Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-07
New York. February ? 1897

NCM lOih, eDruary g. 1897
Once in while do wish | were a
man. Not often, for their clothes ara
so ugly. But there is no doubt about
it that a man can impress where a
woman can only please. There are
times when the mere fact OF being a
man forces success; and these times are
undoubted, when it becomes necessary
TO find fault with the methods of a
corporation. There are some corpora
lions of which | highly approve-the
railroads. In the utmost luxury they
take me flying across the country TO
where | wish TO go, and. generalizing.
think the servants of the railroad "a
polite. Ticket-sellers have an unpleas-
ant way OF convincing woman that she
is an idiot; but then, so many women.
who take up the time of the men in the
ticket Offices are idiots. Porters are
polite when they hope; less polite. per-
maps, when they receive for expec-
fancy is always a pleasant state OF
mind. But against one of the other
corporations-tha one which guaran-
tees to take a package, and, for GER
tain sum of money. deliver it at your
door, have grievance, and a Just
one.
During Christmas week
THE EXPRESSMAN Is A WELCOME
GUEST.
Every time the bell rings some faco
will appear at the window. looking out
TO see if it is an express wagon. have
gone through all those delights: have
expressed my thanks To the bringers Of
gifts. not only verbally. but materially.
Yet there is another side OF the story
and that is the sending of packages and
boxes. One day found me at the door
of Ewes Express Company with four
parcels and a wooden box. The wood
en- box was marked in large letters,
Fragile" It contained a lovely cup
and saucer of the very finest china,
filled with bonbons and properly pack
ed by a china packer As one does with
a present, | paid for its travel. With
in a week news came that the box had
arrived but-the cup was in a hundred
pieces, A visit 10 the Office Of this
special corporation resulted in my be-
ing informed that / could never get
anything for it, The man that told
me this was very civil. but his civility
was convincing. Experience No. !.
Experience No. 2 is more dramatic.
Two days before Christmas there cams
a telegram ha K nothing TO say
against the telegiam company at pres-
ent-that read "Canyasback ducks
and holly in basket sent last night
Merry Christmas" All day long that
basket was looked for. At night tho
news of its non-arrival was wired To
Baltimore. A search was suggested,
but alas, days went by, and meantime,
instead Of canvasbacks. rich, luscious
and tasting of the wild celery, had
to eat turkey, dry. tasteless turkey.
Then. the man who had started the box
suggested that | inT2stigate.,.' =, - :; :.
little belief in this Special corPora-
ton. started, dressed like the gentle
man of song
INMY BEST SUIT OF CLOTHES.
without fear and without trembling.
That was before ] knew as much as i
do now. On my arrival at the dingy
Offices of'the company inquired for the
president. "Out Of town. Then !
asked whose business it was 10 Ittene
to complaints. / was sent 10 an Office
boy who knew nothing. From him ]
was. in a way. tossed over TO young
man who knew everything. but VINO
proposed to keep his knowledge TO him.
self. He sent me up winding illghS
of stairs. and / landed after tripping
twice before a door marked "Superin-
tendent." Two knocks and no answer.
Then entered. There were more mea
smoking cigars than ! had ever seen 10
one Office in all my business career.
] inquired for the superintendent
Busy" Well would anybody see NO.
Yes. his secretary The secretary
was seated at a desk from which be dld
not arise. nor did he offer me a chair.
The minute looked al him ] knew that
he was my enemy He was Short
rather broad. shy Of hair on his head
and with bristly mustache that look
ed as If il had a shock Of electricity
and each hair of which suggested fight.
He wore glasses. Now glasses usually
give people a benevolent look, but even
n halo wouldn't have made this man
look like anything but either the pos
sible ancestor Of bruisers or the des-
cendent Of a long line Of prize hghierS'
I STARTED TO TELL MY STORY
IN the most business-like way. ! Of
frred. as evidence Of the truth OF my
statement. d copy Of the manifest Do9K
which told Of the reception OF tne
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