Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-07-26
BOUNCED HIM.
How a Newspaper Man Exerted
His Authority ana Dismissed
An IInpudent Conductor.


Detroit Free Press.l
Last summer Mr.. Theodore Cook.
a barber of Cincinnati, gave a little
dinner party to some friends at the
Queen City club, the guests being
General A. 7. Goshorn, of centennial
memory, General Andy Hickenlooper.
lieutenant governor Of Ohio, and
some others of less note. They ate,
drank and were merry, and cared not
that time few and money was twelve
per cent. The hour was late when
the services were at length concluded,
and half an hour later Mr. r. w.
Criswell, then OF the Cincinnati En-
quirer, on his way home from the
office, boarded a street car which was
crowded to the platform, and the
tired humoriot stood outside with the
other people just as though he WASH t
rich enough to own street car of his
own. The driver was also tired, but
not being humorist, he was likewise
cross, and as soon as he saw
Criswell leaning comfortably
up against the brake handle,
which alternately punched his
9ack and jahbed his ribs, he rough
ly ordered him to go inside and hang
dlseli up by one of tue unsatslac
tory straps. AS every strap was occu
pied by two men, so as water couldn't t
nave passed through the crowd at the
door, Criswell said he didn't care to
20 inside, that he wanted to stand on
the platform and look at the scenery.
The driver didn't attempt to smother
his wrath, but ordered The Journalist
to go inside or get of. Still the man
who laughed and made other people
laugh refused to 60, and the driver
made ready to put him of, and mat
ters began to look serious. The other
passengers frightened up with that
expression Of cheerful and expectant
interest they always assume when
there is any prospect of the fellow
man getting a laundering good lick
ing, and the paragrapher began to
think there was every chance in the
world for him to be made horrible
example of, and he hated the prospect
most awfully. Something had to be
done, and there wasn't much time to
do it in. The reporters training stosd
him in good stead. One quick glance
through the car showed him there was
no one present who knew him.
Come, young fellow" shouted the
driver, inside or I'll bounce you
across the street"
Criswell turned on him like a fash.
My man." he said, with dgnifed
severity, you don't know who | am.
but I've had my eyes on you for sew
eral days There ave too many con-
ductors like you on this road, and we
are fast losing friends every day be.
cause our patrons are insulted by
conductors who are Doors and rufians.
Now you can pull the bell l-cord and
let me get off. But you need not take
out the car tomorrow there will be
man to take your place. When you
take the car in to night, turn over
your bell punch and ask for your time,
That will settle it.
The humorist swung himself off the
car and walked away, the conductor
starring at him in blank, speechless
dismay, while the passengers seemed
to think they had just seen the presi
dent of the Cincinnati Consolidated
street railroad company. and tbev
eheerfully assured the conductor that
he had made the mistake Of his life.
Oriswell had noted the face Of the
driver, and the number of the car,
and the next day he waited for the
same car, and when he got on, sure
enough there was a new conductor.
Where is the conductor that was
on yesterday ?" Robert asked, as he
paid his fare.
"0h," the new man said, springinq
the bell punch, "the blame fool tried |
to bounce director last night and he
got fred"