The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-14

do wish j were a man! Not often, for
their clothes are so ugly! But there is
no doubt about it that a man can inn
press where a woman can only please.
There are times when the mere fact OF be-
ing man force success; and these times
are, undoubtedly, when it becomes neces-
sary to find fault with the methods of
corporation. There are some corporations
of which highly approve-the railroads.
In the utmost luxury they take me flying
across the county TO wherever / wish to
go, and, generalizing, / think the SER
wants of the railroad are polite. Ticket
sellers have an unpleasant way of con-
vincing a woman that she is an idiot;
but then. so many women, who take up
the time of the men in the ticket of
fees are idiots. Pointers are polite, when
they hope; less polite, perhaps, when
they receive. for expectancy is always
a pleasant state of mind. But against
one of the other corporations-1tha one
which guarantees to take a package, and
for a certain sum of money deliver 1t at
your door, have a grievance, and a just
one. During Christmas week the ex
pressman is welcome guest.
Every time the bell rings some face will
appear at the windows, looking out to
see if it is an express wagon. l have
gone through all these Delights have ex-
pressed my thanks to the bringers Of
gifts, not only verbally, but materially.
Yet there is another side to the story
and that is the sending of packages and
boxes. One day found me at the door Of
Ewes Express Company with four par
GELS and wooden box The wooden
baxswas marked in large letters, Fra
gile' 1t contained a lovely cup and
saucer of the very finest china, filled
with bonbons and properly packed by
china packer As one does with pre-
sent, / paid for its travel. Within
week news came that the box had ar
rived but-'the cup was IN a hundred
piecesi A visit to the Office of this special
corporation resulted in my being inform
ed that | could never get anything for
it. The man that told me this was very
civil, but his civiEty was convincing.
Experience No. 2 is more drmatic. Two
days before Christmas there came tele-
grant have nothing TO say against the
telegraph company at. prescnt-that
read: "Canvasback ducks and holly in
basket sent last night-tMerry Christ
mas" An day long that basket was
looked for. At night the news Of its non
arrival was wired to Baltimore. A search
was suggesteds but alasi days went by,
and meantime, instead OF canvasbacks,
rich, lucious, and tasting OF the wild
celery, / had to eat turkey-dry, tasteless
; turkey Then, the man who had started
the box suggested that | investigate.
Having a little belief in this special cor
poration, l started, dressed like the gen
! tleman of song In my best suit OF clothes
, without fear and without trembling. That
, was before knew as much as do now.
, On my arrival at the d.ngy offices OF the
company inquired for the president. Out
, of town." Then / asked whose business
) it was to attend complaints, | was sent
) to an office boy who knew nothing. From
him | was in a way tossed over to a
young man who knew everything, but
who proposed to keep his knowledge to
himself. He sent me up a winding flight
of stairs, and / landed after tripping
twice before door mark ''Superinten-
| dent" Two knocks and no answer. Then
entered. There were more men smok-
ing cigars than had ever seen in one Of
fee in all my business career. ] inquired
for the Superintendent Busy" Well,
would anybody see me. Yes, his secreta-
ry." The secretary was seated at a desk
from which he did not arise, nor did ne
offer me chair. The minute | booked
ait him / knew that he was my enemy.
He was short, rather broad, Shy OF hair
on his head, and with a bristly mus
tache that hooked as if it had shock Of
electricity and each hair OF which sug-
gested fight. He wore glasses. Now
glasses usually give people benevolent
look, but even halo wouldn't have made
this man look like anything but either
the possible ancestor OF bruisers or the
descendant of long line OF prize fighters
I started to tell my story in the most
business-Iike way. | offered, as evidence
of the truth OF my statement copy
of the manifest book which told Of the
reception OF the ducks. This gentleman
~ kindly asked how he knew that this
manifest page was genuine. In inquired,
with certain heat, how in the name OF
everything good and holy | could get a
page of the manifest book of a place
nearly 200 miles away from me2 He
didn't make any answer to my remark,
but announced that, probably, the adj
dress was not written in ink. AS the
basket was sent by man, | was sure it
was properly addressed. Then he told
me that if they found the basket | would
have to take it. Now. | Ike ducks high,
but I don't like them over a month after
killing, even If they have been kept in
cold storage. A few more corporation
civihties made me so nervous that de-
t parted, hoping that the old place would
catch ON fire and some awful thing hap
pen to that man. A few days passed
That's way noveists always write,)
/ got a letter. Git assured me that the
basket had been delivered; that it had
been receipted for by Mrs. ItalianO; and
that, in future, it would be wise II /
would refrain from censuring the eompa-
ny. This did take my breath away |
never knew before that when You seat
a package by express you received in
addition to its possible loss, little NOR
al tag. / answered that letter.
told that man that there was nobody
in my apartment or in my house OF that
name; that the express company could find
Mrs. Italano and prove why she could