The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-14
a Wackuev Coach Driver.

- =, Cuisines is getting dull in my lne,"
said hackman in Pittsburg. II don't
make the good hauls that used to. I'sposc,
Of note in that hack of mine out there than
all the rest Of the hackmon in this town
together" "IIow is that2" queried the
reporter. "Wcll, have hauled all the
great actors and actresses that have come
to this city for the past twenty years.
Seems to me tnat the profession is getting
to know me, and whenever l sec Lawrence
Barrett get off the tram says, 'How are
you, MIR. Barrctt2' and lie turns round and
recognizes me. Barrett is a good fare and
pays double, 50 he don't forget the hack
men. The last time that he was here l
hauled HIM to the hotel and then to the
theatre and when he got out he felt in his
pockets and found he hadn't cent with
him. says AL right. Mr.. Barrett and
he told me to call at the hotel the next day.
went around and he gave me a gold piece.
Barrett is generous to us hackmcn, and
always has kind word or joke to pass
with us. lie Is not like old Forrest, who
is dead and gone. | hauled him down
from the depot once, and my front axle
broke Mt the corner Of Grant Street. !
thought old Forrest would kill me. He
jumped out Of the hack and stormcd and
ragged and sworc like mailman. | tell
you he was not a uice customer TO handle.
Alice Oates, in her palmy days used to be
very dainty customer. She would come
out and look into my coach very carefully
before getting In, and was drcatifully afraid
that the cushions would soil her dress; then
she would look at the horses and the rig
to see If it was stylish. Within the last
few years, however, she has not been near
80 particular. She has changed great
deal since those carly days. Formerly sho
would come dancing out in vvacious,
sprigAtly way, that made her look very
pretty, but now when she comes here she
walks 10 my hack with her head down, as
slow and demuro as priest. She don't
seem TO care now whether tile cushions
soil her dress or not. She always paid me
well, and rate her among my best fares.
l suppose you remember when that old
Italian, Salvinl, was here. Well he was
curious fare; he couldn't speak English,
and when l started for the hotel would
rattle on the window and stick his head
out looking at the buildings. He stopped
me on Smithbeld Street, and pointed TO
the smoke overhead; it was rather misty
that day, and he did not seem to under
stand what caused it.
''Fcchtcr was mighty particular man
about driving, and would almost always
make me drive slow. When he came here
to open the Opera Honse l hauled him
from the depot, and lie began rchcarsing
some part in the hack and got very much
excited. | guess people on the side wallss
who heard him and saw his gestures
thought | was hauling madmun. Henry
Ward Bcccher is a nice fare. | get him
every time lie comes here to lecture; he
always has Il kind word and Joke and
never gets mad if get stuck in crowd of
wagons. He always gives me pass to
hls lectures. Theodore Tilton is a cranky
sort of fare, and never would say much
to me, tried to draw him out two 0,
three times when l have hauled him, but
he would always tell me to mind my own
business lie always saw that he gave me
the right fare and no more. l tell you
what it is, taking them all IN all, lecturers
and professionals make the best fares.
have got 50 now l can tell as quick as
see my old customers whether times arc
good with them or not, and while they
always pay we'll. they pay better wncn they
have had good run OF luck.
81 could go over long list Of stars that
l have hauled, but these have given you
will do for samples. Clara Louise Kcllog
is Il curious fare to haul. Every time 1
have hauled her she finds something to
scold me about. And ono time she had a
terrible row with Miss Cary in my hack
about something. | tell you expected to
see a hair-pulling match, but they quicteC
down before we reached the hotel. | sec
by the papers that Ole Bull is dead. Poor
Ole, he was mighty kind hearted man.
f,.t I l,.. I ,sI
hard up, and he talked and chattcd with
me about my business, and gave me IL ten
dollar bill He was mighty good man,
80 he was.
"Lucile Western was strange fare.
She was always bcdming with kindness ]
hauled her down to the hotel one night,
and she told me to wait and take her to the
theatre. The front window was open, and
she would ask nc all sorls OF questions
about Pittsburg and its people. After she
got her supper she came out to get into the
hack, and noticed she had been drinking.
She spoke very kindly to me though, and
when she got to the theatre told Inc to
keep my hack at the door for her. told
her all right, and was driving away when
she called me back and asked me If !
wanted to sec the play. told her could
not afford to waste the time, and she said:
'Oh, never mird, III pay you double
She gave mo pass and | went in. She
played Leah that night, and | tell you she
played it for all there was in the part.
When she came TO the 'cursc scene she
beat her face on tho floor. She was very
much excited, and l think will never SEQ
II woman play That part as she did that
night. Poor Lucille, she didn't live very
long after that night.