Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-14
ABOUT FREE PASSES
How the Situation is Viewed at
Spencer.
A Belief That Privileges Have Been
Abused-A Peculiar Accident
Other News.

surprised at the action recently taken
by the directors Of the road in discon-
tinuing the issue Of free passes. 1t is
the opinion Of people interested in the
road, that the holders Of free passes have
abused the privilege; in other words,
that they have ridden the free horse to
death.
Those who have not been so fortunate
as to be among the free pass holders,
and who envied the good fortune OF
their friends, have congratulated them
and asked how 1t was that they could
ride so often and free Of charge, and the
holder Of the pass would intimate that
it didn't cost a cent, the pass being
complimentary. The holders Of the pass
es have, Of course, enjoyed all the priv
ileges and accommodations of the road
and oftentimes 1t has been the case that
person paying his fare has been
obliged to stand during his ride from
Spencer or Leicester to Worcester, while
the pass holder has occupied seat In
comfort, reading or conversing with
friends The road Is so long that on Sat
urday afternoons, when 1t is extensively
patronized, even with all the extra cars
running, some Of the passengers must
stand for portion Of the ride to and
| from the city. Naturally the man who
pays his fare feels that he should be
! entitled to a seat, which may be held
! by the holder of the pass. Under the
new system every passenger must pay
I a fare-directors, selectmen, newspaper
men and all, excepting the employees
! who have heretofore ridden free. 1t has
been the custom OF the directors to give
/ passes to the selectmen of the towns
I along the line of the Suburban road, as
I they are at times obliged to ask the
selectmen for a franchise for road ex-
| tension and additional favors The road
/ is now so well established that the oftic-
/ ials do not care for sentiment and have
I no fear Of trouble from the towns along
| the line The Suburban road has come
I to stay; 1t is a convenience and almost
necessity The road ceases now to be an
experiment; it has been tried and has
been proved to be a great accomGnoda-
ton to the public. 1t has been hinted
| around the streets that the directors
\ took action because the road was losing
| money, but any one noticing the travel.
the extra cars and increased patronage
can readily see that such was not the
motive
The suggestion has been made that In
some cases books and tickets have been
transferred unbeknown to the conduct
ors, although precautions have been
taken by the officials each ticket being
numbered and the holder being obliged
to show his pass book, unless, In some
| Instances, where the owner OF the pass
/ is very well known and constant rider.
The satisfactory system now in vogue
on the Warren road, terminating here,
is of interest from a comparative point
of view The Warren, Brookheld and
u Spencer road experiences no trouble in
handling the free pass books. No OBJ
jections have ever been brought for
ward on this road; the officials always
issue individual passes bearing the
| tl7f oil co
take especial pains, and in nearly every
instance ask for the pass book and tear
out the ticket.
} A PECULIAR ACCIDENT.
George w. Wright was injured in
peculiar way while out walking this af-
ternoon. Mr.. Wright was on Wall
street when a bottle fell from win
dow in Hilrs block, striking him square
ly on the top of the head. He was stag
gered for minute, and when he came
to his senses he felt blood was running
down over his face. Bystanders helped
the elderly gentleman to DR.. Austin's
office in the Sugden block.
The bottle had cut a cash an inch
long on Mr.. Wrights head, and three
stitches were taken to close the wound.
| The flow of blood was stopped, and
Thomas Clark carried the unfortunate
man to his home, on Grant street
There was considerable talk on the
street as to how the bottle happened
to fall from the window at the exact
time when Mr.. Wright was passing. The
| top story Of Hills block Is occupied by
| the KIondike Club, which is made up
of S5 of the representative young men
of Spencer. Mr.. Wright was accom-
panied by large Newfoundland dog,
| and it Is thought that the bottle, which
contained varnish, was intended for the
dog instead Of the head of the aged
| citizen. Mr.. Wright was called upon by
a Spy reporter tonight and ne was rest
ing comfortably on a lounge, but suffer
ing considerable pain. His shirt and
clothing were bloody. Mr.. Wright said:
well, it was In all probability an acci-
dent. am an Englishman, and you
can't kiln an Englishman I am feeling
| all right and shall go to my work at
the boot shop in the morning"
THE LOCAL CHURCHES.
The clear, spring-life weather was
partly responsible this morning for the
large attendance at all of the churches.
Rev. A. e. Cotton of Hyde Park
preached at the Congregational Church
| The music was unusually fine.
The Y. P. S. C. E. met at 6 this
evening, the topic was: Called to
what? How? lisa. g. Is; Mark l, 1920
The pastor preached at the peoples eve
ming service at o'clock, taking for a
| theme: THE everlasting gospel
! In the absence of Rev. G. Whiteheld
| Simonson, Rev. John Norberry of
| Brooklyn, n. Y, preached at the Metho-
dist Church. His theme was: '@Fhe en-
| tire sanotifeation of believers, the dyT-
| ing need Of the church" The Epworth
League prayer meeting was held at 6
| o. oclock p. M, and was led by Sister NJ
| Lillian Austin. Pentecostal service was
| observed at o'clock. %z1.
A COMING HEARING.
| The railroad commissioners give a
hearing at Boston, February %, to all
parties interested in the building Of the
branch electric road from East Brook
field to North Brookheld. The hearing
will be attended by the directors Of the
/ Warren, Brookfeld and Spencer electric
road in behalf of the road, and by the
selectmen of Brookfield and North
Brookf1eld in behalf of the towns. The
selectrnen of North BroolfleId signed
the franchise some time since, and now
the Brookfield board has consented to
sign the franchise for the branch road,
to which there was so much opposition
| by the Brookfield citizens.
| The proposed road to North Brookfield
will not only increase the profits of the
electric road, but will also be a great
accommodation to the people in North
Brookfield and neighboring towns The
summer resort at Lashaway Park,
which is leased by Eugene MarchesAe-
ault, win receive patronage from North
Brookfield people This summer re-
treat is the most up-to-date pleasure re-
sort in the county.
Mr. Marcbessesult will erect nAvv