Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-01-15
NO PLACE FOR COINS.
why the Mouth Should Positively Nevel
be Used as a Purse.

be Used as a Purse.
THAT is the worst habit I know of,"
said a conductor on one of the Green
cars yesterday as he called attention to
a half dozen or so of small children who
had boarded the car and sat holding be-
tween their lips the pennies or nickels
for the fare.
Eyes, sir, in my opinion that is the
worst, because for the past ten years i
have done all sorts of iobs-from being
superintendent of aArge canning fac
tory, where men, women and children
were employed by the hundreds, down to
being car conductor, and here you have
the opportunity to study life, habits and
characters. Now, I want to relate to
you an incident which came under my
observation, and which was simply
case Of habit, and, when l finish, you,
of course, will say have told false
hood, or exaggerated simple incident;
but it is the truth.
"One day last week managed to get
a standing load at the Lexington Mar
ket going north. Naturally, every body
wanted a seat, and space was at pre-
II.
dressed lady, who seemed somewhat ex-
cited and nervous, because OF the lostle
and her inability to obtain suthclent
room to work her elbows and put on her
gloves, which she held in her hand.
However, as 1 forced to the front OF the
car l noticed she placed dime between
her lips and began to pull on her gloves.
Beside the lady sat a small con-
sumptive-looking Chinaman, clinging
to a market basket almost the size of
himself, and his almond eyes gave
sheepish chances at the lady as she oc-
casionally iabbed him in the ribs. Well,
had collected all my fares up to this
pair, and the lady was still pulling on
her gloves.
when 1 said. Fare, please with
out looking she took the dime from her
mouth and placed it in my right hand
while 1 rung up the fare on the indi-
Gator with the left 1 then reached
toward the Chinaman for his fare, be-
fore returning the change to the lady.
To my surprise the Monaghan, with his
thumb and forefnger, picked dirty
looking nickle from his right ear and
placed it in my hand. Without think
ing, 1 gave thisto the lady, and, woman
like, She paid no attention to the
nickers condition, but put it in her
mouth. Now, that was mere habit
Several passengers had a good laugh at
her expense, but she never knew what
they were laughing about. Had she
| done so, am sure she would have be-
come deathly sick, for 1 myself i'm
agined smelled opium all day long"
The conductor vouched for the truth
fulness of the Chinaman's carrying his
fare in the small cup-like part, Of the
ear below the cavity or entrance to the
! drum. He also stated that he had
/ known cases of persons poisoned from
the dirt of coins, especially pennies,
which are made of a composition the
greater part of which is copper. The
conductors themselves often get sore
hands in handling change. To show
that poisonous matter accumulates on
coins, the conductor exhibited the lin
ing of one Of his pockets, which had al
most been eaten through.
Now, if it will eat fabric" said he,
what must it do to the flesh, especially
if you hold the coins in your mouth ?
tell you parents should break their
children of this habit
"Just for curiosity, when you ride in
car, watch what women and children
do with their fares. The habit is not
so strong with men; but I have even
seen them mouth nickel as we call
it. 1 know some conductors who will
not take such money, unless the passen'
ger wipes the coin. "-Baltimor Ameri-