The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29
FERRY CHANGE THAT'S LEFT.
Sometimes $40 . Week That the Thrifty Tickef
seller Can't Give Back to the Owners

sS .
seller Can't Give Back to the Owners.
1t was just thirty seconds before the mid
night boat for Jersey City was due to start. and
tho tall man seemed to realize it, for no rushed
into the ferryhouse. tossed . nickel to the toll
taker, and made a rush for the gate. The two
cents change which the ticket man thrust
toward him was ignored.
"Hl. there. here's yer change." shouted Ithe
agent after the disappearing figure.
The M an paid no attention. and u second later
the gateman banged the door behind him; there
was q creaking OF chains. a prolonged whistle.
and the boat pulled out OF the slip. The ticket
man smiled. put the two cents in with a pilo OF
small coins which he had arranged at one sido
OF the regular receipts, and turned TO a L re-
porter. who had been asking him questions
about an overdue train.
Not so bad since ! o'clock this afternoon he
said. smoothing the pile OF coins with his hand.
DO you mean that all that money came in
the Same way that that two cents did, asked
Soh It isn't SO much; only about 81. said tho
That's the way it came: though" he con.
throw away their small change. The usual
way is Just as that fellow did. They come rush.
chs d nRe. You can boiler after them until You're
black in the face and thcy, never look around.
course; don't say people deliberately throw
nrss or ignorance OF what the fare Is. Every
Thu x else Is a nickel at least in New York. 40
most strangers think the ferry fare Is a nickel.
It's In bits Of two cents. like this. that most OF II
comes in, although I've had fellows give up Q
quarter and never wait for change. You can
understand y mans letting n couple Of cents go
when it's q case OF catching the boat, but it's II
peculiar fact that many OF them leave the
change when they've got plenty of time for the
boat. It's In the rush hours that we get the
best of 1t. Then, you see, a man gets pushed
along by those behind him. and a man like me
hasn't got time to give more than one yell after
him.. Sometimes they come back for the change.
bur more often they don't. You see 1t depends
on how soon the ticket man calls"
Now, that's It, said. the ferryman, lingering
the pile lovingly; that's precisely the point. !
guess other fellows like me have thought over
the thing and wondered whether they were
honest. Yon soc, I'm an honest man and never
stole anything or did q mean act In my life.
Still. figure as ! can. ! can't se- where tho com,
pany comes In with any right 10 this money. II
ls It'll Its a dozen different peoples, OF course,
but they'll never come for 1t and / can't take II
to them. SO / figure between the company and
mvHelf and decide that l need IL most. II cant
be stealing, because ! always holler after the
people who leave Ii. vet somehow | don't feel at
II 1t was quite on tho level. | make up as much
as l can by never kicking when anybody comes
i always give up what he says Is coming TO him.
Meantime I use the money. Sometimes II
amounts to $40 In n week and sometimes moro
and its very handy to n man who Ia supporting {
family on tho pay the company gives mo. I'll
the same with all ferrymen, and i guess the Gle
waited road ticket agents get a bit the same way
too. Say, do you think 1t ought to go to thu