The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-04
SLEEPING CAR PORTERS.
SOMETHING OF THIS WELL KNOWN
STUDENT or HUMAN NATURE.


Gould Don't Give Up rreely-Ths Por-
ter's Experience In Europe.
A row Of white metal buttons, black
or yellow face, naughty air, tip; or
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 bad fellow,
after all. He il good judge of human
nature. and when his almost unlimited
experience in casual study OF IL Is con-
sidered there can be 10 wonder that the
sleeping car porter looks with disdain
upon that which makes greater men
stare: that he Is sometimes curt in man
ner and at Others surly. When curt he
Il out of patience; when surly he has rid
den 400 miles without n sign Of tip and
with the loss of half dozen towels and
FELLOWSHIP. These the poor fellow must
account for, he we'll knows, and with
nothing Of recompense from the weary
traveller, whose every beck and call he
has answered until his legs are going
back ON him, 1t IS no wonder that he Is
sour and that his answers TO the trouble
some old lady's many demands are lack
ing in spirit and fully unsatisfactory to
the fussy bunch of femininity, who
would ask the porter 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
for 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 fragmentary remarks to inquir'
ing passengers while the train lies in the
station Just before going out on its run.
Tie 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
presidents boot or that governors shoe;
he can tell you what the company is
making on this run or that run If you
ask him in a confidential way; he knows
green traveller when he sees him, and
can spot a man who was never in a
sleeper before the moment he rests his
ewes on him; he knows the newly mar
ried couple as they pass sheepishly up
the aisle and cast blushing glances at
each other.
Just before 0 o'clock most any evening
one can find young and old sleeping car
porters in plenty at the Union depot.
There are numbers Of them there as
early as in the afternoon, but in order
to see the old fellows in the greatest
number it is well to be on hand after S
o'clock. If you catch one of the old
porters in n bright mood at this time
and ask him the name of the richest man
he ever waited on in a sleeper he will
promptly say Jay Gould. The greatrail
road magnate does not ride in a common
sleeper with the herd of earth any more
but he used TO, and there are few OF the
real old porters now running who did
not black the famous fnancier's shoes
and brush his clothes some time or other,
before the great Gould had risen to his
present greatness. The question at once
arises, "Was Gould a liberal passenger
The old porter would answer emphatic
ally that he was not.
The Brooklyn divine, Rev. I. De Witt
Talmage, is a general favorite with sleep
ing car porter5 the continent over. This
good old gentleman travels great deal
in filing his lecture dates, and he fire.
auently finds it necessary to rest his
weary bones on one of the hunks of
sleeper. Before turning in he always
makes it a point to get acquainted with
the porter and have merry chat with
him. When he arises in the morning he
gives his large shoes a careful looking
over, smiles one Of those broad smiles OF
his, and if the porter happens TO be
about he remembers him. II 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. Talmage- like
many great men who occasionally get
of to themselves where they are either
not known or not recognized, stOOps 10
gable with persons OF 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 fellows,
for it is said they never think of the por-
ter. But with all his disappointments
and bad luck the black servant grows
gleeful when he discovers a brand new
groom on his car. Such person is gen
orally "lsh." The experienced porter
rarely makes mistake in picking him
out. and handled well he always develops
something worth working for. In the
first place, the shoes must be BACKED
several times daily; all signs Of dust OF
lint must be kept away from the young
mans clothing and bitso of choice scenery
along the line Of the days ride should be
pointed out to the blushing bride The
green traveller who has never been In a
sleeper before is Of little profit to the
porter. but ne furnishes that student OF
human nature a world Of amusement.
The sleeping car porter OF America Is
a national emblem. lie will live here,
but when he attempts to cut a wide
swath abroad he is a failure. IL IS said
=
that one OF the guild once thought
Europe would be fine field for an at
tentive and experienced servant like
himself. lie went to France, Russia,
Germany, England and Italy, but he
found none OF the liberality Of the tray
eler who rode with him in America.
After going all over the countries named
he at last brought up at Genoa lie
looked about the town and in his walk
came upon the hall Of the town council
lie entered the anteroom, and while
standing there caught sight Of bust al
one end Of the apartment. lie went
over and stood in front Of II; then he
cot on his knees. and removing his hat,
raised his eyes to the bust and said:
"lthank you for discovering America.
Il was the bust OF Columbus that tho
honesics porter bowed 10. An American
witnessed the scene and, taking compass