New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-16
ON A SOUTHERN RAILROAD.
"A CONDUCTOR WHO IS SEVERAL OTHER
THINGS RESIDES A SIMPLE CONDUCTOR.

make any difference In what State-theTe Is ra''Oa
which is less than ten miles long II Is very goou
railroad as some railroads In the South go. 1t Is run
,y one man. OF course The directors stockholders ana
orscars nj the system do not believe this. But un-
prsridiced travellers on the road people VINO ooh
own any stock In 1t and who haven't any iriehds 'a
own stock In IT, know who II Is that runs the 'oau
Its the conductor. He has been running IL ever s'e
Il WAS built and doubt he Will run u as ioi'e
nc be uves. The conductor Is called the captain
It doesn't make any difference why; In fact hopouS
sses 90 know why, but there Isn't any doubt tha' e
vsars that tle-and he wears 1t proudly, too Ihere
IA one thing which should be understood about lin M
the beginning. he is pretty big man IN his par Vi
The country In the first place. ne KNOWS every man,
woman child dog and horse for five miles on each SUI
OF his railroad. In the next place nc Is oe''o' imam
a daily newspaper baseball bulletin telephone ana
q sewing -cass-that is 10 say, he knows eVerStn,is
that happens along his railroad and he isn't pi'
sefsh about his knowledge. lie spreads 1t about With
q lavish hand
There Is another trait which he possesses not olten
found In plain eryday conductors lie ISM P'ouu
He knows his station, appreciates the great power
yAsoh he is but this has not turned MS heao' ioi
,ns,ancA he "a willing TO be friendly terms VITA
n.o,la II doesn't make any difference to him
xhether they are thirty years older than ne "he'her
ons man owns half the county and another was gen
.r.l m tbe War OF the Rebellion II Is an the same 10
him. He likes them Just much, no matter wha'
ther class. no matter what their degree.
A Northern man once had the great honor 70 De
passenger on the twocar train OF THIS po'en@e. a.
,.ntsd to make connections with another railroad ana
a. ha had five hours in which to make the nine miles
h.,veen him and the desired station he got on the
local, with feelings Of genuine Free Soil commence
for nine miles Is short distance, nve hours iohe
time The train little late In starthe' perhaps
a matter Of an hour or two. but the serene huiio'.
The calm air. the placid smile and the expression Vi
1aft mo-
or misgivings ,. .o,or
TO take up tickets in this way
Hullo jim he said to ay-haired, mnitafy
looking man In the first seat OF the only coach
chow are you?r Then he punched his uche' anu
added .,,,..o, co,no-t
Hshti"
Jim, had some views on the subject and the con-
ro,nr cot down in the seat beside him and began 10
tab pnzeaghting Fifty five minutes later he got up
"Hullo he said we're stopped. amt we = ana ne
peersd on. Of the window 10 see II the train was
really not in motion He was right 1t was stopped
1t had been stopped for long time lie chDeu uo"n
the platform steps and set up yen
III shsre N he cried 4" what's the matter ho"'
"A,r.brahes, sang back the engineer In con'eh'eu
voice. s,..,, o,ser.
aDh ,s that ALL, answered the conductor cneer-
trux and he went along side OF the cars ana 'en
the other. giving vigorous kick TO the air'orahes
n1rr y nown he shouted, and the train putnpeu
ahead.
"All right. cried back the engineer.
Wait a minute shouted the condncor wa, ~.
~. and he walked after the traln climbing oacR 10
&C., - en- q dirni6cd manner Then the train went
~ -. wav and is sovereign owner sat down ana
$3.50 nm that conversation the Sullivan'Corpet'
fight. o Indigo q, the
IN the seat behind "Jm"-he was a Judge 0, .ne
s,prene Court Of the State-sat h,''e o'u '"o''
white .haired and sweet-faced
xHullo Sally! said the conductor. Warmly ho"
srs vou. today? Haven't seen you In long nine'
uo-,s sue -, "Suen was "Saly's" mother. Then
no coated himself at the side Of Say and reeieo on
two columns and quarter OF sunday society on"'
Meanwhile. the train advanced by fits and starts.
and the conductor occasionally glanced out OF the WIZ
dow TO see II his freight were making progress
dwell Jen" said the conductor, moving on In the
,,,r.. q, time m seat No g. $50 you're back again,
Oh, I'm glad to see you. missed you this summer
peen IN North''-"Noth" he called 1t. Of course
shaven't you ~
elem, had spent the summer In the North, and she
confessed much.
"Did you know" the conductor went on, "that L'i
had been North all summer She went right ai'er
YOU and iust got back yesterday. LII looked right fine
she did never saw her look better. Dye know
,he's going to be married to q Northern man. Yes she
is-sngaged this summer Bill Stewart told me about
II first" Obi Is the Rev. DR.. william J. stewart
Don't know whether I'll like him or not. Amt so
sure Of these Northern ri have TO have long
talk with him when he gets down here. and see what
think OF him. I'll be sorry TO LII go; she's pow
erful fine girl. HOw's Sissy % "Slssy" was Jen's'
respected and dlgned aunt Of the old school," and
"Jen" said that Sissy" livery well. thank you"
"Glsd Of It," said the conductor, warmly. "Always
liked Sis. She's good girl" "ss" sixty-fve
last June.
The hing Of his kind passed to the next passenger,
but changed his mind and went back to "Jen.''
"Say, Jen," he said, sitting down, and his voice
assumed a confidential tone, is 1t true that Nellie
and Flo Willis have inherited two hundred thousand
apiecer
She thought 1t was true, and the emperor of his
country said I'm, um ~ thoughtfuy.
For change he took up three successive tickets.
with conversation at each operation OF less than five
minutes. Finally he reached the passenger that
wanted 70 catch another train, and who venured to
aE9, what's that what's that, Want to eaten the
assea re rhe ny odhI you
to the platform and clinging TO the rail, leaned
over and shouted to the engineer:
late"
Coming back to the traveller. he said "I'm sorry
you didn't tell me. Could have caught 1t Just well
The "whIppng-up" didn't last long, for the train
see What the trouble SaG Was and found Rasssenger
We're f two o three hours up hs a a meTg late
late Pull out ~ he cried TO the engineer and again
the train moved.
Another passenger got on in a short while.
Hello, captain. how your" he said, cordially.
ooh. I'm all right" said the conductor "but
this train amt all right She's late, she Is. Pm
always right, but you can't depend on her; she's
good deal like woman
lie looked at his watch and went back 10 the
anxious passenger. He seemed to be alive 10 his
tremendous responsibility His reputation as
q railroad magnate at stake.
u guess you've missed your train" he said.
ooh, Is that so ?" replied the passenger, looking
blue.
"Ycs." said the conductor. Right sorry you
didn't tell me, cause could have caught II for yon.
But it's too late now. You see the aght-f orty's
gone past the junction. It's nineteen now. But IL
Wasn't my fault, It ?" he added cheering mp.
If had only known-snyway," be added, a bright
idea striking him. "you'l be In time 10 catch the
train tomorrow, and you can have good sleep
tonight
ooh - said he Northern man family