The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-11-23
SLEEPING CAR PORTERS.


perChance there be few travellers abroad,
the same buttons, the same face, but no
mein of haughtiness, no tip. Thus has
been described the sleeping car porter
of America. He isn't such a bad fel-
low, after all. He is good judge of
human nature, and when his almost un-
limited experience in casual study of it
is considered there can be no wonder
that the sleeping car porter looks with
disdain upon that which makes greater
men stare that he is sometimes curt in
manner and at others surly. When
curt he is out OF patience when surly
he has ridden 400 miles without sign
of tip and with the loss of half dozen
towels and FELLOWSHIP. These the
poor fellow must account for, he well
knows, and with nothing of recompense
from the weary traveller, whose every
beck ana call he has answered until his
legs are going back on him, it is no
wonder that he is sour and that his an
swers to the troublesome old lady's
many demands are lacking in spirit and
fully unsatisfactory to the fussy bunch
of temininity, who would ask the por-
ter to fan her all day and never put up
cent.
The old porter-not the sallow,
greasy fellow who stands at the end of
his car tor the first week or month or
year-but the old porter, the fellow
whose locks have become gray in the
service, can tell many an interesting
story between the hundred fragmeItary
remarks to lnquiring passengers while
the train lies IN the station just before
going out On its run. He remembers
all about the great men he has looked
after in his day he can tell you to a
half number the size of this president S
boot or that governors shoe; he can
tell you what the company IS making
On thifsTaI, his III, U hat l. Iii # { yet ;5d ask him
in a confidential way; he knows {
green traveller when he sees him, anC
can spot a man who was never in {
sleeper before the moment he rests hi:
eyes on him he knows the newly mar
ried couple as they pass sheepishly uI
the aisle and cast blushlng glances a
each other.
Just before 9 O'Clock most any even
ing one can find young and old sleep
ing car porters in plenty at the Unior
depot. There are numbers of then
there as early as S i'll the afternoon, bu
in order to see the old fellows in the
greatest number it is well to be on hanC
after s O'Clock. II you catch one O
the old porters in a bright mood a
this time and ask him the name of the
richest man he ever waited on in {
sleeper he will promptly say Jay Gould
The great railroad magnate does moi
ride in common sleeper with the hero
of earth any more, but he used to, anc
there are few of the real old porter:
now running who did not black the
famous financier's shoes and brush hi:
clothes some time or other, before the
great Gould had risen to his present
greatness. The question at once arises
"Was Gould liberal passenger ?" The
old porter would answer emphatically
that he was not.
The Brooklyn divine, Rev. L. De
Witt Talmage, is general favorite with
sleeping car porters the continent over
This good old gentleman travels great
deal in filling his lecture dates, ard he
frequently finds it necessary to rest HI;
weary bones on one of the hunks of E
sleeper. Before turning in he alway:
makes it point to get acquainted with
the porter and have merry chat with
him. When he arises in the morning
he gives his large shoes careful look
ing over, smiles one of those broad
smiles of his, and if the porter happens
20 be about he remembers him. If the
porter isn't handy the great divine looks
him up and calls his attention to the
fact that he is about to be tipped. Tai
mage, like many great men who occa.
sionally get off to themselves where
they are either not known or not recog-
nized, stoops to gabble with persons ol
a degree that his good flock in the
City of Churches would not care to see
him mingle with.
European travellers in this country
find high favor in the porter's eyes, for
they tip literally. Theatrical parties are
in bad odor with the sleeping car fel
lows, tor it is said they never think Of
the porter. But with all his disappoint-
ments and bad luck the black servant
grows gleetul when he discovers a
brand new groom in his car. Such per
son is generally "fsh." The expert:
enced porter rarely makes mistake in
picking him out, and handled we'll he
always develops something worth work
ing for. In the first place, the shoes
must be BACKED several times daily
all signs of dust or lint must be kept
away from the young mans clothing
and bits of choice scenery along the
line of the days ride should be pointed
ont to the hlucbipo bride The oree,,