Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-20
GETTING INFORMATION
Sample Conversations of Ticket Seller
With Prospective Travellers
Scenes in q Railroad Omce-The City
Man as Bad as His Coun-
try Brother.

cagO OF any Trunk line learns IN q SNORT
time to have that pleasant look which the
photographer would impart. He learns to
smother his feelings. In this age of travel
this agent must meet every sort and con-
dition of men and women. The old lady or
man who occasionally goes out Of town
for day must ask as many questions as
the man or woman who is planning jour
rey. There is an organization of these
ticket agents which meets somewhere at
some time not known to the officers Of the
reads, and there they fall upon each others
necks and weep and groan over the trials
and tribulations of the day. And there
they join hands and swear to be agreeable,
on the surface at least, during business
hours.
The experience of city ticket agent IS
like hash at boarding house-the same
yesterday, today. and forever. The same
gu .stions every day. Here is the history
OF a little visit to John Wright, without
any padding or essay coloring; and what
he sees and hears and says they all see
and hear and say:
A sunburt. man asked the fare to Spring
field, Mo. The agent told him, offhand.
what time does the train leave?"
One at IL g. M, one at 2 and one at .
p. M"
train?"
Il don't know what you have to do. If
you will go from here direct to the depot.
you will have time. If you want to go out
to the ball game, you won't"
Eyes; see. And If I don't make the IL
a. m. train. can go on the 2 p. mp
Yes; II you get there in time"
What time is 1t now?'
''Ten-thirty."
THAT railroad time, or city timer
"All time in Chicago is the same"
II don't think I can make the II a. m
I suppose could. though, If I hustled. If
] take the II a. m, what time will I get
to Sent Looy?"
The agent told him the hour.
And then how much time will have in
Sent Looy before the train for Springfield
goes out?"
That won't do. want to see a cousin
Of my wifes who lives in Sent Looy, and
will have to hunt him up. II don't take
the the II a. M and go on the p; M. what
The agent told him that.
The man asked to look at map.
us this the c. and Az" asked the little
woman with a vaMse al1ing her lopsided.
Yes, ma'am."
Does your road go to Alton?'
All trains on our road run to Alton"
''That's what thought. I mean that's
what meant. How much is it to Atom
She was given the rate. Then she mop
ped her tired-looking face. Few women
have learned the art of keeping cool when
travelling. Having thought" she contin-
-ued:
"First-clsss. that means?"
"Oh, certainly
ANY parlor or chair car on the train?"
'Chair car on all trains. Which train do
you want to takeY'
II hadn't thought of that. I suppose
want to go OH the first tt ain. though, don't
E Really. am unable to say"
Can 1 stop of at Springfield? I want to
visit an aunt who used to live there,
though we haven't heard anything about
her since the strike last simmer. Her hus-
band was a railroad man. Maybe you have
met him."
POS sibly ma'am."
: Short, heavy-set man. with full beard
and gray eyes. Deaf in one year.
II think have met him." said the agent
in a manner that would Rave won for him
In North Carolina the title Of plum
Honey" 5t .ta''.s s-ea
But you cannot stop off at Springfield
ing that he had made one lap.
IF don't leave till tomorrow. what time
will get into Altcn?"
Depends on the train you take"
Eyes, that's so. hadn't thought Of that.
reckon as long as I am going might as
well go today"
With this decision she began to fish in
her reticule for her money.
Say" chimed in the man who had been
studying the map, this here burned thing
is all Dutch to me. Don't your road cross
the river goin' to Sent Looy?"
Certainly"
IT cont see no bridge on the map. But
If you say 1t crosses there I reckon 1t does.
The last time I crossed the river at Sent
Looy 1t was on the ice. 1t was the coolest
winter I ever saw. The wagon wheels
froze in their tracks We'll, make me out a
ticket on the 6 pm and throw in q sleepin'
car. 1 never could sleep much on one of
the burned things, but If a Teller sets UP
all night he's liable to take cold. A neigh
Dor Of mine went to Omaha once, and
thought he'd set up all night, so as to save
expenses, and he caught cold in his throat,
and the doctor had to cut his tonsils out,
and he never vas any good after that. He
used to herd cattle for Twin. and when
he lost his tonsils his voice was all broke
down, and he couldn't drive cattle without
a voice."
The agent made out his tickets and hand
ed him a pen. Sign your name there, and
there, and there" he said, indicating three
blanks.
well I'll try; but amt. had a pen in
my hand since cut my wrist on a scythe
in the summer Of 80. Not to write with.
I'll bet you can't read it when write it."
Don't think" said the agent, that be-
cause man has hayseed In his hair and
one who takes up your time. Some city
people are as bad in their way.
He had not more than said it when a we'll
straw hat with cart-wheel brim danced
up to the counter and asked:
"How much to St. LOUISE
, The agent told him.
ELEVEN, two six"
'Time does train leave in the EVENING"
"Six."
Reserve me sleeper six train this even
ing; lower"
Cant hold it after pm
Cant? Why can't your"
Rule OF the company"
a. fool rule. 1 won't have it I'll 60
on another road"
THAT is your privilege. I suppose,
though, I might break over the rule for
you, and get myself fred. If 1t is. any ac-
commodation to you, though, I'll do it."
Funny, aren't you? Paid for being
funny suppose. Company hires you to
entertain its patrons. You ought to have
q job as an end man in a minstrel show.
You're too funny to be in the railroad bust
ness, you are. That's right. See? Good
day"
And out he went, with the mercury ITO
under his collar.
Gimme two tickets to st. Paul." said a
man as he dragged a poor woman to the
counter.
1--WE have no trains to st. Paul"
'Ain't this the Chicago Great WESTERN"
mo, sir.'
Nor the Chicago, Milwaukee and ST. 4
Paul?'
NO. sir"
Nor the C. and M"
mo, SIR