The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-10-03
In A B0B-TAIL CAR.

1t was about noon of dark day late in
November, and long threatened drizzle
of hail chilled the air, as Harry Bracket
came out of the Apollo House and stood
on the corner of Fourth avenue, waiting
for cross-town car. He was going down
iowa 10 the Office of the Gotham Ga
zette," to write up an interview he had just
had with the latest British invader of these
United States, Lady Smith Smith, the fair
aulhoress of the very popular novel, Smile
and be Villain STILL five rival editions
of which were then for sale everywhere
IN New York. Harry Bracket Intended
to ride past Union Square TO Sixth ave-
nue. in the cross-town car and then 10
go 10 the Gotham Gazette" by The ele-
waited railway; so he transferred ten cents
for the fare OF the latter and five cents for
the fare of the former from his waistcoat
pocket to little pocket in his overcoat.
Then he buttoned the overcoat tightly
about MIN, as the raw wind blew harshly
across the city from river to river. He
looked down the street for the car; it was
afar off, on the other side of Third avenue,
and he was standing on the corner OF
Fourth avenue.
"a bob-tai car" said Harry Bracket
to himself, "is like policeman: it is
never here just when it is wanted. And
yet it is necessary evil-like the police
man again. Perhaps there is here phil
osophical thought that might be worked
up as comic editorial article for the fifth
column. THE Beb-tail Car why, the
very name is humorous. And there are
lots of things 10 be said about it. For n-
stance, | Can get something out Of the sug-
gestion that the heart of coquette is like
q bob-tail car-there is always room for
one more. But suppose | must not ven.
ture on any pun about ringing the belle.
Then Can say that the bob-tail car is
one horse concern, and is therefore vic
tim of the healthy American hatred of
one-horse concerns. 1t has no past; 20
gentleman of the road ever robbed its pas
sengers; no road-agent nowadays would
think of holding it up. Perhaps that's
why there is no poetry about bob-tail
car, as there is about a stage coach. Even
Rudolph Vernon, the most modern OF pro-
fesslonal poets, wouldn't dream OF writing
verses on Riding in Bob-tail Car.
Wasn't it Heine who said that the monks
of the middle ages thought that Greek was
personal invention of the devil. and that
he agreed with them? That's what the
bob-tail car is-a personal invention OF the
devil. The stove-pipe hat, the frylng-pan,
the tenement house, and the bob tall car,
these are the choicest and the chief OF the
DEVILS gifts to New York. Why doesn't
that car come confound it! Although it
cannot swear itself. it is the cause of much
swearing"
Just then the car came numbering along
and humping with a repeated jar as Its
track crossed the tracks on Fourth avenue.
Harry Bracket jumped On it as it passed
the corner where he stood. His example
was followed by a stranger, who took the
seat opposite to him.
AS the car sped along toward Broadway
Harry Bracket mechanically read, as he
had read dozen times before, the printed
request to place the exact fare III the box.
Suppose [ don't put it in, he unused,
"what will happen2 The driver will ask
for tiff he has time and happens to think
of il. n This is very tempting to man who
wants to try the Virginia plan of readjust-
ing his debts. Here is just the opportunity
for any one addicted to petty larceny. |
think that | shall call that article The
Bob-tail Car as Demoralizer.' 1t is most
demoralizing for q man to feel that there
is no conductor to ask for it. However,
I suppose tbs main reliance of the compa-
ny is on the honesty of the individual citi-
zen who would rather pay his debts than
not. doubt if there is any need to dun
the average American for five conts."
Harry Bracket lowered his eyes from
the printed notice at which he had beeu
staring unconsciously for minute, and
they fell on the man sitting opposite TO
him-the man who had entered the car as
he did.
Il wonder if he is the average Ameri-
CAM" thought Bracket. 'He hasn't paid
his fare yet. | wonder if he will? 1t isn't
my business to dun him for it, and yet I'd
like 10 know whether his intentions are
honorable or not"
The car turned sharply into Broadway,
and then came to halt to allow two young
ladies to enter. A third young lady es-
corted them to the car, and kissed them
affectionately, and said
"Good-byel You will be sure to come
again l have enjoyed your visit So
much"
Then the two young ladies kissed her.
and they said, both speaking at once and
very rapidly:
''Oh, yesl We've had s,cch good time!
Well write youl And you must come out
to Orange and see US soonl Good bye
Goodbye! Remember US 10 your mother
Goodbye"
AT last the sweet sorrow Of this parting
was over; the third young lady withdrew
to the sidewalk; the two young ladies
came inside the car; the other passengers
breathed more freely; the man opposite &c
Harry Bracket winked at him siyly, aud
the Car went on again.
There was vacant seat on the side OF
the car opposite to Harry Brackett-or al
least there would have been one If the Ia
dies on that side had nor, with character
istic GOODNESS, spread out their skirts so as
to occupy the whole space. The two
young ladies stood for moment after they
had entered the car; they looked for seat
but no one of the other ladies made a sign