The morning times., 1896-10-25
LIFE OF THE N|GHT-L|NER
CabbieS Who Live on the Be-
lated, c .ubman.
SOME ODD CHARACTERS
They Are Recruited From All
Ranks, and Their Living
Comes Hard.
SOME ODD CHARACTERS

When the gay and festive youth of the
wicked city of Poinpeii bent over the loaded
dice. and snapped their patrcian fingers, or
dallied with golden goblets of sweet Faler-
MAN wine until the cocks crowed, they
Jumped into their waiting chariocs and
dashed homeward between lava showers
at a three minute gait.
i he lat-headed, high-collarcd product OF
modern civilization, who stays away from
home and mother until the cable cars
stop, is compelled TO patronizc the average
Washington night-liner. The comparison
which suggests itself is far and away to the
advantage uf the chariot and the gay youth
of PompeH
It's an old story that tells of the man who
hired cab and started for "a drive, when
The bottom dropped out, and he was COM
PEELED 10 run the entire distance 1t was
"A good story until it was worn threadbare
but ii might be told again, with strong
probability of truth, were it applied to
The average night-liner. The class of
patronage. however, has something to do
with this lack of quality. and at best the
night cabby's lot is not a happy one. As
an individual he is the shrewdest OF men
at bargain, ready to take advantage of
the slightest mistake, and quick to notice
an error in your change when il is not in
MS favor His naine is legion. too, and his
business is one which competition has
ground down 10 a very fine point
BELONGS TO THE NIGHT.
he differs from the day cabby in many
respects, for he is OF the night and be-
longs to the people of the other half ii
second world, which the electric light has
made possible; who live backward, break
last at 6 in the evening and dine at
z III the morning.
With the electric lights the night-liners
make their appearance on the streets.
Who that has been out after dark has
not seen the long line of hacks drawn
ur along the side of some park or in
th'. triangle formed by intersecting street
and avenue. The lean horses sleeping
as they stand in the shafts heads down,
ears hanging, knees bent, and one hind
loot drawn up on its toe. The drivers
gather like moths beneath the arc light
On the corner, or doze away the hours on
the box, ever keeping n watcbful eye TO
windward for the possible fare.
GETTING A STAND.
The night-liner must come on duty
promptly at 8 O'Clock. in order to get the
choice places ON the sta nd. 1t is
hardly possible that he will get fare
until the tbeaters pour out their crowds:
but he must not loiter about the streets
on crossings, else tue watchful policeman
will get him FOR violating the hatk reisu
l:ltions and lines are an evil the cabby
va,is as he would smallpox.
From midnight until 3 O'Clock are the
night-lincr's busiest hours, and if he does
not gather in Il Iare or TWO then his chances
for Il profitable nights work are small
Woe to the unfortunate pedestrian who
comes within his reach after the cables
have stopped. Cabby knows to the See
ond when the last car has passed his
corner. and lie is quick to seize the ad-
vantage.
Rates 90 up surprisingly. distances in
crease in Il Iemarkahlc manner, and if by
lucky chance no other vehicle is IN signt
the man who wants II cab will have TO
pay well for it, Competition, however,
will work il remarkable change.
Stop ror Il moment on any corner from.
Seventh 10 Fifteenth streets along Penn
sylvania avenue at . O'Clock in the morn
ing and give one long shriH whistle. The
result viii be startling. Before the echoes
have died away around the corner the
deserted street appears as crowded as AT
midday. Cabs, cabs, cabs! They spring
FROM everywhere A moment before not
Il wheel in sight: q little piping whistle
will bring them whirling about you with
the thunder OF Il troop of cavalry, and
You will find yourself the center Of an
eager. shouting, bowling, storming crowd
of men and paving horses, that bar the
way on every side and keep you prisoner
until you bargain with one and drive away.
NAME YOUR PRICE.
Then is the time when legal rates are for
gotten. Prices drop to the very low est, and
the prospective passenger who has patience
can ride hong at a reasonable figure
Cabby does not always wait for the
whistle however The principal article
of his creed is tina no well-dressed man has
any business TO walk the streets after mid
night. He will tell you that it is danger
Gus. Youmay behc cid up and robbed. TWAS
only last week that Mr.. So-and- so was sand
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