The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-01-31
MORNING AT THE CAR HOUSE.
The "Extra's" Strange Battle for Bread
Vividly Depicted.

The ''Extra's" Strange Battle for Bread
Vividly Depicted.
The shrill whistle sounds on the
morning air; twice it is repeated, then
follows utter silence. Presently a
man emergcs from II house, glances
hurriedly at his watch. then hastens up
the street. On the way he is Joined by
I others. Arriving opposite large
building they are joined by others
I still.
All enter the building, pass up a
stairway and into large room. A
long table in the center and a number
of chairs scattered about are all the
furniture it contains. A large book is
on the table, aud in it the men sign
their names.
The apartment is the EMPLOYEES
waiting-room of Il street car company,
says the s.. Louis Chronicle, and the
men are ''extras, reporting for duty.
| As the hands of n clock on the wall
| point to the hour 5:15 the men have all
signed. Any one coming after this
closes" and becomes ''last EXTRA" or
the last man to get Il regular run.
The room contains perhaps twenty
five orthIrty men. There are besides
the extras a number of regular men,
waiting to take out their ears. The
assemblage presents variety of char
acters only to be found among the
hangers-on of q street car company.
In corner, surrounded by few
kindred spirits, is the veteran car-drv-
er. He is in his element; he has no
regular car-he does not want any.
Between his lips is a cheap cigar, and
he is regaling his hearers with ac-
counts of railroading, in early times,
and in other cities.
A little apart, conspicuous by his
brlnd-new uniform and shining but
tons, is the "new man." He has Just
been turned in," thisis his first morn
ing without an instructor.
Moving about with aimless tread is
an individual in whom you recognize
the country youth. Captivated while
on visit TO the city by the glittering
pomp. he determined to seek his for
tune amid its artificial glare. Already
the glamour is gone. and his heart is
filled with homesick longing for his
happy country home.
There is also tho STRIPPING, fresh
from college. With mind filled with
ideal heroes of by-gone days, he had
gone forth to graphic with fate, and
wrest from the monster the golden
prize. The scales have also fallen
from his eyes, but shame prevents his
returning to the parental roof. Some
day his father will come for him, and
he will go home wiser boy.
Scattered about the room are knots
of twOs and threes, mostly "prOfes-
sionals." Their appearance and con-
yersation indicate this, though traces
of refinement are disccrnable in more
than one face.
OFF by himself is a man of middle
age. care is written on his countcnance.
He is a man of family, and ''lost his
car" Il few days ago. As the regular
men came in, he scrutinized each face
for signs of ''laying of, and when the
foreman calls him over and tells him
to "take Johnson's book" how he
brightens up and hastens away to pre-
pare for the days run. johnson
lights cigar and joins the lOungers.
Now an extra walks up to the table
and examines the book i'm which the
men sign; then he looks at black
board on which the number of the cars
are written in the order in which they
60 out. Next he scrutinizes schedule,
X.
one notices his actiOns-the nudge goes
round-cenversation is suspended
eyes turn to the door. Presently rapid
steps are heard on the stairs, the door
is burst open. and half-cIad form
dashes in., Pencil in hand he rushes
to the book. In another half minute
he would have been ''signed out" his
car would have been given to the first
L., a, g.
of The extra list. -
After he had signed the boys gather
ell around to learn how he came so near
''losing."
1t is the old story. He fell asleep af-
ter he bad been; ..Called." 7s.
While they, are discussing the mat
ter hurried. steps are once more heard
ON tile stairs. and a man with only
trousers and underslirt on rushes
frantically in and up to the book.
Wlrileshe is signing some one looks up
his car on the blackboard, then turn
ing to the, painting individual, says: z
''Why, Ed, what's the matterP You
have an hour yet ~..'
"An hour!' and Ed looks up be-
wildered. "Why Ii thought l was
five minutes late. 1 must have looked
tb hHu NC Slto
down pale and trembling; the reaction
completely unnerves him.
A loud laugh is all the consolation
he receives, and the crowd is soon
scattered around the room once more
One by one the regular men drop in
until but few cars remain unsigned
for. The room by this lime is almost
empty; those not assigned to duty hav-
ing gone to breakfast. A few extras
remain, hoping for chance to ''sign
some one out"
Looks like Jim's going to get
there, says one of these. Ale signs
at So" The others gather around the
book anxiously.
One by one the remaining minutes
fit by; the long hand of The clock is
almost opposite the fatal number. The
watchers at the book. are pale with
suspense; what is another's loss tn
their gain. TO one of them it would
me;tn steady employment, to the others
one step in that direction.
.ss '.Fifty-threc, says the first speaker,
'.here goes" -.
y A trembling hand quiyers for a few
moments over the book-a name, al
badge number. the exact time is in.
scribed, and Jim CarrUl's fate is