New-York tribune., 1884-01-26
EXCITING RIDE IN 4 BRoADWAr STAGE
Az INEXPEEIENCEp DRIVER AND HIS QUEER
ARITHMETIC.

ARITHMETIC.
As the Broadway stage No - rlmbled leis-
urely down toward Union Square the other morning, 4
pot,l5, middle-ased gentleman with u mgh mar anu
slender silk umbrella clambercd in between the hesy
ads o one side Of the passage and the knees Of INN
clerical peron opposite and handed up silver quarter 10
the driver f. change for his fare Hc was new ana I
expc,ieaccd driver, stawart young man. aIert ai"
promising for the craft lie put the silver quarter "a III
vest pocket handing hack the gentleman TWO H''' q"
ycppcs each containing ten ceuts
Is that all right 2" shouted the gentleman uo"e" '
hoe In the top of the stage.
It's all richt!" shouted back the driver
Bat the rules say thai must pat my owA iafe IN 'iie
box. sll.' called the portly gentleman.
rs an right" shouted the driver again. aAd me
gentleman sat down and pocketed his change
Being new in the craft driver No. was not yet hard
cned IA conscience ond all apprehension, and he felt
trouled a. he drove and reflected He bad realized
quatter dollar from the transaction. the gentleman
had received twenty cents, but the stage company
profits were blank The driver recognized that such
division WAS say the least rather onesided But his
arithmetic had beer Quilted in the interval since school
days. and hc puzzled how to adjust the differences
equtably
Ia this emergency another passenger hailed the stage
and an lc came the driver lie would collect two or
three nickes and then put the quarter in The box
This would SIN leave him profit He rang
the Ela 10 attract The passengers attention. hut the
signal was not understood IL mbcedcd. Another
passenger got n and the driver rugthe bell again. with
no better result Then Jhcre were two new passengers
elderly lady and young man. ana ao% the driver
thoGrht he had hem hut they made mp the change he
tween them ard pat il in the box without paying any at
teutioG g. the bell Being inexperienced the driver be
gan 20 grow ncyo1s. He hailed the first passing stage
with he sifal his craft for distress. Evidently the
otner drive: misiut-rpreted the signal for he Sbook ms
head and passed or The driver OF stage No. - then
made diagonal cIt across EroadWay to intercept the
next ejace
81 don't see what T., the matter with our driver" i'm
patiently said the elderly lady who had -t got in; he
has crossed the street half dozen times on this
block.
lie IaIS be dunk crazy. ma'nn' said the portly
gentleman. The other passengers grumhed and NUT
tered aufavnrhe CnmGcuts the driver b Just n m
iacpeut riiny seemed about 10 break forth his signal
was recognized and lie tossed little package Of
change from pass4g stage Thon he gathered up M.
reus and the hol tbai getting restless under this
zgzag r0yemeat started forward at rapid pace They
were spirited animals aul Glanced that Boad"ay was
coupa catvry clear they had every opportunity OF
way sGaad looked astoanded a. he saw the stage 20
tlp1GeIcg over the stone pavement like n Roman
:irs going it now" said the portiy gentleman looking
armand rather GuOiously at the "'her passengers Al
Cuoal-,t the sused sigtpnf h.t haTiig crossed hat
thoro:gharc II cdoIbea the stage swinging ny heavy
express wagon and escaping collision only by hairs
~Oh' shric&ed the elderly Lady, a know he's drank
and we shall all lie killed Somebody stop nm. want
phi the strap" shouted several passengers once,
all catching hold Of il with the same breath.
Every Experienced driver has developed pecu
ar scHStiyeness the sole OF his .ot which rests
tn8ally the strap by which the sc door is kept fast
rucd The slightest touch the trgp is sufficient 10
telegraph old driver the wis Of PASSENGER. Bnt
the driver Of Stage No not expert, aud ~ thar
moment h, whole strength was needed ln The 'hoit 10
control the and the strap did not yield under the
united strain OF tie passengers.
Ihi> is outrage" exclaimed tine polilr gcue eman,
red IN thc face. Don't be frightened. iuaam Driver.
he shouted through the hole IN the op of tie stages but
lur Of tie ych Gle drove his htT O the roof. and Ec
sank back the seat ga~ing: III report that driver!
Sleady-gUg Pcdt stIim~ noticed the break meek pace
Of The stage IL rushed down the srect and wondered
Sonc seeing the p0rtiy gentleman IN crushed nat and
viuduV-. thought 81 load of patients nom Wards
leland. The passengers clung To tIe >eat OF thesway
nG vehicle N disuaY When the elderly lady, who
about to faint, received an iu-p -piratiou.
Poke lin in the back with the umbrella she cried in
husky voice.
The po.tly gentleman iaumcd The umbrella through
the hole IN tie Of the stage into the drivers back.
control Of h horses. tie driver tat lc L1d made
up lost time His foot relaxed and te stage door swung
OPEN All tAo passengers crowded ont ~ c Stage came
to pause. the por..y gentleman, with niuti'c gal
!aiy, a--i ting tAc f-iy l1jE aud tlr elderly woman 10
aEii and clucane tDu to be- calm. h't He shook LIS
umbrella h.lcr.y at tAe driver as Lr sAouted:
d" l'l report Won lUI this. TuH ~Cu.Il.Cl.
Couldn't help if. hu-- -Loutut uact lie driver with
a solemn tce; them holl-e, too many tuI me-
10 drove ou down broadway al iLolc l-l.Hiclr pace.
rcpoit.z tac cui0rs f'c3k lis horses Lad taken lie
quetcet horses N lie company = Stables.