The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-01
The Patience
OF Job. Xxx

Let the unhelievers, the douhtihg
Thomases, who refused to accept the
reincarnation theory spend hali day
with the man i'm the Bureau of lnior-
nation at the Reading Terminal ana
be convinced.
] spent half of busy day behind
the rail with him and when | lett !
vowed solemnly | should never tease
Bureau of Information man again.
After considerable eXpcrimcntinG
have found that the best question To
test a bureau mans tempcr is To ask
him innocently if your hat is "n
straight.
once | asked this question with
terrible result. The man had been
valued employe Of the road for years
and was regarded by all as the pcrsonl-
fCaton Of patience. J had a few NM
utes to spare. and 7 asked tn" bureau
man this harmless little question
There was a sudden frcnzied shrek.
"Oh, this is too muCh!' and the bureau
man tried to spring through the small
window at me-
1t was a terrible moment | ran, of
course, and from a safe distance
watched seven strong men try to hold
him. Then they took him away in
irons. a sihbering idiot.
And so it was that | stood at Il res
pectful distance when | asked this
question of the Reading Terminal man
just to try him. He put his head ON
one side. shut one eye and then said
slowly and thoughtfully. Swing her a
little to the nor northwest
He stood the test well, and 1 went
inside
The next one TO arrive after myself
was a man who came in with strides
like the giant in the seven league
boots. His hat was on the back Of his
head he was breathless, drops of per-
spiration stood on his forehead
Papers. papers." he gasped; "valu
able papers: had 'em in my hand; left
'em in the car-gone, gone: been down
stairs not there; been upstairs; not
there: been"
What are those papers sticking out
Of your Overcoat pocket" interrupted
the bureau man. The man thrust his
hand in his pocket. and his look OF
wild excitement changed to one of
foolishness. He went out saying some
thing about an expected visit from the
fool killer.
He closed the door in a Chinaman's
face, the Chinaman opened 1t and
came in. He was fat Chinaman in
n purple shirtie and he had a face as
round and eXpressionless as a Mary
land biscuit
Lace Steelt," he said.
The bureau man directed him almost
entirely with gestures. When he had
finished, the Chinaman, with the same
blank expression on his Countenance,
turned and started out of the building
exactly as he had been told. "Of all
races" said the bureau man, mot even
excepting the Americans, the Chinese
are the easiest to direct. The Poles
and Hungarans are the most difficult.
They are the torment Of my life"
An up-country woman came in with
four children forming a procession be-
hind her. The children sat down ON
the floor. Each produced a raisin
'Cookey" and began to eat.
elf me table time" said the wo-
man.
Where tor" asked Mr.. Bureau Man.
"Toust leetle way up de rOadt."
How far uD the road?"
Bout dirty miles
What station-what town." he
asked, with a groan.
"Ellentown," she answered, sharply.
Oats none OF your pisncsS" She
snatched the time table out Of his
hand and jerked each urchin in turn
on it's feet, then the procession filed
OHt,
suave little man, with a suavc lit
tie voice, wanted to know when he
could 60 10 Reading. After receiving
his information he asked: Don't you
got tipaI &c
Sometimes" replied the man. When
the door was closed he said: II get
more tired Of answering that question
than any other / hear it two dozen
times a day. The man who says, is
it hot enough for you?' is a positive
relief"
jolly, gOOG-natured looked SWede,
twenty-five or three years of age, wan
dered in.
Il haf been lost alreaty,' he an
nounCed. and then stood waiting. as
though he had exploded a bombsheu.
"Well?" asked the man inquiringly.
II come this morning alrcaty from
White Heaven HaVem to see my brod-
der. l haf where he lif IN my pocket,
and | lCse him. l pay $500 for my
ticket, and now l must go back. | hal
no place to sleep, and | haf not seen
my brodder alreaty. His name is Yon
Anderson. You know him."
The inquiry man said he did not.
Two hours later the Swede was still
walking up ard down the platform
with the same cheerful expression on
his face, waiting for the train fol
"White Heaven"
An excited mar, jew rushed in
HAS the 1910 train gone" H. asked
in an agOni2ed face
Yes" was the renly.
Mine Gott! mine Gott! l lose 5000,
and the excited man tore down tho
platform with the evident intention q,
running 10 his destination.
\ young man of perhaps eightcel
walkei IN briskly. The impression Was
among the by-standcrS that no had
bad an encounter with the noble ami
nal that always makes it point tC
die in,the cellar
Can you tell me whether il is rain,
ing in HatboTO OF not?" he asked.
This is not a weather bureau, neith,
er am | a weather prophet; but as ii is
raining here, and HatbOro is only about