Smyrna times., 1875-12-15
The Street Car Conductor.

From the moment in which the street
car conductor mounts the platform and
signals Jerry, the driver, to 20 ahead. until
the empty car curves again into the depot.
and he skips off lightly to report his fares,
our friend, the conductor, must he oIart
with all his senses and vigilant in all hi.
movements to serve the cOmpany'sunorato
ful patrons. He must have his eyes wide
open for the futtcring handkerchief and
bobblng sunshade with which the ladies'
signal him from the crowded sidewalk. and
must keep an attentive ear for the shrill
whistle and lusty yell of the tardv passcn-
ger from distant corner. He must have
another eye, too, for the occupants of the
car who may be arriving at their dcstiua-
ton, and he has the most lively anticipa-
ton OF the abuse which he will receive
should he chance to forget the street at
which the mOrose old lady in the further
corner Of the car has ordered him to ston
In the midst of these opposing duties he
will OF course collect his fares. punching. as
1t may happen, ticket or pass or trip slip
while the fatal jingle of mysterious bell
assumes the presence of a merciIess monitor
to warn passenger and conductor with
equal halshncss against casual error or
deceit. And with unvarying courtesy he
must make the change for those who are
innocent OF arithmetic and those who know
too much, dealing out tickets with tireyomc
accuracy, and making up his record. when
the trip is over, with all the minutcncss of
United States treasury accountant. lie
knows, be he ever 80 honest, that in the
sight OF the company he is not above srSpi-
clon, and if he learns in time to dcspise his
own character and to distrust himself. is
thereany degradation worse than his? How
precise about other things must he be. too.
hearing rcproach and insult and actual con.
tempt with eqaul Indifference, whenever he
fails to stop his car exactly on the crossing.
or Is little bchindhand at the depot. or
does not see the passenger who halls him
half a square away.
1t Will not do for him to be less generous
with his arms for on market mornipos
there are baskets, stuffed with all sorts Of
bulky provender, which he must lift to the
platform for the stout matrons who have
been provisioning. and over which. for the
rest OF the trip, he is destined to be per-
petuaily stumbling. And when it is rainy
weather ana the air is thick with humbrellas.
1t Is he who must help all the dripping
water-proofs to the slippery step, while the
water pattcrs relentlessly down his unpro.
tected neck, and endure without hnching
the sharp complaints of those who, having
found place upon the crowded platform.
eke out their gratitude in scolding the con
ductor for carrying such heavy load.
How does lie eat or sleep? Who knows
who cares? Sometimes the passenger
notices a tin can handed up to the platform
at the corner of some narrow street. and he
may guess at It's contents There is Gun
OF coffee inside, perhaps, and sandwich or
two, but the former will be cold when the
depot is reached, and haste is poor relish
for the latter. But when does he sleep?
There have been kind words spoken for the
weary mechanic whose labor is oyer at sun
set, but for him who is busted till midnight
there are only ieers and laughter. His life
IS desert without oascy. a week without
end or bcginning.-H HArjcluhm T3a5s.