The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-23
HE WANTED TO GET HOME.
A Little Bit OF Human Comedy In . Fourth
Avenue Car.

A Fourth avenue car was sleeplly jogging
along up town. At Twenty fourth street a
drunken tramp swung himself onto the back
platform and stood there holding on to the rail
as he swayel backward and forward with half
closed eyes.
The conductor was in the car collecting fares
and did not at first see the new passenger, but
when he did he said to him, You can't ride on
this car" and rang the bell and the car stopped
at the next corner. Then he tried to push the
tramp of, but he declined tn move and chung to
the bar of the railing. The conductor got an
CRY and tried to throw the passenger from the
platform, but he held on with both hands and
was too big 10 be stirred. Then the conductor
with both his hands jerked one OF the tramp's
hands loose, and then he changed TO the other
hand and pulled that loose. but. OF course, the
free hand had again seized the rail. This con-
tinued for some little time. the tramp saying
nothing and making no active resistance.
Meantime, the passengers in the car were get
ting uneasy, men and women looking at their
watches, evidently wondering whether they
would catch their train or not. At last a little.
short, fat man, whose face for some seconds had
been growing redder aud redder. sprang 10 his
feet, rushed out on the platform, and ordered
the conductor 10 start the car. Its an out
rage" he said. that we should all be kept here.
u you can't put that man on let the car go on.
He Is not doing anything, anyhow, and | can't
stay here all day. want 20 get home. start your
car, and don't keep all these people waiting here
while you squabble with this drunken man. l
want 70 get home
The conductor replied civilly enough: II
can't carry this man. lie has got To get OF. and
| am going TO keep the car here until he does
Then he resumed his efforts 10 move the tramp,
but the tramp was lmmOyable; At last he gave
II up and started the car. The little man re-
turned to his seat, and pretended 10 read his
paper. but his thoughts were not hXed on the
news; they were out on the back platform with
the conductor. Every time the latter came in
TO collect a fare the little man would abuse him.
telling him what an outrage Il was that the
passengers should be so delayed. threatening TO
report him To the company, and winding up by
announcing that he wanted 20 get home.
At ThiTtY-fouTth street the tramp, who had
not opened his mouth during the ride, swung of
10 get = transfer ticket, anu the car went on.
All the way through the tunnel the little man
sat boiling with rage As you looked al him
YOU could see the waves of ehOler rise higher and
higher in his breast until they Oyerhowed in
angry mutterings.
Al the Harlem station the car stopped and the
little man bounded from his seat 10 get on. In
the doorway he halted again and addressed the
eOnd telling him that he should report
him for his outrageous treatment OF the passen-
gers. that he would have him removed from his
place; he would see n the company would sup
port a man who so incOnYenienced the patrons
Of the line. All this and much more, while the
other Passengers who wished 10 get OF crowded
up TO the door Of the car aud waited for him To
move. Is he did not do 80, q tall. stately young
woman, whO seemed TO be returning from a
shopping excursion. said:
II beg your pardon. sir. Will you kindly
stand out OF the wAyf ] want % get home"
The little man looked over his shoulder and up
into her face. aud then sprang out uf the way,
while a wave Of laughLcT Tlpuled through the car.