Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-12-10
A MATTER OF DISCIPLINE,

"Don't you know better than to pile
all your baggage on that seat?" de-
manded a policeman at one Of the rail-
way depots yesterday morning, sharply
addressing a traveller who seemed to
be waiting for q train.
Il don't see any sign here prohibit
ing my piling all the baggage want
to on that seat, returneS the traveller,
pushing his hat back and preparing
for an argument. when you want to
keep persons from smoking you stick
up a sign, don't you? There's half a
dozen No Smoking signs in this room,
and not one forbidding a man from
putting his valises or the seat beside
him"
I'VE take it for granted" ~retorted
the policeman, that everybody knows
these seats are made to sit on. There's
plenty OF room on the floor for band
boxes and g~ripsacks."
There seems TO be plenty of room
on the seats, too. Mere than half Of
them are empty. These traps Of mine
don't appear to be crowding any body,
do theyp"
THAT doesn't make any difference.
It's against the rules"
Whose rules?"
"The rules Of this station. II you
don't take them down"
Take down what?:"
"Thosc traps"
Il didn't know but you meant the
rules rejoined the traveller. But
we won't have any fuss over it. IL it's
contrary to the regulations I'll put
them down on the floor, of course"
He lifted his valises up, hesitated o
moment, and then replaced them on
the seat.
Look here" he said. pointing his
finger sternly at the policeman. didn't
i put these things on the floor when ]
came in?"
siapped emd0kh on that Seat Ihsy'vs
been there half an hour"
and you've let me violate the rules
of this depot for n whole half-hour,
have you?" said the traveller. raising
his voice. what kind Of"
"But--"
Don't attempt any explanation, sir!
l come In here, break one of the rules.
and you see me do it! You deliber-
ately permit n total stranger to YOU,
sir,to defy the authorities of this depot
for thirty minutes! Is that the way
you carry out the instructions of your
superiors? Do you call that sort OF
thing doing your duty? Don't YOU
know. sir, that il You permit one man
to override h established rules and
regulations OF a passenger station like
this, where thousands Of men come
and go every day in the week, that
everybody else will feel at liberty to
do the same thing, and all discipline
will be ut an end? II YOU haven't a
proper regard for your duty who in
the name OF truth and justice has or
ought to have? Permit Il man to pile
his baggage on M of these seats, re-
gardless OF the rights of the travelling
public, right under your eyes, and let
HIM keep it there half M hour before
you even lift your voice in protest!
Officer, | consider it one of the most
Migrant, n OF the most ~inexcusable
and unwarranted lapses from official
duty Of which | have ever known q
man in your petition to be guilty.
Take my advice and don't let it hap
pen again"
The traveller sat down by the side OF
his baggage again. took a paper from
his pocket, and began to read.
The policeman, with his jaw hanging
down and n wild, hunted lock IN his
eye, wandered in an aimless sort of
way to the outside of the building. sat
down on the curbstone, took of his
hat, and famed himself with it.
I'll bet a thousand dollars" he so
liloquized, In a hollow voice. -he's the
president of the road!"-C Chicago 1rib.
uue.