New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-15
he HATES ARG YIN"
30 THE PERUVIAN TAKES HIS TIME. BUT THE
o-CENT FARE FOR A TwENTYFooT RIDE
Is ALWAYS FORTHCOMING.

30 THE PERUVIAN TAKES HIS TIME BUT THE
o-cENT FARE FOR TwENTY-Foor RIDE
Is ALWAYS FORTHCOMING.
What is perhaps the shortest ferry in this region
Is between South Beach and Petteers. Staten ISL
and A small creek, not twenty feet wide.
from the marshes out to the sea- just beyond the
limits of South Beach. The local corporation built
a wooden bridge over II some years ago. but only
few piles still remain. This bridge would probably
be rebuilt but for the fact that the regular South
Beach visitors conhne themselves 10 the boardwalk
and rarely venture far as the creek. From Pet
telers and its vicinity to South Beach Is pleasant
walk and travellers along the beach constitute the
unwilling patrons of the ferry. All goes well until
South Beach Is nearly reached and then the little
creek bars the way. 1t H. only twenty feet wide.
but the party usually walk back little way along
the bank In the hope that 1t is only an inlet. False
hope. IL extends back for miles. They then stand
in a group the bank and speculate upon the
chances OF wadlnG
A member volunteers to try and after removing
shoes and stockings. starts bravely across the
stream. He gets halfway over. and then hastily
returns displaying pair OF legs beautifully gar
nished with a peculiarly sticky blue mud. At this
juncture a man who has hitherto lain passively in an
old pushes lazily off from the opposite bank
and approaches the party. His antquated tub Is
so plastered with mud that IT IL almost invisible
when lying close up against the bank. He lansuidly
inquiries II they want TO cross, and In answer TO the
chorus OF eager Alternatives. blurts out Five
cents" or angry questions as 10 why the creek Is
there what Is the matter with the bridge. and so
forth he takes not the slightest notice, but gives two
long strokes which land the boat the other side
After collecting his fees FOR ferriage this imper-
turbable Charon sinks down into the stern of his
boat and waits for the next relay. Nothing can
exceed his placdity the air OF comfort with
which he puffs his short clay pipe. No monopoly
was ever more absolute than his. and his demeanor
plainly manifests 1t.
After the party had crossed canny Scotchman
reached the opposite bank. He took In the situa-
ton at a glance and off came his shoes and stock
ings. Where he found mud ne skirted along until
he sand. and he got more than half way
across. when he stepped upon an old wire mattress
anC, with few choice expressions he skipped back
and hailed the ferryman. En- mon, he said III
1t hadna been for the mattress I'd haze beat ye"
I'm, there's broken bottles tOtner side OF that"
said the ferrymdn IN nonchalant manner
1t Is shrewdly suspected that some or the pitfalls
In the path of "a would-be wader arthciay
Constructed by the management. Few get beyond
the mattress. The impossible ferryman asked
why he delayed long before crossing TO fetch his
passengers
well. ! wants 'em to find out first that they
can't cross other way. | hates argyin."
No information could be obtained concerning the
receipts OF the monopoly, questions Of any kind
having the effect OF turning the imperurbab'e fer
ryman into a sort OF raging lion
From his passengers he receives complaints
abuse personal and offensive remarks. and invita-
tOns 10 fight. all OF these move him not, but
question. whether Innocent or not at once rouses
his ire. Meanwhile. he lives with fine disre-
gard Of mankind. tempered only by the fear that
the bridge may be rebuilt and deprive him OF his
occupation