The New York herald., 1874-09-18
BELL PUNCHES.
How the New Device for Enforcing
Honesty is Received by the Third
Avenue Conductors.


Honesty is Received by the Third
Avenue Conductors.
Speculation on the subject OF punches brings
queer results. 1t Is found that they are OF three
great kinds-the liquid, the dstic and metallic
and that there Is an affinity between the effects
wrought by the first two kinds and the effect
caused upon the conductors or horse cars by
variety OF me talic punches, which Is known as the
"Dell punch" No ordinary man ever receives a
punch liquid from friend punch fstic from
Toe without wishing to return 1t, and as
yet no car conductor has taken from his
employer O "bell punch" without yearning
to give II back Immediately SO Tar the analogy Is
very strict, yet 1t continues. There are difficult
les, however, which sometimes prevent the return
OF punch. In the case. Of q car conductor his
employers won't take back the instrument, and
In the case OF a man who has been knocked down
by bigger fellow, there Is again the d!hcuty that
the latter will not accept the dire blow he has
given. How then Is man TO give vent to this
wrath, the anguish OF spirit which Is caused oy a
punch he cannot give back wel President Lin
coins method Of illustration can be used now
better than any other. There Is q story somewhat
familiar, but valuable as showing the strength Of
the desire to take revenge lor blow upon some
body or something pot.valiaat fellow,
VINO had been badly punched during a
free fight In barroom, sohloquized
audibly as he got up from sprawling on the
noor:-'Tr 60 home If my wie's in bed pll
S her. her. nj my ws up III had mex er
himself OF blows and found he mad TO 90 so vicar-
ously. The car conductors are fGuratively in the
condition OF the man worsted III the free fight.
and then humaney given them objects upon
which to eXpeud their wrath In ringing blows. 10
as G 81 s e ne
stanas for 9 blow to one Of the directors. You win
which ne always brings down the hammer
the conductors on the other roads s not now so
apparent as that o. those on me Third Avenue
strument for weeks; the latter only since last
Thursday. When the intel non OF the Third Ave.
nue. Company to distribute them was announced TO
the conductors, sixteen OF Them resigned. They
could submit to the spying OF spoilers, they said,
they not 20 6ea1 me or
signed-he young, the fair, the good-tne victims
OF suspicion Tntse who remain at their posts are
the plOdder5 VINO must work, and Will endure
much lor the sake OF paying work, and the nice
young men VINO stay hoping that the instruments
VIII be declared useless on the road.
IL IL not yet known whether or not the
punches VIII be kept permanently by the Third
thirty days' trial OF them, hiring them IRON the
company that makes them at a cost for each Of
forty cents q day. The superintendent Of the rail
road Is reported by conductor, who yesterday
poured his sorrow into the sympathetic ear OF the
writer as having opposed their introduction. SAID
the conductor:-"Yes and lot o. the others, Of
ficers and stockholders, didn't want 'em; but old
Hart-y0u know old Hart. Chatham street Hart.
ham street. He's got stacks o. money, out yer
wouldn't buy his old clothes 'cept yer wanted TO
try them Out to make soft soap. mat old teller
OF the company, aud as he's a big stockholder he
got the company TO put on the punches. and then
they made us put up $25 apiece 70 guarantee lem
IS milllonnalres." Just here a young man offered
no small Change. We said aid TINS tai taIkativc @ m mem
ber OF the band OF bell-ringers. II kin change it
don't think Kim" He followed this remark
with meaning smile. and then went on to say.
:Uld Hart aint the only one tnat thinks con-
ductors steal, and now maybe its a good thing we
carry this darned thlng''-here he took are, and
savaeey punstured the. slip OF paper IN his
really But tnen," he added, thoughtfuily,
.anat don't DC US no good. II makes everybody
look. guess. SANE way as they'd look at painted
Indian on the peraries without a weepln'. They'd
know he wouldn't do no harm because he couldn't !;
and they think we have 70 be honest. I'd git or
lookin' for work now" Getting stalled with his
ductor was q jolly fellow who looks ut the world
gooa naturedly and Is . satisfied 70 be able to stay
voa
punch he carried. "ain't tnat a nice looking
damned thing. Looks IKE a revolver. Why the
growled with me about his fare, and when picket
up the punch just as he was finally putting his
revolver. He Just Jumped up and keeled me
over on some ladies behind me anG started out OF
the car. A man held him though. aud he said
was gong to snoOt. | saw through the thing,
though, and we all mad O little laugh But I'd Ike
to punch that Inventors head" And Ia that seD-
tlnent all the conductors agree. Punching Is now
their trade. and that Inventor had better not
make himself known Oh the cars.
The punches will be given d trial during thirty
days, and tnen. II beyond tneir cost more money
has been returned daily during tnat time than
was returned previously, 1t Is likely that they wiz
be permanently adopted.