Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-25

variety or questions asked one would sup
pose it was 4 fortune teller's Office or mind
readers habitation.
A Star reporter CHANGED that way during
the busy hours of a day the past week. and
for the want of something else to do en-
gagged the Solomon behind the glass parti
ton in conversation.
rs the day express on time?" asked the
reporter.
Yes, of course. It's on the board there"
the young man replied, and then for the
first time the reporter noticed neat black
board displaying the time of the arrival of
a number of trains, showing whether they
were on time or late.
Does that board help you much?' the re-
porter asked.
MOI a great DEAL was the answer
People come here to ask questions and
they'll keep a it if that blackboard was ten
contained all the information they wanted. "
The reporter then introduced himself, and
after little jollying, persuaded the much
abused information man TO talk.
My work? Oh, i like it well enough. /
gave up a good job oil the road for it. and
I've no kick coming. The hours are little
long, but that is on account of being housed
mp What makes lie weary of life is the
questions I've Sot to answer. ] am put here
for the purpose of answering questions bear
ing directly on sae 1aI'road, but three peo-
- out of five mink am the latest edition
Of the encyclopedia
Curious Information Wanted.
Idy busiest hot.r< or minutes are between
trains. Then the people lounging about the
oi.tng room decide upon killing time, and
think there is no better way than to rush
mp here and ask useless questions. During
the racing season at ST. Asaph and Old Do
rlnicn tracks / have had men and women
fTPGnRnflV fn mo for md txxyo
different occasions men have placed their
watches and diamond pins with until
they returned from the races. There's lots
of information in that, and I'm thinking
of making appiiea ton for safe in which
to keep valuables.
Il believe on an average thousand
questions are showered on me in days
time. OF course. there are off days when
the figures run away down: then, again.
they go up at rate that makes my head
ppin. You should see NE during Inaugural
ton days, big conventions and excursions.
You would think / was giving away sand
witches and coffee free from the manner the
crowd was trying to get at ME.
Keep my temper? It's case of must.
My bread and butter depends on it. OF
course / lose patience sometimes, but
generally take refuge in silence.
Il have come to the conclusion that the
man who undertakes to run bureau of in
formation must be living encyclopedia Of
railway matters. That is an absolute ne
cessity. He must have all of the trains.
their time of arrival and departure at his
tongues end; he must know what connec-
tons they make all over the country. both
with other roads, with steamboats, and with
stages; he must know whether they stop at
Bowie, Wilmington or Parkton; he must be
able to tell the mileage to out-of-the-way
places that only one person in a thousand
ever heard of, and all this Information must
be given quickly, and, above all, accurately.
Il have very little time to consult time
tables, as there are usually half dozen peo-
pie waiting at the window to fin6 out some
thing. - Then, in addition, every article
found on the trains IS turned in to me, and
1 must attend to this part of the work,
well as the answering of questions. Then
people pile up all sorts of other things On
nle.
Also n Guide to the City.
For instance, strangers want to know all
about how to get to various parts of the
city. so that have to have all the street
car lines and their connections down pat.
Outgoing travellers want to know whether
1t is raining in Philadelphia or New York,
so 1 must be a weather prophet So, you
see, have got to keep my wits about me
all the time, for If / once get ratified it is
ali up with me. A man in such a position
naturally becomes a student of human ma
ture, and can quickly tell how to handle
questioners in the most effective way. If
they really want to know something, 1 can
give 1t to them in the best possible shape
questions for the fun of the thing 1 can
turn them down effectually without giving
ofense. OF course, my experiences are as
varied as the colors of a rainbow They are
humorous and pathetic, annoying and pleas
ant, all mixed up in a days work.
stand by the window a couple of minutes
and get a practical illustration of what 1
mean"
An excited woman rushes up to the win
dow.
Have you seen Mrs. Hopkins in here to-
day! She promised to meet me hour
ago, and she isn't here yet. Don't know
her? Why. she has been travelling on this
read for the last two years.
Off goes the lady in a huff, and another
one equally as Hurried hurries up.
Have you found a pocketbook?" she says
What did it look like?' calmly asks the
Information man. Long description follows.
Where did you lose it, in the train or the
station?''
Neither. I must have lost it on the
street, but as 1 travelled on your road I
thought maybe it was sent here"
She was referred to the city detective de-
partment.
Wanted n Guarantee.
A man stopped to ask about trains to
Denver.
Now, 1t is very important that get there
by 11:3O O'Clock Thursday morning." said
he
The Information man mentioned a train
that would give him three hours to spare
Now 1 want you to guarantee that III
reach there at that time"
IF you make all connections and there
are no delays" began the informa ton man.
No, that Is not what L want 1 have to
be there, delays or no delays. / want You
to promise that I'll be there at that time"
Il can't possibly give you that. 1 can only
tell you whet: you will arrive, barring acct
dents and mishaps."
"An right" said the man, in wrath. I'll
report you for not giving patrons of the
road the information they want"
A very common question asked at the
bureau is What time does the 40 train
leave? This always receives the same
answer, 100"
A colored family want to go to a place in
the south They are evidently spending a
great deal of money on the trip.
"Ssy, boss" said the head of the house,
does y know whether it's gwine to rain
In Atlanta, sab, durin' the comm week?'
Even the bureau of information man was
staggered by this question and he had to
admit that he couldn't give the weather
that far ahead.
Theatrical people are my best friends"
resumed the information man to the report
er, after the latter had enjoyed a hearty
laugh and offered sympathy. They are al
ways in good humor and great jolliers. Ev-
cry now and then a bright young fellow or
lady will ask me question that would stag
ger Solomon, and then laugh heartily at
my rerplexity.