The Washington times., 1894-06-11
WOMAN AT THE TICKET WINDOW.
This One Took Her Time While Fifteen
Waiting Men Counted the Seconds.


Waiting Men Counted the Seconds.
This is simply another version Of the old,
old story Of the woman and the ticket agent
and fifteen waiting, impatient men with no
means of redress. 1t was at the Corlandt
street station oil the Pennsylvania Railroad
one morning last week. Time, 9 O'Clock, and
the Long Branch train was to leave in ten
minutes.
Four women rushed into the station, breath
less, but chattering away at a lively rate.
One Of the quartet a tall, angular woman,
with umbrella, last summers hat and gown
made over and retrimmed. parcel evidently
containing lunch and other incidental articles
essential to the make up OF a mature spinster
of the conventional type. was conspicuously
the leader OF the party. She surveyed the In
terror OF the waiting room critically, and then
spotted her victim in the window. and the
sign Ticket Agent" over ii. Flouncing up
to the window she began the attack.
What time is it," She snapped in a tone
that caused the ticket seller to drop ONE
papers and assume defensive attitude.
"Nine-one exactly. madam" was his reply,
delivered in a firm tone.
"Are we in time for the $. 10 train?"
"Oh, yes madam"
Thanks The reason asked was because
l did not know VIII ether the time table meant
the train left from here or the other side OF
the ferry You know time tables are SO un-
reliable unless YOU get new ones right along,
and the one we looked at was one We had
last year. SO We were not sure. you know"
The agent simply bowed and smiled sardon-
ically. The other women were conversing
quietly in a corner and several men entered
and formed in line behind the woman at the
window.
"Oh. now that think of it, wish you
would give me a new time table. / may not
use it, but then it's handy thing to have
around if should happen to want it,"
The agent handed over one OF tine pamph-
lets and looked down the line Of waiting men,
who were becoming impatient. There we've
eight men in the line now. and they all looked
anxiously at the woman. Every moment
watches were pulled out and replaced with
increasing anger on the part OF the owners.
The woman glanced over the new time table
and was satisfied.
You IL have to hurry, madam. IL you want
to get that go train; it's 9.05 now"
"Oh my. yes. Now l want a ticket" she
said, and began a search through her pocket
book. She finally found dollar bill and laid
it down.
Where did you say you were going?" said
the ticket man.
ITO Long Branch"
do you want a single or excursion?'
queried the agent in that peculiar mechanical
manner that school children employ when
coming lessons.
Excursion. OF course"
dollar fifty for excursion. madam"
THAT includes parlor car, doesn't it?'
''Oh, no." was the terse reply.
Now there We're fifteen men IN the line, and
very impatient ones at that. Some groaned
aloud and others made sharp remarks. but
the woman had not finished her business
with the ticket seller.
why. they didn't cost that last year,
There has been no change in the rate.
You've only got three minutes for the train,
madam"
Goodness yes. and-oh how stupid-I
want three more tickets"
Then began another search through the
pocketbook. and a 50 bill came forth. She
got the tickets and examined each as care
fully as she might piece Of muslin on a
bargain counter. She finally moved slowly
away, and the next moment there was series
OF hoarse shouts aud the l.ne of fifteen men
dashed passed the window like the charge OF
regiment of cavalry. They threw their
money in and caught their tickets on the fly
The woman, having assured herself that she
was all right. summoned her three COM
panions. and they hurried along to the ticket
taker There was another blockade here.
The leader at first decided that she would
take charge of the tickets. Then discussion
followed, and she changed her mind and
handed each of the others her respective
ticket. The line of men meanwhile reached
the ticket taker, and they brushed by the
women like streak Of lightning.
Then the women found that they would
have TO hustle if they were going to get the
boat, and they ran, too. One of them at
tempted to get by without having her ticket
punched, and she had to return. The others
stood in the gateway so the man could not
close it and waited for her. The quartet
reunited and ran down the gansway, and
reached the boat just as the Geckhands loos-
ened the cable chains.
The fifteen martyrs who had marshalled up
on the after deck with expressions of blissful
expectancy groaned aloud again Us the women
stepped on the boat. But when the Jersey
shore was reached the quartet did not pre-
cede them in the race for the train. The g. 10
train was six minutes late in starting that
York Sun.