Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-18
THE TICKET AGENTS, TROUBLES.
The Questions That Are Asked Of Him
and How he Manages 70 Answer
Them - The Store OF knowledge
Which He Has to Keep Always On
TOp-Human Nature as Seen Through
a Ticket Window.

Ticket WINDOW
81 want to go to-to-Oh? to-rve forgot tn.
| name ofthe place. It's got tree to It, It.
| on your railroad; don't you know the name O
| It? On. it's little town in Cass county, how
much will it cost me? ?" She was fat lady witt
a bundle. a parasol and little leather hant
bag. She laid the parasol and the bundle or
the counter. dove her hand into the bag ant
looked hard at the ticket agent.
sit won't cost much, | reckon. num-" sait
that gentleman politely. But where do you
want to go?
40 Big tree (?). Oak tree O.. Tree "a
Tree Cd. It's some kind of tree in Cas-.
county It's on your road. Can't you find it il
the guide book? But just want to know what
| it will cost TO get there. Never mind the name
I'll think of that after while. Whatll it cost t
get there?"
"Do you mean to Cass county, No." asked
the agent, with a good natured smile
"Of course"
s'It'tl cost-lets see. About - dollars"
''Wil have to change cars often? How long
will it take me? Do they stop for meals? Prob.
ably I'd better take lunch? You'll take care
of my baggage: / won't have any trouble with
that, will |? Oh. but now tell me: If start from
here at ten o'clock in the morning what time
will get Thereon say il / start at eleven-oI
would get there?
Eyes. 1 guess So" replied the agent very
earnestly.
''Well. guess will if You think that's best
It's too bad | can't remember the name or that
place! Good morning; I'm much obliged You
are sure they make connections" and she
picked up her parasOl and bundle and shutting
her handbag with snap, smiled and frisked
out of the Office with the air of one who had
Travelled and knew all about it.
Tickets to New York. did you SAP" asked
the agent OF the next customer, consumptve-
looking individual. do you want a sleeper
Eyes. if the sheets arn't damp" replied the
customer. You are sure the sheets won't be
damp. took berth on a steamboat one time
and the sheets were damp. I'll find the sleeper
on the train? All right"
How do you manager" asked THE STAR
man when he found the agent few moments
later in the back office wiping the perspiraton
from his brow.
''You mean the peope7"
.'Yesr"
Get used to it."
How can you answer all their questions p
urged the scribe
Easily enough. They all ask about the
same thing. That is all those who don't travel
much. Those who are good travellers don't ask
much. Why | could generally answer their
questions before they ask them. ] know just
what they're going to ask. That is, the average
OF them But it's a curious thing to be in a
ticket Office. You have got to know everything
Every imaginable question is put to you. and
tou VIC Sot W huO" Tile UdiDS vi every little
town along the whole system of railroads OF
what's the best way to get to it If it's off the
road. You have got to know just what connec-
tons each train makes and what time it reaches
each place along the road Oh! there's no end
Of what you have to know to be ticket
agent"
''How can you remember it all?''
+ 'By constant practice we get general knowl-
edge, and we have maps and books of reference
to help US out. But some folks want to go to
places that are not on the maps or any where
else that we know of. Then we have to send
them to the Post Office to find out where the
place is"
You meet some curious people?"
81 should say so and they can ask more ques-
lions in ten minutes than you could think OF If
yOu lay awake all night"
Women, suppose ah?" said the scribe.
"We wOmen-some women-are bad
enough, but there are men who arpworse. The
meanest people we have to deal with are those
who could answer their own questions better
than We can. Men will come here and ask all
sorts of questions about some little out of the
way station which they are perfectly familiar
with. and after we have answered them the best
We can, they wink one eye two or three times,
as much as to say. now I've caught you and
go On to tell us that it amt SO, and So but thus. "