The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-12-23
NO MONEY in PASSES.
Sad Tale of % Commercial Traveller Whe
Was BeGuiIed Into Using One.

so you think it must be a great
thing TO travel on u pass and not have
to pay any railroad fare. do youp" said
The peregrInating representative OF n
Worth street dry-goods house to
friend who had corralled him in town
the other day and driven him into a
lunch-room. 81 remember when / used
to think SO myself, before | knew any
thing about it. I've got more sense
now. There is no greater delusion in
the worlu than u railroad pass, and
will tell you why. | had been on the
road two years, travelling in the west,
before got a pass. Then friend put
me on to scheme by which could get
one of the magic pasteboards as far as
Chicago, and 1 had looked upon pass
with almost superstitious reverence
and upon the man who carried one rs
singularly fortunate person. When
1 finally got one thought had struck
one of the biggest pieces of luck of my
life. Have you got u piece of paper
there? Wen see how much 1 saved.
I've been through this experience SO
much since that | know il by heart
The regular fare 10 Chicago is so. but
you can get scalper's ticket for Sl3.
Now TO get pass had to 90 to the
railroad office, and the clerk whose
good offices used to get the necessary
pull intimated that it was usual in such
cases to ask some of the BOYS out to
have something. l compromised on
him. and we went out and cracked a
number OF small bottles for So 30. Then
l met the friend who had told Inc how
to get the pass waiting TO see what
luck | had. He also intimated, and we
bowled up again for S1.7j. Then as
was going TO save SO much money 1
thought l could afford TO be generous,
and SO invited my friend TO supper with
me. That knocked out So more. NV
friend insisted on seeing me to my train,
and on the way we had two or three
more drinks, and l sent another dollar
after the others. Then for another
dollar 1 bought handful of cigaEs,
though / seldom smoke. Then | got
away.
II paid So for my sleeping-car berth,
and. feeling very good, spent 81 each
for breakfast, dinner, and supper the
next day. Then bought book did't
want for Sl.5O; in the overlooking kind
ness of my soul blew in so cents for
candy for little girl, and sat in
game Of penny-ante SO. 10, because some
of the officials of the road asked ME,
and i'll view of the pass episode |
couldn't refuse. Pretty soon the con-
duc;or struck up an acquaintance with
me, and 1T Il station where we made 4
long stop ''intimatcd'' with the usual
Results. Next, one of the BOYS who
never has Il cent came and sat down
with me. He saw the pass when !
pulled IL out To show another conductor.
and instantly struck me for 81. The
next morning, when the porter gave ME
back my pass, he took occasion to lay
particular emphasis on this word, and
of course Il man who is travelling free of
charge ought TO be generous, so | gave
the dusky capitalist another dollar. 1t
took another to buy the kind of break
fast a man who travels on a pass should
eat, and another to ride in state 10 the
hotel, though walking was always good
enough for me before. Now let's see
what you have there:
Two small bot Candy for little