The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-09-18
HENRY /. BIOSSAT, Business Manager
ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 49, 1882

what they consider; it is the pleasure
OF getting something without having
to pay for it.
"Most of the people who ride on the
cars are we'll enough off to pay their
fares and not feel it They care moth.
ing for the nicke! itself, truly believe,
but-oh, 1 can't understand their mo.
tives.
"For my part. l should pay my fare
and enjoy the ride, but there are
many persons of different turn OF
mind. They are never happier, so far
as my observations go, than 'uhen
stealing a ride. I say stealing ride,
because there are more ways of steal.
ing rides than by hanging on behind
in the small-boy fashion. And mean
stealing ride, for these people go in
for that purpose. Though it is theft
on small scale, still it is theft
"Just imagine a well-dressed man
and woman sitting bolt upright on a
front seat in the car, with their faces
turned sternly to the front, not daring
to glance to either side or to the rear
for fear of attracting the attention Of
the conductor.
"They must be agitated with intense
emotions OF hope and fear all along
the route, and when they arrive at
their destinations they no doubt heave
a sigh of deep relief. How absurd il
all is!
Fancy a stout, dignified, elderly
man, perhaps little pompous in man.
ners and appearance, standing on a
street corner while car after car passes
him until he sees one on which the
conductor is engaged in some occupa.
ton which prevents him from seeing
the rubicund pirate spring onto the
car.
Painting and out of breath the port
ly individual hastily takes a vacant
seat, and while the perspiration pours
down his cheek he does not bulge.
He does not use his handkerchief
through fear of attracting the con.
ductor's attention, and remains on
needles until he gets to where he is
going.
"Yet that man. for there is just such
q man, has plenty of money and could
afford to ride in a private coupe to his
business if he so desired. To see
him sweat and roll his eyes is droll
sight
Zone could laugh at it if it was not
so disgustingly ridiculous. Why men
of means will thus lower themselves is
a profound mystery to me.
There is a demure-looking little
miss, with great, innocent blue eyes,
who gets on at Ann street All, she's
terror. / don't believe she pays a
fare once month, and don't think
exaggerate it in the least
The conductor was frequently inter.
rupted in his narration when it was
necessary to assist a lady from the car
or to collect fares, but as he was in a
talking mood he did not let these mat.
tiers disturb him.
"Well, that little girl. for she wasn't
over sixteen, as I'm living, was as cum
ming as they make EN-. How she man.
aged to get on the car I don't know.
She would just glide up to it and in an
instant she was ensconced on one OF
the seats without disturbing any one or
stopping the car.
"She did not scramble in, like the
fat man, when the conductor was busy
and not looking, but she went in right
under his-1 am using the third per-
son; perhaps l should say my-eyes,
yet for all this she was very lady-like.
''She dressed modestly, and was the
daughter of mighty good people. Her
parents live in brown-stone front,
and are we'll off in the way of the
worlds goods. But this don't surprise
me if the old folks are as sly as the
girl.
How deceiving were her looks.
When the conductor would walk up to
her and call out, with studied empha sis
and brevity:
'Farer What did she do? Well,
you can feel assured that she did not
produce the fare She just turned
toward the conductor and lisped, as
she rolled her heavenly blue eyes:
why, I've paid you, SIR
HE couldn't tell her she lied, nor
pitch her off the car, so he bit his lip
with vexation, and retired to his perch.
''She was a terror. l have often
watched for her, and once caught sight
of her block ahead Then l laid for
her, and when she took her seat was
right there with her.
THAT time she paid, and has felt
out ever since | expect. But when
she opened her wallet l saw a roll of
greenbacks as thick as my thumb, so
she didn't have to beat the car COM
pany, not she, while poorer and more
honest girls were paying their fares
promptly and without effort to hold
any thing back.
But that's the way. The poor peo-
pie would disdain to rob the company
OF nickel, even while it was hard
struggle to make both ends meet, yet
those who don't really need the money
are overquick to save it. They don't
care how they do the saving, just so
the money remains with them.
Then, too, these sums must amount