Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-26
THE WOES THEY HAVE
LIVES OF MEN WHO RUN OUR CARS
NOT ALL BL1SSFJL.
THEY SUFFER At FAIR HANDS.
Some Are Pleas ant Travellers, Hut
Minds of Others Must He Read
Electricity Contributes to Their
SOrrOws.
SOrrOws.

tho feet OF a querulous public can dis
play so many woes, and woes OF such
variegated hues, as the motormen ana
conductors OF our street-cars.
From the time a baby takes Its first
ride all through the years when baby
grows up and old and to be a baby again,
peculiar and irritating care is placed
on the shoulders of the street-car con-
ductor. This is true of all sexes and
colors of babies.
MUST KNOW THEIR THOUGHTS.
There is a very well numbered class OF
young ladies' and old ladies. mostly the
younger ones, however, who maintain
that man ought to know everything, even
to fathom the depths Of their own
thoughts, and If his intuitive powers fail
once by the wayside they blame him for
ever. one of the most frequently recur-
ring woes of a motorman is that which
he suffers at the hands and erring con-
lectures of some lady of this mental
drift. She will stake herself on the
wrong side Of the street, watch the APP
preaching car, follow 1t with her eyes,
the motorman and conductor see her. look
as constantly and faithfully at her as
she at the car to divine If she wishes TO
board it; yet not one feature save her
eyes does she move. The carmen CO..
clude she is on the wait for something
else, perhaps for it TO get out Of the way,
and so they hurry by. Just about the
time they have gone past the right stop
ping place some man from the sidewalk
will call out that a lady wants the car.
The car is brought to a standstill, ana
both men look around to see whom on
earth their vigilance has failed to reach,
when there comes the fair statue or the
street corner all life and fire now. pant
ing and whispering maledctions on man
kind each time she catches suf1cient
breath for the utterance. She Will rarely
say anything to the conductor If alone
but when he collects her fare she VIII
give 1t TO him while she looks out the
opposite window, and bite her pretty lips
at him when he turns humbly away. III
she happens to be with a companion, also
of the fair and gentler sex, they will talk
loud enough Tor the conductor to hear on
such pleasant themes as the stupidity OF
men in general and especially Of street
car men, and more especially of these
two. The climax of the laudatory con-
versation Is scheduled 10 arrive just as
the DOOR cTestfallen man comes Tor
flares, please" lie gets them, but ex-
pressions have been seen on genteel races
under such circumstances that might
have been translated: wed like to have
the pleasure of biting off your head in
exchange, sir"
VOYAGER OF DIFFERENT MOULD
But there is another fair voyager OF
entirely different mould She is young,
pretty, and has a sweet, soft voice she
gets on quickly, and her little hands
dive Immediately into the numerous
dress samples of her pocEct-book for
her next to the last nickel The con-
ductor takes il with palsied hand ana
goes back 10 the rear ond OF the car.
He soon has another fare TO collect
from a passenger just In front OF the
pretty girl and again he sees the sweet
face He thinks he would like 10 have
n great collision when everybody would
be thrown violently from the car-any-
where. only she and himself left, and
then. that they could ride on and on
TO the junction point Of time and eter-
nifty But presently the voice says
musically Put me off at the next cor
ner. please" He puts" her OFF, but
longs for the day when he can put her
on again-and the car glides along.
FIVE CENTS FOR DUDE AND DOG
One Of the most suggestive phenomena
! Of human weakness was seen on a
street-car in "dis here very town" not
| long ago. 1t was a man bordering on
middle life dressed like q dude Of 90;
! with the latest conception of mans
wearing material represented on his
exquisitely gotten-up person. To com
plete himself, he carried IN his lap a
little black dog. almost square, done
upon bells and blue ribbons.
When the specimen above referred to
boarde the car, he was just return
ing from the reservoir, where his pup
had been sporting in the mud. Taking
a seat. he placed the animal beside him.
Then, in a few moments the conductor
came for the fares and espied that one
Of the gentlemen with muddy feet.
Cant occupy that seat" said the car
man, you'll have 10 take him In your
lap" The fancy fellow looked at the
muddy roads for the city was not yet
reached, then at his patent feathers,
and still then at the dog. Have TO
put him off" suggested the nickel
gatherer. Jaw, Aw; / yeckon not"
| lisped the dude, and into his lap went
the dog.
SOME REDEEMING ONES.
Not every woman nor every man con-
| dennis the two faithful public servants
who pass away their lives on street
car as thoughtless and stupid few
| evenings ago a tired mother, who sup
ported her children by hard work day
by day in a factory, climbed hill just
| in time to see ear which passed her
door go by. She was too tired to raise
her hand even, and too out of breath
from the dreary climb 10 speak. A sad.
troubled look yet free from all bitter
ness. settled upon the plain face She
was a mother, patient and forbearinS
| as mothers learn to be, but If there are
| mothers. there, too, are sons. Some I'M
| usual sound on the street-side caused
| the motorman 10 look around when MS
car was speeding half square away,
and the sun shining full on that
mothers face, revealed something OF its
| weary look. She raised her hand Fee
bly now, hardly thinking he would sec
il. But he did. The car was stopped.
Look out for your trolley, called the
Gallant man 10 the conductor, and
backwards they went TO the spot where
the woman stood. A bright, thankful
smile one would not have expected to
see there lit up that face. A CHEEKY
| "'Thank YOU. so much" reached the
oars of the gentlemanly motorman. as
| again he unswung the brake and turned
the current on.
MAKE FUN OF ELECTRICITY.
OF late DAYS a new trial Of Job has
come upon the conductor and motor
man one of the recent uses TO which
the wonderful properties of the cleo
tric current is put is seen in electric
bells on street-cars. Each seat is pro-
yided with two buttons-one on each
end-vhich when pressed, ring a bel
~ the distraction of the motorman
when the car is crowded. omnisclence
alone can tell who rings the bell OF
from what seat II comes.
All during these summer evenings
which many young people, boys and thei