Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-06

on the Loaf or occupy their seats too long.
the same questions are put to them and the
same results usually follow.
"Excursonists are the people We love to
handle remarked the gate keeper. as ne
space set apart for him behind the railing
In order to talk with more ease. They are
about the only advertisement We have out
side of the ordinary hum drum Of punching
tickets. Take. for instance. a crowd of
back woods men, women and children who
have never been to the city before, turn
them loose in a large depot. where the
changing of bells and the rushing of trucks
is calculated to rattle an old traveller. and
see how many of them leave undone those
things that they ought to do and do those
things that they ought not to do They
will debark from the train on both sides.
and with their carpet bags or lunch baskets
in their hands they will tumble all over
each other in their efforts to get out into
the city Do they come out Of the gate?
Most assuredly, but not until they have
been driven out like so many head of stam-
peded cattle. They try to get out through
the baggage room the express room and
every conceivable opening except the proper
one OF course you know We have many
silly questions asked US here, as well as in
the bureau Of information. Why. only a
short time ago man asked me in as Sc
rious 4 manner a. spossible II 1t was rain
ing in Baltimore. l told him / did not
know, and referred him to the weather bu-
reau afterwards discovered that he was
to Baltimore to see the game there. pro-
Vded II was clear.
Meeting His Runaway Boy.
II had a funny experience some time
since" said the gateman with a laugh. as
he reopened the conversation after having
broken of to pass in to the trains score
or so Of people. "A typical Irishman, with
a corn cob pipe stuck in his mouth and
stubbly beard on his face, shuffied up to the
-a{f evening
Mr. Gateman.' said he. am afther mate
ing me son Terry, who whit away from me
/ an the ould woman when only the brat aV
a boy, an don't know II I'd recognize MIN
now. 1 want yez to help me foind him.
| How would know him? / asked. Arrah,
me lad an how would yez be afther know
| ing him. Is IL yez ask av me? Just look at
his dad: he's a shpakng loikeness av me.
| is the darlint boy The boy did not come
| that day. and the old man went of very
much disgruntled. A few days after. now
depot, and. with a two-foot smile on his
face. exhibited a telegram. Arrah. he
cried AN It's me as have the dOckimints
today an 1 will soon mate me runaway
boy The train was late. and did not roll
into the depot until about o'clock. After
the majority Of the passengers had left the
shed 1 noticed a handsome, flashily dressed
young man. looking more like a New York
alderman than the son Of this old Irishman.
sauntering around as though In search OF
! some one. Isn't that your boy?' 1 asked OF
the old man, as 1 pointed the young man
out to him. Sure an that's him, ne cried,
as he rushed up to the young man and ex-
| claimed: Terry, Is that yez. me boyE
| look Of recognition came over the race o,
\ the young man as he nodded his head ana
| advanced to meet his father. VINO. not
| waiting to inquire further, nor to remove
| the pipe from his mouth. rushed up. EN-
| braced and tried to kiss the prodigai.
| have seen many meetings of all descrip-
| tons. but that consider to have been one
| of the happiest meetings l have ever VIII,
messed. The old man was radiaht. anu
/ walked off with his arm around MS son. as
| proud apparently as a multi-mllnonare.
| lust as this story was concluded a LADY
| rushed I'D to the gate and asked. what
| time do you expect the 4:oo trd'n ~
rive?" AT O'clock. ma am Was sae ner-
/ fectly satisfactory to the questoner VINO
after a glance at the clock. walked on 10
| tally unaware that she had asked anything
4 other than an ordinary question. 49,
| VERY often" continued the gateman, 1
am called on by the sports en- route Tor
| Jackson City to furnish them with intorma-
ton or tips on the races. They appear 10
| think that because a number Of the book
| makers pass through my gate would nat
urally be posted on this subject
| IBID I ever have any trouble with DRINKS!
| came to my gate too late for his train.
| which was just pulling out Of the shed, and
| because 1 would not let him through the
gate to run after 1t he became enraged
4
| face. On account Of my position l could
| not return the blow. but handed him over
| to an officer and had the supreme satisfac-
ton of seeing him part company with a
| double X the next morning at the Police
| Court.
"You would be surprised to see the dig
| nifty that Is assumed by the small army Of
commuters who pass daily through this
| gate. They appear to think that l ought
| to know them and not require them to
| show their tickets. and when I call for their
| tickets they get very indignant and usual
| ly make some sarcastic reply. Some of
| them even get angry and heap abuse On
me-"
| Thought the Star Had Been Moved.
The star inlaid in the floor Of the ladies'
waiting room to designate the exact spot on
| which President Garfield was standing
| when shot Is always a center Of attraction
for strangers. At all hours of the day q
| crowd Of interested sightseers may be seen
gazing at 1t In an awed manner. Are you
| looking for the star. ladies?" asked the
| usher Of two ladies who were seen gazing
| earnestly about them on the floor of the
| general waiting room, several days since
| Yes" replied one of them. When pointed
| out to her. she exclaimed. They have NOV.
| ed 1T since 1 was here last She was told
| that this was not the case, but was 10th tc
| believe the statement