River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-09-24
PRACTICAL JOKE.
[Bloomington Pantagraph. ]

Some time ago there was an order issu.
ed from the general superintendent Of.
flee Of the Chicago and Alton railroad, re.
curing all agents and other employees con-
nected with the road 10 wear badges when
upon duty, designating the position they
nave, that the travelling public might,
without mistake, know who to apply to
Tor any information or protection requlr.
ed. This order in due time was sent to
he different agents along the line of the
road. together with the badge they were
to wear.
Among the agents that received this
order and badge was Mr.. j. X. Madison,
of Washington. upon the western division
of the road, who Immediately carried out
the order. lie was very much pleased
with the badge, as it was quite ornamen-
tai, and showed to everyone the position
held. He thought it would save many
questions as to the rank he held upon the
staff of this large corporation, so he wore
1t continually, only around town,
but to church and other places OF amuse-
ment-and when he took off his hat he
would place it in very conspicuous po-
sition, that it might draw attention.
The young men Of w ashingtor began to
feel quite taken aback by the attention
given the young railroad agent, therefore
they set their heads together to get rig
on him, which they saw fully carried out
yesterday to the delight OF all the citizens
of the above-named city. They pur.
chased very fine sword and belt
down the road somewhere, and then
wrote letter purporting to come from
the general uperintendent, informing all
gents that in future they would be re-
| quired to wear the sword and belt, as il
would add greatly to the appearance of
the leading official at the station, as well
as giving him something with which to
defend the patrons of the road from the
confidence men and pickpockets that are
always to be found at railway station.
This was taken north and given to the
train men, who. on the arrival of the
train at Washington, delivered it to Mr..
Madison, who promptly put it on; and
Yesterday he was seen promenading the
streets in full dress, strutting about as
proud as major general. The novelty
of the thing created considerable laugh
ter among the citizens, who began to ask
him about the cause of all tins display,
whereupon he showed the Instructions.
Some one told him that the whole thing
was Joke upon him, and that he had
better see if the thing was general
throughout the line, so he repaired to the
office and by telegraph asked the agents
at Lacon and Wenona if they had got
their swords, &C., to which they replied
they had, that they were the laughing.
stock Of everyone, but that they did not
mind it, as they would soon become used
to it. Getting the assurance that there
was no joke about it, he resumed his bus
mess without any further trouble
Before night the joke had gone the
length of the wires on every division Of
the road, and ripple Of laughter was
continuous from Chicago, Louisiana, and
Washington to Chicago, and probably
has spread by this time to every tele-
graph line in the Union. If Mr.. Madison
ever hears the end of it he may bless his
lucky stars.