The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-12
THE LATE CITY CARS.

II DR.. Fowler, or some other OF those seek
ers after chronological and physiognomical
truths. would try q short trip down to New
Orleans and take ride in any of our street
cars after II 80 o'clock, we feel satisfied the
field opened for study would repay the time
and trouble taken. It is not, perhaps, that
our late cars differ essentially from those of
other cities, but having had long and some
what fruitful experience in them, we can
speak with assurance.
In the two corner seats there ara invaria-
bly, two sleepy men. Either the days labors
or the soothing effects of frequent potations,
as q rule, have SO rendered them oblivious
that, saving the extraordinary exertion re-
quired to deposit their fare, they are supreme
ly serene to outside transactions.
After the car has started. there is invaria-
bly, the late man, endowed by benign Provi-
dence with peculiar powers of whistling. A
sor. of half-and-half engine shrek and dogs
yelp reaches the driver, and the vehicle stops.
The man, who generally is of about fifty
years of age, manages to reach the steps,
when, in order to prove to those inside that
he is completely sober, yells out, Go
ahead !" A struggle for the box ensues, and
after he has succeeded in paying his nickel,
he subsidies into the nearest seat.
As street after street is passed, aud beer sa-
loon after beer saloon is emptied, the crowd
is somewhat increased, and when Canal street
is left few squares distant, it may generally
be said the complement is reached. The ex-
element incident upon the entrance of other
passengers dies away, and then the individ-
uality of the late old boys" creeps out
The corner men have been long since lost
in the arms of that much-sbused old fellow,
Morpheus, and may be considered off the
scene. but their nearest neighbors, as if def
ant of the approach of the drowsy one, gaze
out of the windows on blank darkness, pre-
tending that they recognize familiar spots.
Their eyes appear heavy, and there is present
constant tendency to wink; but should some
incautious traveller suggest that these gentle
men are somewhat sleepy, the idea would
be secuted.
Halfway between the door and the driver
frequently can be noticed slight and rather
delicate female form. Her face does not ex-
hibit many marks of refinement, but the taw-
dry, soiled silk with which she is adorned,
tells plainly of her avocation. This poor
beer. ierker, wearied with the surfeit of full.
some compliment she has received during the
evening, and in response to the demands of
old Dune Nature, makes several feints at
keeping wide awake, and then drops off into
series Of cat maps. The little reticule which
she so closely guards contains her days earn
ings, and no matter how much fa.igued she
never forgets it.
All goes along we'll until all hands are
aroused by stentorian cry of "Hold up,
driver; hold upr' and the brake is put on.
A dim shadow comes out of the darkness
and short colloquy is held with the tireless
Jehu at the reins But few words can be
| caught, but enough to let all inside know
that the man outside is asking " whether this
| ere car runs up to somewhere that it
never did, nor where no other car ever did.
| Sometimes a servant in quest OF the doc
tor gets in. There's no installing her. Re-
porters know what her errand is The rest
less rolling of the eyes. the nervous watching
for street corners, and the restlessless, tell
plainly what the mission is. 1t was not long
before they began to drop out-we ase the
word advisedly for the rough, uncouth man
ner in which most of the drowsy ones man
aged to effect an exit could not be character
| lied otherwise. The streets became lonelier,
the street lamps further apart, and at last the
reporter left the driver alone with his mule,
as the bells sounded o'clock in the morning.