The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-01-03
Letter from Washington CITY,

Have You line OF "bobtaiP street
cars in your cityf If not, you ought
to have one right away, for they fur
nish 90 much amusement to the pub
lie that they are almost as good as a
circus. A "bobtailn is a one-horse car
without q conductor, and each passen-
ger on getting in is supposed to de-
posit his faro before taking his seat, if
seat he can get You enter at the back
door as you do bar-room in local
option town, and pass to the front. In
doing SO you step on the toes Of the
lady with the large understanding,
kick the parasol out of the hand OF
the nervous lady, and by the time you
have reached a curve, over you go in
to the lap of the modest lady, Re
bounding, you crush the Alpine hat
Of the lady in the corner, and have
now reached the goal of your ambi-
ton, deposited your fare in the box ;
then, after gaining your equilibrium
you grasp q strsp, turn around and
attempt to apologize for the confusion
you. have caused, but you are met by
scowl from the lady with the crush
cd toe and by a shiver from the lady
who always holds her parasol clear
across the car. Next you catch the
eye of the modest lady who. colors ur
like a rainbow, when all eyes are
turned on you as though you had done
something terrible; and last but moi
least, the lady with the crushed straw
berry hat.tells you very politely thai
no damage was done, which for th'
time makes you feol easy. But alas
how uncertain are "bobtails" Tht
bell is rung, theF driver puts On tn,
brake, the horse, like Texas broncho
has set his forelegs on the ground
the car is suddenly stopped, and ou
you go on men, women and children
all swearing vengeance ON the bob
tail" BY the way, as we were paseinl
the Baltimore and Ohio depot the 9th
or day, q man hailed our car. w,
stopped, and he soon made his ap
pearance with large yslise, coat an,
umbrella in one hand, cane, and
chain attached TO Sooner pup" il
the other. He got in, pulled the 'dore
in after him and took his seat. Sool
the driver commenced to ring his bel
but country" paid no attention to il
until q small red-headed boy says
mister, the driver wants your fare.
"Beg pardon" he replied, "how muc
is itt" and was answered, Give cents
He then went down into his pockt
aud pulled out o handful Of chang
the smallest he had being quartz
and said that he did not have hS
cent piece, and gave the boy q quartz
who from some cause or other got
the end Of his journey at this poin
and left the car. The driver con
menced to ring again, and country
attention being called to it, ne said
had given the boy quarter, but w
told that the boy had nothing to {
with the Car, and he had lost b
money. he looked all around for Il
boy or policeman, but could s
neither, for the boy had divided wi
the "cap" who lodged around Il
corner Well, he gave another qus
ter TO the driver who gave him sm'
envelope with his change in it, viii
he put into his pocket and took |
seat, not knowing what to do next,
perhaps thinking he had no right
open sealed envelope not address
to himself. The bell commenced
ring again, and being reminded Il
he had not yet paid his fare, he 81
hc had given the driver quarter, a
was told the driver had returned b
his change and that he should put
fare in the box, which after beggi
pardon again he prodesded to do, a
dropped the envelope containing
whole change in the box, and
down. He was then told that the 4
was but Ave cents, and he had !
twenty-five in the box, whereupon
advanced to the driver and demand
that he give him twenty cents ba
and was told that nobody but
clerk at the end OF the line had K
or had any right to open the box,
il he would ride 10 the end of the Ii
and state his case, he could get
money, He asked how far it was, {
was told five miles, when he cC
menced TO swear, 20 the smusemen
Gll, and on threatening to throw
or two out the back door, he was
minded that he looked like 8 Il
who was familiar with back doors,
on which he commenced to paint
town red, but policeman came Vi
the scene at this point, and run |
in, since which time he steers clea
''bobtaila WATAua.
A New York lady, while visiting