The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
SATURDAY, NAY 7, 1898
PEOPLE WITH "WHEELS."
A Source Of Great Annoyance to
Prominent Men.
The Visits of the Cranl<s Are Kept
from the Newspapers to Pre-
vent Further Visitations.
-RidfcuIOus Cases.

A well-dressed woman of imposing
stature and impressive dignity entered
the anteroom of the Office of one of
the most noted men in New York few
days ago, and demanded that the at
tendant take her card to his chief with
out delay. The card was passed on to
The private secretary, and, as it bore an
unfamiliar name, nc stepped into the
anteroom to see who the caller might
be- Il do not wish to see you,'' she ex-
claimed, ''let me see DR.. - at once.
This company has possession of 40
trains of cars that belong to me, and
want them. You have had them for 81
years, and that is long enough"
''Wheelsl" muttered the private Sec
retary.- Then aloud he said: Certain
ly, madam, you are entitled to your
property. The president would be glad
to talk the matter over with you, but
ne has an engagement in the western
part OF the state to-day, and will not re-
turn here for some time. Perhaps it
would be better for you to put your
claim in writing"
''Very WELL" replied the woman,
calmly. "But could you not personally
give me one or two trains for my imme-
date use?'
''It would afford me pleasure to do so,
madam" replied the secretary. "but 1
have no authority. The president alone
can act in such matters"
THAT is unfortunate, for really need
a train to-day" said the woman, in a
tone of regret. However, l will write
a letter to DR.. -. Please see that my
property is well cared for"
The woman made her exit with grace
full dignity, and left the private secre-
tary and attendants wondering who she
was. Her manner was that of a person
of good social station. and aside from
her extraordinary demand she did not
appear irrational.
''She is the fourth crank that has been
in here this month";" said the private
secretary. "Some of the newspapers
published an account of the first Wis
itation just after New Years, and since
then the freaks have been coming along
every few days. 1t is singular fact
that whenever a story is published
ABOUT crdnh cdlllHS Ou d uOltu iliSiu,
that man is sure to be besieged by
cranls for several days afterward.
Such invariably is the case with DR..
-. We try to keep all mention of
these crank visitations out of the news
papers, but once in awhile a story gets
into print, and then we have wheels
by the dozen-both callers and letters.
1t seems to me that all the crazy people
who are at large read the newspapers.
When they learn that one of their kind
has been calling on any particular per-
son, they all become seized with burn
ing desire to do likewise. Of course, not
one of them gets into DR.. IS room,
but those of us who guard the ap-
preach have to be on the alert constant
". Twenty cranks, with ridiculous er-
rands, have been turned away from here
in one months time. Nineteen of them
were the natural result of the publica-
ton of a story about the first visit.
While most of these mentally unbal-
anced visitors are harmless, occasional
ly one comes along with homicidal
mania. After big railway accident, for
instance, self-appointed avenger is
certain to turn up with an inspired mis-
sion to remove the president of the road
from the earth. IN. Y. Times.