Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1886-10-09
CABBIES OF PARIS.
An American Who Was Frightened
by the Hackmen.

An American Who Was Frightened
by the Hackmen.
Paris Correspondence of the Boston Herald
Two years ago I saw here in Paris great
fear shown frequently by one of the biggest
gamblers of New York. He has been a
"sporting man" all his life; he has been the
referee at several prize fights: he has had to
do with roughs and "crooks" of all kinds
he also ''bucks the tiger" and plays for big
money at s'short cards" Noted always as
man of iron will, nerves of steel and IN
finching bravery, he has more influence over
thieves, gamblers and ruf6ans generally than
any American ever knew. For some time he
was the manager of John L. Sullivan
shall continue to write very respectfully of
that individual as long as his Cleft duke"
holds it's own-and was the only one ever
able to make that-you know what mean
behave himself.
Well, few years ago this very particular
sport passed some very miserable days in
Paris simply because he became thoroughly
frightened by the public hackmen. He was
very anxious to hear Patti, then singing at
the Nations. 1t was only few steps from
his hotel to that theater and suggested that
he had better walk there. "Walkl Catch
me in the street on foot. I wouldn't walk
from here to the other side of the boulevard
fer thousand dollars. I never step out of
this house but take my life in my hand,
and I tremble with fear until I get back
again There are cabmen out there who do
nothing but wait for me. When they see me
attempt to cross the boulevard or the Rue
Scribe they head their horses straight at me
and try their best to run over me-" 1t final
ly happened that he wouldn't walk a block if
by doing SO he'd have to make a crossing.
He always got into facre or a private car
riage.
There is no doubt about it, Paris cabbies
are very peculiar in their ways, and it GER
tainly does seem as if some of them were
bent on driving over all pedestrians whom
they can possibly find in their way. But
am rather inclined to think that this is not
because of any viciousness on their part, but
rather because of ignorance. 1t 1s astonish-
ing what poor drivers the public hackmen of
Paris are. Chevaliers of the whip on private
carriages are good here as you will find in
any city, but the "oocher de hacre" is as
stupid and Indifferent, as lazy and uncon-
trollable as any communist that ever was.
Still if there is one class of persons with
whom we have more to do with than another
it is these same public hackmen. Here more
than elsewhere is he the necessary oollabora-
tor in the three great events in the lives of
the Inhabitants. He will drive a merry we'd
ding party in the morning to the Butes Chau-
mont In the afternoon he may carry
mourners behind the hearse to Pere-la- Chaise
or Montmatre cemeteries; and then on his
way back is as likely not called on to take
a new born babe to the marie of the ward
for registration as French citizen. He
drives lovers to their rendezvous gaping
tourists through noisy thoroughfares and
business men to wholesale houses. Travel
ers engage him going to and coming from the
trains; all the world are his clients and few
of US can manage to get along without his
services. If he were not drinker of alb
sinthe or bad brandy, an eater of garlieky
dishes and a smoker Of vile cabbage leaves
or cut straw he would be great deal better
fellow than he is now.SsHe has contracted