The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-11
CURIOUS CHRONICLES
Sad Story Of the Bright Young Man
and the Sad-Eyed Conductor.
MORAL: TWO CAN PLAY AT A GAME.
Something About Baby Carriages and
Negligent Nurses Ex.Editor of the
Iomb"t6ne Epitnph Enibarrassed--
Violations ors,reet Etiquet,e-Aet.
ter Head OF State Republican,.

Several days ago Bright Young Man,
boarded n street car on CRANKY street
coming toward Main. The conductor
presently came around for fares. The
bright Young Man fished O quarter out
of his vest pocket and balanced II artis-
tically upon the end Of his forefinger.
extending his hand, as he did 30, to the
official. AS the latter reached for the
quarter the Bright Young Man dexter
ously Tipped the coin to the palm of
his hand and the conductor found him
self eagerly holding on to the Bright
Young Mans finger and looking very
foolish. The young lady giggled This
operation was repeated three times. and
finally the Bright Young Man, conclud-
ing the joke had gone far enough and
that he had amused himself and HIS fair
friend sufficiently, passed the quarter
over to the official. who had maintained
a remarkable degree of composure under
the trying circumstances. He put the
coin I'm his pocket and stood idly toying
with his watch chain.
II want my change" said the Bright
Young Man, after several minutes had
passed and he was convinced that the
conductor had actually forgotten all
about 1t.
"oh. change" said the latter dreamily,
what changer"
II gave you quarter and you owe
Man logically
! For an answer the conductor, with
an understandable. get-eycn expression on
his face. crooked his little finger and
held ii out to the Bright Young Man in
lieu of the money. The cur was crowd
ed and the passengers broke into
pleasant litter. The girl giggled The
Bright Young Man colored up and finally
smiled little himself. The conductor
put his hands in his pockets and walked
to the platform, where, when last seen,
he was still standing and had not re-
turned the change. He probably did
when the couple got Off
| II wonder IL mothers know the dan
ger their little ones are subjected to-"
said Main street merchant the other
day. Il noticed on crowded Main street
I'VE baby carriages in tandem style and
the nurses seemingly Indifferent to their
charges. their attention being engaged
entirely with the attractions Of the win
dow displays. l am not saying anything
! OF the Inconvenience n blockade of this
KIND causes the passing throng but i
think mothers would do we'll to see that
the nurses in their employ seek less
/ crowded portions of the city, where there
/ is less danger to the little ones"
| And this leads me to say" continued
the speaker, that 1t Is O curious fact
mat not over one person In ten un-
idcrstands the etiquette Of the side walk
especially that rule which should be OBJ
served In passing. Instead of turning
10 the right. as Is natural common SEN
Side and proper. the rule is utterly dis
regarded, and as result 1 see hun
ureds or pedestrians bump into each
other every day. 1t is not much better
in the streets, either, with the teams.
.rhey pass each other any old way and
in a manner that would not be tolerated
| in the big cities.'
II would astonish some good Demo-
! Gratis to know that the letter head usnd
NY the Republican State Executive Conn
lnittee bears upon 1t three beautifully
engraved portraits. One is that NJ
Thomas Jefferson. designated as First
republican President" the second is of
James Monroe, termed Third RepubIi
can President" the last is Henry Claws
Rather be Right than President" For
some reason, as Yet unknown. the pic
lure OF Abraham Lincoln Is not on tho
letter head. neither are those of Grover
Cleveland. George Washington or An
drew Jackson
a good story Is told of Mr. John p
oium. VINO recently lectured here. and
VINO at one time was editor OF the Tomb
stone Epitaph. out in Arizona. Mr..
Clum was here n couple of years ago on
certain business connected with the m
lspectorship he holds from Uncle Sam.
ana was being entertained by some
friends uptown. Now on the previous
night, one of Hoyt's plays had been
EVEN at the Academy. in which the
Tombstone Epitaph and its fighting
editor, in the comedy. an entirely myth.
cai character played an import
seen this work of art. nor did
ne know the publs had enioyed
lis presentation the evening before. Con
seqnently he was not n little surprised
when he heard various guests present
make numerous laughing illusions tn
Inc Epitaph, Its editor and his original
methods. frequently. rs people will, who
nave just seen performance that i'm
pressed them. using catch phrases from
TIE play. Mr. Clum stood IL for two
hours and then he called his host TO one
side and said: '''e
Billy. these people appear to know me
pretty well, considering they never saw
Why" oueried his host surprised
well, returned Mr.. Clum, they've
been sitting around here taking oSo,,t
me and l can't understand It. What
are they throwing off on me for"
MY dear friend they don't know any,
lhlng about you. They haven't any
more idea where you came from than I
nave Where did you come from anv-
a reply ior
Il came from Tombstone, said Mr.
Hlum, Sepulchrally, land was editor of
Inc Epitaph."
Explanations followed, but the nm.
fortunate Tombstonian was not more
than half convinced.