The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-12-21
FOLLOW THE PROGRAM.

From the Detroit Free Press.
Now and then the best regulated
electric road loses the subtle current
and its cars are brought to a stand-still
for the time being. There is a regular
programme laid down for such occa-
sions. 1t begins with a dude on the
right-hand seat near the front door.
He ceases to nibble at the head of his
cane, readjusts his hat and eyeglasses,
and carefully tip-toes down the aisle
and out of the rear door. He doesn't
exactly look at the conductor nor
speak to him, but as he drops to the
pavement he turns and feelingly ex-
claims:
"Ah, bal jove but how long will
suffering people put up with this sort
Of racket, We knaw !!
Next on the programme is the fussy
woman who is on her way to store to
exchange pair of stockings for two
sizes larger. She is impatient for fear
the large sizes will be snapped up be-
fare she can get there. She hangs on
for minute, hoping it is false alarm,
but when she sees the conductor and
motorman assuming positions which
should be labeled only waiting" she
rises up and makes for the door. On
the platform she catches the eye OF the
conductor and gives him a look which
makes him tired all day, but she does
not speak. She dares not trust herself
to stop there and tell him her inmost
thoughts, and he's a heap glad that
such is the case.
The next is the innocent young gil
and her ma As the car comes to stop
the former looks up and out OF the
window, and says:
why, ma, she's lost her power!'
"Yes, it looks like it."
But can't we do something?"
Dunno ii she's lost her power why
don't the conductor go back and look
around and find it? If it had been tied
On as it ought to have been it couldn't
have got lost"
But won't there be an explosion or
something?"
Dunno, but we'll sit right here and
make 'em pay all damages"
How dreadful! wish had brought
q novel along"
/ The fifth and sixth on the schedule
are the man reading a newspaper with
plenty of time on his hands, and the
stranger on his way 10 the depot The
/ man with the paper isn't saying word,
and he doesn't care copper when the
car resumes business, but the other
/ stands up aud sits down and finally
/ queries:
"She's stopped. hasn't sheP'
"Um!" growls the other.
| Lost her power, they say?'
'Um."
! Going to stay here long?"
'Can't say"
/ "Who finds the power when il is lost7'
Dunno"
/ But isis it exactly the right thing
/ 20 do?'
Il Iexpect it is or they wouldn't do IL A"
And will we be detained long?'
Cant tell; you are not obliged to sit
here"
No. of course not That IS, I'm not
/ obliged to-that Is, you know
And the stranger fushes up and
looks hot and mad and leaves the car
and makes for the sidewslk- There is
one more ont Of possible twenty-five
or thirty. She is the fat woman with
( the bundle and has been Placid Y
spreading herself over three sests and
/ conEratulating her soul that she il no
hairpin 10 be tucked away n a corner
/ The bundle is securely tied and no pub
lie eve can make out its contents Two
minutes after the stop the fat woman
( has made up her mind what course she
ought 70 pursue She rises 70 her feet
with majestic movement ysnks that
bundle OF the seat n al imperiOus
manner. and marching 20 the door she
calls ont:
Where Is the conductor % this car
"Yesm, softly replies the conductor,
who couldn't get away % lie saw her
couinE.