The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-31
FARE, PLEASE"
"Becky Sharp" Said 1t 1895
Z Times Yesterday.
Enormous Crowds Ride on the
State Journal Car
SOME GIVE DOLLARS
Others Contribute More or
Less,
But the Great Majority Paid the
Regular Fare.
SOME GIVE DOLLARS
Others Contribute Mo
Less,

Today I know just how heavy twenty
five dollars all in nickels can be, or at
least gets to be when one has carried 1t
on one arm for few hours.
If you ever wish for all the money you
eau carry, it would be we'll to not wish
for it to be nickels.
And if you ever happen to think you
would like to have the receipts OF the
street car company for one day, some
time when the traffic has been heavy, re-
member that it takes 1000 five cent
pieces to make $50, and that 100 fares
an hour is above the average for regu-
lar street car conductor TO collect.
My elation over having collected al
most 100 fares then, within less than ten
hours, is perhaps excusable, for that IS
the record of the Orphans Homo STATE
JOURNAL special which pulled OUT of
the car barns at Twelfth and jackson
streets yesterday at 1880.
Mrs. ]. P Howe handed me the first
ticket, and after ringing up her fare of
course I jumped off of the car and ran
the distance of across the street to see
how the car looked.
One of the men standing near, said it
was just like a woman; of course he
meant my desire to see the car; he
couldn't have meant the way jumped
off, had been practicing that all week
and was quite sure | did it just as a regu-
lar conductor would.
But l had to see that car. Hadn't /
spent my whole time for week trying
TO see that it was made thing of beauty?
The JOURNAL of Tuesday said there
were eight men at work on ii.
That was most conservative estimate.
A number of people had taken advAn
tage of the fact that the men about the
big paint shop at the car barns did not
know just who was on the decorating
committee, and wanted to stand around
and look on.
SJme of these were even pressed into
service, and on Tuesday afternoon at
fifteen people were at work on the dec
orations
Up to the last minute yesterday Mr.
Hulse, Dir. Bird, Mr.. Rodman, with their
various assistants, the editor Of the JoUR-
NAL and several of its employees were
adding to the pretty appearance OF the
special. And it was pretty, every body
admitted that.
Mr.. J. n. Patton himself had fastened
bldge 80 on my cap and much to my
pleasure said l could keep it as souve-
mir.
Then register was placed around my
neck and l was ready for the days work.
The car was spick and span insi ie and
out The mOtorman, Mr.. E L. Travis
wore new uniform and La France
rose in his buttonhoIe. Mr.. J. II. Buz-
zell, "A regular conductor, was in new
suit of citzsn's clothes and wore bou-
quet instead of a single flower
As for me, was as pleased as a small
boy when as Mrs. Mercer buttoned my
new blue suit on with real brass buttons
she drew attention to the capacious
pocket that she had made for the change.
That pocket was my delight till 1
found it was getting too full
Fortunately Mr. Z. H. Crosby took a
round trip about that time and the next
trip past his store he ran out with
generous bag into which l stuffed tickets
and change during the rest of the trip.
Mr.. J. n. Patton, the superintendent
of the Topeka City railway, who had SO
kindly rendered his enthusiastic assist
ance from the beginning, rode out of the
car barns with Us and paid the first cash
fare, 81.
All day Mr.. Patton was everywhere,
and 1t seemed always in the right place
to see that everything was done for the
success of the Orphans Benefit.
MIR. c. c. Baker, president of the road,
whose kind cooperation and hearty sup
port made the scheme at all possible,
was also IN evidence wherever anything
could be done.
In addition to giving the car, and the
power to run it, he did everything else
that could be done for the success of the
scheme and paid dollar to ride two
blocks, not even showing his pass
The first trip the car was not crowded,
but every trip after that it was too much
so for comfort.
The first people who rode were there
fore the only ones who enjoyed the full
benefit of the beautiful interior decora-
tious.
Messra W. NJ. Lyon, j. w. Kraemer
ana Frank Sheldon, with mandolins and
guitar music. made a pleasing compile
ment to the interior of the car.
Aate In the evening they were unable
TO play on account of it baing too crowd
ed.
Many incidents, both entertaining and
amusing occurred during the dav. On
the nrst trip south a ayoung man who was
py no means an up-to date society bov
out clear eyed red faced YOUNG conn
tryman, got on the car and handed me a
olne, carefully dropping it in nv hand.
as II ne were afraid to touch it. and said
ep me change. He looked i'll at
eaSe and said, "Will you go inside?"
he removed his hat and went in md
sat down, riding several blocks. and car
rylng his hat in his hand all the wav.
A gentleman on the platform remarked
"that issan example of the influence of
surroundings" u
dear, motherly old lady made the
the round trip early in the day and ouite
embarrassed me by protesting thar she
vas Pleasantly disappointed in "Beckv
l don't know what she meant BIZ that
because she prefaced her remarks bv
@aSlng that she had read the Becky