Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-05-29
RAILROAD CONDUCTORS.

To the Editor Of the Ledger: 9r~
There is no class Of public men so use
full and self.sacrifcing as railroad con-
ductors that receive so little attention
and appreciation. There is no public posi-
ton so hard TO ill to the satisfaction of all
and in which men have such variety Of
character with which to deal. This class
of men are. in the fullest sense of the
term, public servants and public bene-
factors. Their lives continually in dan
ger, they are denied the enjoyment of
their families, the privilege OF attending
church, public amusements, and indeed,
are almost entirely cut of from all the
pleasures. privileges and enjoyments Of
social life, while they are continually
surrounded by strange faces. i5 ba bIs
Little as may be thought about it, it is
cot one man in fifty that possesses the
peculiar temperament and mental con-
stitution essential TO the qualifications
of popular conductor. The guardian
Of precious lives, he must be sober, vigi-
liant and prudent; liable to the emer-
gency OF an accident, be must be pos
sessed Of coolness, bravery and presence
OF mind; compelled to deal with every
variety Of character, be must have a
large stock of patience and good nature;
large sums of money entrusted TO his
honor, he must be characterized by
sterling integrity and uncompromising
honesty; brought in contact with the
higher orders Of society - President,
Senators, gentlemen who have time and
means to travel, the galloping business
man-every grade and character, he
must be the easy, polite, affable gentle
man.
One minute coarse clown, for the
sake Of notice, will fling at him the
question. How far is it to the next sta
uon2' while the next moment real
gentleman, peedinp information, may
politely ask aboHt future connections
all the time punching tickets, changing
moIey-waiting for that precious ticket
tied up in the corner of red bandana
stored away down at the bottom Of some
timid lady's bandbox, or in the fifth and
last pocket searched by, the nervous man
on his first trip with dozen dirty-faced
babies squalling all around him, and a
hundred eyes staring ayariciously at his
gold ring or diamond pin. wn
Surely patience and good nature are
among the prominent qualifications of a
good conductor. Having Travelled over
many Of the roads of our country, both
North and South, / have made it habit
to study, analyze and compare this class
Of public men. As there are many in
different preachers in the pulpit, many
thirdrate lawyers at the bar, many muir
derous quacks in medicine, SO have l
found many very poor railroad conduc.
tors; indeed, have seen some lacking
in every professional qualification, IN
less it was hardness Of heart to dump a
dead beat head-foiemost on the roadside
with considerable skill and relish.
On this road ! would find one grum,
sour and sdrly, acting upon the princi-
pie that everybody was his enemy and
he was friend to no one. On that one
/ would find another who appeared to
have the lockjaw on one side, jerking
out his laconic answers to civirquestions
for all the world as if he talked at the
enormous expense Of Eve dollars per
syllable. His face dark and forbidding,
he looked so uE-oome-at-sble, that even
rosy Tipped girls feared to address him.
But to the point. L wish to speak
particularly of our own conductors on
the Memphis and Louisville railroad,
Truly the managers have been fortunate
in procuring naturally endowed CON
ductors,9 Ny, occupation has required
me to travel on the road every day for
nearly two years, and / feel prepared to
testify to .heir entire fitness for the posi-
ton with a genuine pleasure. Partially,
too can find no ground for discrimina.
ton, whether speaking Of the genial,
sunny-faced old veteran, Cap, Hutcher.
SON. the mild-spoken, digni6ed "Pat"
Powers; the modest and affable Tygard,
or the pleasant, smiling young McDon-
aid These men are all sober prudent
and faithful to the interests Of those
they serve. Knowing no motive but
duty, they are firm and unanuhing in
exacting of all strict compliance with
the requirements Of the company, and
neither friends nor acquaintance ride
over the road as "dead-heads. At the
same time they always have pleasant
word on their tongues end and prompt,
polite reply to all inquiries. / have