Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-11
How the ScaIpers Live

There is a class of dealers in railroad tickets
at the West who thrive by selling tickets at low
rates. A scalper thus explains the mOdHs oDer-
ana: "For instance person in New York
coming to Cincinnati will buy a ticket t. st.
Louis, chicago, or some other point further
we West; ana when ne gets here, not wishing to go
we pay him fair price, and he thus gets his
ride from New York at a saving of perhaps
twenty-h five per cent. To make this more plain,
let me i'll Istrate: Suppose you were in Chica-
60 and wanted to come TO Cincinnati. A few
weeks ago, before the present cut between
the railroads, the regular fare from Chicago to
Boston was twenty-four dollors. Well, YOU
would buy ticket in Chicago to Boston for
twenty-fOur dollars, ride on 1t to Cincinnati;
not wishing to 60 any further you bring the
You eighteen dollars. You thus get your ride
from Chicago for Sc, the regular fare being SO
In comes Mr.. b. and wants TO go to New York.
you and sell it for S21 to Mr.. b., who rides on
1t to New York, and there sells the Boston cou-
pom for 50. Thus Mr.. b. gets to New York for
Sl6, the regular fare being $50. The purchaser
OF the Boston coupon makes 81, and the rail-
road company have received their rate The
courts have decided that a railroad ticket repre-
sents an agreement between the holder or pur-
chaser and the railroad company selling the
ticket. Thus, ticket regularly issued is good
TO- one ride between the points named on It. no
matter whose hands ii is in, nor when il was
used. We do not claim to be able to furnish
tickets to all points at all times. but most gem
orally we have tickets to the principal points at
auIsOouhI vi ten W thirty per cent.
TIE CONVERSION OF VAN PELT Ely THE
OHIO PRAYING WoMEN-The Cincinnati Conn
merc1al describes some further incidents of the
recent conversion OF Van Pelt, the saloon
keeper OF New Vienna, Ohio, already alluded
to. For weeks the entreaties of the band of
praying women had only served to arose Van
Pelt's Indignation, and instead of listening to
their prayer he doused them with mugs OF
foaming beer, and deliberately sprinkled
red pepper on the floor and on the hot stove
IN his saloon, and when the choristers began
singing hymn their tones were interrupted
with - at-chew chew at-chew!' until
they almost gave up in despair. Finally.
however, Van Pelts heart was touched and
on Wednesday morning last he request
ed the citizens OF New Vienna to appear in
front OF his saloon. The bells were rung, and
In a few minutes an immense crowd was as
sembled: Alter signing and prayer by the
ladies, an Pelt came to the door of his saloon
and said that he was ready to give up
his entire stock in trade for the good
OF the cause OF temperance. In few remarks
ne expressed his determination to make a ful;
surrender, not because OF law or force, but he
yielded to the laboIs of love of the womer,
Van Pelt then told a minister OF the gospel who
was present to bring out his whisky and beer
ana Selling an axe the convert exclaimed
"Ihls Is the axe that Lad to defend myself
and business, and now i am going to use IL 10
of his barrels and spilled the whisky on
the ground. The audience m ade Var Pelt a
present OF $50, not as a com pensation for
his whiskey, but as an expression Of their good
feelings toward him for his sacrifice. Van Pelt
has now joined the praying band, and is the
Leading spirit OF the temperance movement in
New Vienna.