Democratic messenger., 1894-12-08
WHEN THE TROLLEY STOPS.
What May BE Expected to Take Place In
the Car In the Average City.

Now and then the best regulated cleo
tric road loses the subtle current. and
its cars are brought to a standstill.
There is a regular programme for such
occasions. 1t begins with dude on the
right hand seat near the front door. He
ceases to nibblc at the head of his cane,
readjusts his hat and eyeglasses and
carefully tiptoes 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 feclingly exclaims:
'Ah, bal Jove, but how long will .
suffering people put up with this rack
ct. ye 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-
fore she can get there. She hangs on
for a minute. hoping rs false alarm.
but when she sees the conductor and
motorman assuming positions which
should be labeled, Only waiting. sh ,
rises up and makes for the door. On the
platform she catches the eye of the con-
ductor and gives him look which
makes him tired all day, but she does
not speak. She dare 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 girl
and her ma. As the car comes to stop
the former looks out of the window
and says:
why, ma, she's lost her powe "
''Yes, it looks like it, -
But cant we do something's
Dunno If she's lost her power, why
don I the conductor go back and look
around and find it? If it had been tied
OH rs il ought to have been, it couldn {
have got lost. y
But won't there be an explosion or
something"
Dunno. but We'll sit right here and
make 'cm pay for damages. -
''IIow dreadful! Iwish had brought
novel.
The fifth and sixth on the schedule
are the man reading newspaper, with
plenty of time on his hands, and the
stranger ON the way to the depot. The
man with the paper isn't saying a word,
and he doesn't care . copper when the
car resumes business, but the other
stands up and sits down and finally
queries:
shes stopped, hasn't she?"
"Um.' growled the other.
Lost her power, they say"
"Um.'
"Going to stay here long:'
Cant say"
"Who finds the power when it is
lost:'
Dunno.
"But isis it exactly the right thing
to do:''
Il expect it is, or they wouldn't do
it,"
"And will we DO 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 fiushes up and looks
hot and mad and leaves the car and
makes for the sidewalk There is one
more out of possible 20 or 80. She is
the fat woman with the bundle and has
been placidly spreading herself over
three seats and congratulating her soul
that she is no hairpin TO be tucked away
in corner. The bundle is securely
t...tr mt -
contents. Two minutes after the stop
the fat woman has made up her mind
what course she ought TO pursue. She
rises to her feet with q majestic move
ment, yanks that bundle off the seat i'll
an imperious manner, and marching TO
the door calls ont:
where is the conductor of this carr
"Yes'm," softly replies the conduct
or. who couldn't get away rs he saw
her coming.
Has the electricity stopped circu-
lating:"
II fear it has, ma am.
And the car may be detained i'll.
definitely"
Indefinitely, ma'am, though it is
seldom over 10 minutes before the III
definite electricity is all right again. p"
But can't wait.
Nom, you can't wait.
And the company is responsible for
any pecuniary loss that may suffer
through this detention.
''Yes m
She lifts up her bundle and descend.
and marches away. but has not yet SET
foot OH the curbstone when the car
moves on, and everybody is happy
again. She raises hand to the con
ductor to stop, but she is too far away.
and he shakes his head and mutters:
Sometimes it's the indefinite elec.
tricity, and then again it's the indefi
mite woman, and between the two OF
'em it's wonder don't lose my in.
definite hold on this ere job "-Detioii
Free Press.