The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-06-13
CUPID AND CUT RATES.
a New York Scalper's Romantic
Love Story.
THE sCALPER's NARRATION.

They say that "all is fair in love and
war" The railroad companies have
found out that there is a good deal that
is not fair in this war of cut rates. You
may think this is a joke. If you've got
any such foolish idea as that into your
head, just tackle the first stakeholder
you meet and see if he don't tell you it.
cold, hard truth. This sort of funny
business between the trunk lines-you
cut my throat and cut yours, so to
speak-has made it lively for us. Too
lively, to be honest with you, when we
come to Inquire up the profits. I'd rather
see less people here in my Broadway
office and more money. Don't you see
for yourself that it is less wear and tear
on the nerves, not to speak of the furni-
ture, to sell twenty tickets day at a
clean commission of three dollars a
ticket, than to sell one-hundred on
fifty-cent margin, not to speak of hav-
ing to turn ourselves inside out as a
universal railway guide and bureau of
information for two hundred more peo-
pie, who finally go 10 some other follow s
shop to buy their ticketsp
The theory of our side of the railroad
business and the basis of our success -
when we have any--is that half the
world wants to get something for moth
ing, something for less than it is worth,
something cheaper than the market
price. So you see, we don't have any
very altitudinous opinion of the class Of
folks who mostly patronize us. Our
best customers are fellows who could
just as well afford to pay full rates and
never know the difference. OF course,
though, a good many poor people come
here, and in helping them save dollar
or two dollars, feel as though we are
regular out and out, ied-in-the-wool
philanthropists. 1faro
Funny customers? Do we have anvil
Do we have anything else? | would
like to ask you. Some of them are reg.
ular, but mostly transient. I'll tell you
about one of my regular customers il
you'll keep it to yourself If it should
get out the boys would have the grand
laugh on me, from Canal street to the
Astor House. 1t was about six weeks
ago-just six weeks ago to-day if YOU
are so particular about dates-that
young woman came in and asked:
"What does ticket to Chicago
costP" ~
"Seventeen dollars" / said. .t.
Without another word she walked
out-except, l believe, she did say
"Thank you" in very low tone.
The next day she came again ant
asked the same question and got tn
same answer. The third time she came
which was the day following, noticed
her more closely. She was very plain
ly dressed, but somehow her dry good
looked better than some that cost pill
of money. She knew how to wea
things like lady. She might hav
been saleswOman or school-teache
or anything of that sort that lad,
might be who was down in her luck
She looked paleand sad, but there wa
something brave in her eyes that mad
fellow respect her. AT any rate,
made me pultoff my hat and lay m
cigar down-and there are mighty FEY
folks ever do either for in bushes
hours.
"What is the price of Chicago tick
ct to-day?"
sixteen dollars" said.
There was Just a little glad strea
came into her tires face at the drop Q
dollar that made me wonder how gla
she would look if the tumble had bee
five times as large. But she only sal
"Thank you" and walked quietly ava
as before. L wondered if she woul
come again, but the next day she wa
here at about the same time. Price
had stiffened up again. and l felt like
brute when l had to say "Seyentee