New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-08


TESTING THE HONESTY or HIS PASSENGERS.
conductor of one OF the Broadway ear1
has been probing the meanness OF human nature to s
very depths by scattering whtc metal counters stsmped
I'm imitation of quarcr-dcIIar pieces upon the sea Of
BITS 10 abe1t 10 O'Clock tho othev evening that
he bcgsn his experiments and having taken TRrBUB
reporter who the only occupant Of the car into s
confidence. he proceeded dispose three Of the ax
ulent uieces at judicous intervals upon tho sests
Then the csnspirators sat and waited.
The first flies to enter the spiders paior young
and womanns ordir airy folk but very Handsomely
dressed he being Respondent In new summer SUIT and
white hat and she gay with many ribbons and ostrich
feathers At first they SAT down directly opposite the
spot where one Of the coins was lying but after minute
or 80 the discovered that there was ranght On
that s,de. they crossed over They were 90 richly
dressed that it absurd 10 suppose that quarter Of
dollar could he Of any importance either OF them 80
must have been purely by accident that he sat down u
beside the deceitful thing Then another accident
cured he dropped bis umbrella; curously enough too
1t fell with the handle right the counter and it
was wonderful what lot Of picking up that umbrella
took Apparently, however. he picked up nothing With
It, for next bis coat-tails eanted arranging and thsn
came lot Of fumblinz with his THIS appeared
more satisfactory. for with fnrtive gaico at the
porter to see he was observed nc slipped semessiss
s sm.S sr into his breast pocket ana the ''aaa''
Then there got in gentleman well past middle sse,
looking like clergyman. with white hair and sleAk Of
face he started to walk to the front door Of he car
50 one Of the bright d,ses In passing checked hse
changed bis mind and sat down plump beside Il fers
few inmates he shifted unconfortaby In his seat gan
ing quickly and down the car and occasionally scrcw
ing hts eyeba around IN vain endeavors to the soet
at bis side Then with lool Of sublime unconscons-
ness he took on his hat aud placed hight the com
His hand dropped beside ~ and whie bis eyes sui
gazed with bland Indifference straight IN front Of him.
Il gradually worked It's way under tho hat Then TIP
hat began to heaye and sway, ana to edge It's way ian
by zach along the seat like basket With cat under
meath Presently It stopped and the hand was with
drawn Than under prstence Of arranging hs necktte
the old gentleman took rapid look INTO the palm =
hts hand and by the light OF the lamp thar he had
been taken in. At the same moment he saw the 60
ductor smiling ct him aud caught the reportcs ere 10
eolored crimson picked up his hat grasped bis umbrella
and bolted out OF the
would not have believed It said .he reporter.
You don't know how mean people are until you ny
Them" replied .the conductor. but II docs mako ono
kind Of ashamed Of ones cell. don't 1t -
There was still one more piece lying temptingly upon
g seat hut Q workinFman got In and sat down
directly opposite to It. He . vcathns-boatens
hardly used workpgman, and his appearance seemed 70
Indicate that cents not too plentiful With hf.
After little time he the shining metal and Icaned
forward to look at It, Then he sat back; and thea
leaned forward again. Finally be attracted tho
conductors attention with Hi! mister'-and point
ing to the ccin somebody's been dropping their nsnez
ABOUT There's quarter lying or the seat there. sno
you'd better pick it up or ssuebody be stealing It.