropics and=slp hot punches until there wasn't o
grease-spot Left"
COLLEGE HILL SCORES ANOTHER.
Improvement is the hand maid Of progress, not
outstanding It is made up of sundry episodes
and mishaps. The carpenter who made the last
improvement on the hill is, without exception the
mildest man in the business When he takes
hold of q job is got to come This one came, but
It cost as much as 1t come 70. He had piece
mealed two $3.50 plated door glasses with the butt
end Of q hammer while lacking them in, and yet
kept all the commandments, nor did he mar his
reputation for mildness when he cracked the third
not at all. He merely slung the hammer into the
front yard, and mlrmured 'hoW long, oh, how
long!" and then seized the scrsa-driyer and
pushed the tack In with Q half suppressed re-
mark about boiled and afflicted Job. 1t was at
this juncture that MIS-. Mackelfritz came out and
discovered the crack. 1t was O tortuoHs one. 1t
looked like the letter s. struck by lightning. II
had started from the centre Of the pane, but had
suddenly turned as II to come back for something
It had forgotten in its hurry, but before reaching
its destI alton it was alured of In another direc
tion by the weakness OF the pane, and after per-
forming several uncouth zig>zass It darted into
an opposite corner and disappeared In q bank of
putty with a snap. Mrs. NackelfritI took
her left hand in her right one ana
screwed them up unusually tight. Then she
stood OF in divers directions and psered speech
less through the gaping crack. She stepped out
on TO the front porch and looked. The crack was
about the same. She struck several attitudes to
see from what direction the aperture showed the
least and just as she was reaching very difficult
position, her slipper caught on the door.sIl. and
she darted with . stumbling run into the hall,
catching her dress on paint pot, which eayorted
around the floor on Its sides and head and ap-
peared to be frantic because 1t couldn't get into
the other rooms and shed its coat The carpenter
was there. He knew to 0 cent what that paint
had cost him. At q glance he took In the out
rageous state Of affairs. His disposition inflated
with wrath. He felt that 70 speak was his duty,
but knew It would ruin his reputation for mild
ness. He dropped the screw-driver md reached
up and twined his fingers nervously in his hair,
and then pulled straight down until his vision
was blinded with wet and his soul stepped In dis
T,aFr Cuhan ~ ~.