The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-10-17
Mss A PRIZE IploT.
And Owing to His Brilliancy He Is Hunt
ing Another Job.

1t isn't well to be too rigid in the in.
depreciation of ones duty to an employ
er. In business, as in other relations Of
life, "the letter killeth," while "the
spirit maketh alive"
This is the conclusion to which an ac-
quaintance of mine, steamboat ticket
agent, has come, after an experience in
following the letter of his official rules,
which cost him not only his position,
but the loss of a reputation hitherto
for his good judgment and common
sense.
There came to his lattice one after
noon, not long ago, musician, bound
| for a point on the steamboat route. He
was to fill very important engage
ment which was the more important
because it was recital in which he was
| the only performer, and a failure on his
part to appear meant the dismissal of an
audience and the loss of good deal of
money to all concerned. To the lattice
with the artist came his wife, his
musical accompanist.
There was but one boat he could take
in order to arrive at his destination on
time, and, were he to loose that, no
other means of conveyance could remedy
the disaster.
When he had purchased his tickets
and put his hand in his pocket to pay
for them, the embarrassing truth flashed
] upon him that he had left all his money
at the hotel plight frequently fallen
into by musicians. His wife was in a
similar predicament; so there they were,
with no means but the ticket agents
discretion of being relieved from their
annoying position.
They appeal to him. The artist told
him his name, the circumstances, the i'm
possibility of going to the hotel for the
! money and getting back in time to catch
the boat, and besought trust until his
return to the city.
Either from pure conscientiousness, or
from genuine ugliness, the master of
| the situation refused.
"1t's against the rules" was his curt
and only answer to every request.
The artist slipped a valuable ring
from his finger, and offered it in pledge
of his honesty.
"It's against the rules" came through
the arch in the lattice.
The artist unlocked his gold watch
and chain and laid it before the grim
representative of the company.
'It's against the rules, and that settles
it., was snapped back at him.
So it did, for that day.
| The boat steamed away, and the artist
and his wife returned in helpless indig-
nation to their hotel. The recital was,
of course, necessarily declared off, the
audience dismissed and the money re-
funded, and on the following day an
| irate manager stormed into the apart
ments of the artist with all sorts of
vituperation, and with threats of a suit
into the bargain.
Explanations followed. and then the
anger of the manager was turned
against the ticket agent. He straight
way took the artist with him to the
president of the steamboat company, in
formed him of the event of the evening
before, and asked if, under the circum-
stances. the company's subordinate had
acted the part of wise and faithful
servant.
The president sent for the latter i'm
mediately, and when he came into the
apartment the following dialogue ensued
between them:
Did this gentleman buy two tickets
of you last EVENING""
Eyes, SIR"
"Did he pay for themP"
mo, sir.
"Did you let him have themP"
| @No, sir"
"That's right, SO far. Did the gentle
man do anything else?"
"Yes, sir. He offered me ring and
a gold watch as a guaranty for the
money until his return from -"
did you take them?"
NO sir; | told him it was against the
rules"
@Ah! Did the gentleman tell you his
name and the Importance of his busi-
nessP"
"oh, yes, sir; but that didn't shake
me. had my rules"
$50 you had. Well. sir, you are the
biggest idiot this company has ever had
in its employ, and if you go to the
cashier you will find your services paid
for to date. You had better seek en-
ployment as turnkey in a Jail. You
need never stretch rule there.
And the price of the two tickets was
just 60 cents.-Boston Herald.