The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-22
IT IS A HARD LIFE.
MOtorman's Existence Is No Dream Of
Ease.
PHILADELPHIA Press.

1illfduelpHld ffeSS.
"A policemans life is not happy one.-
w. $. Gilbert had had no experience of
the trolley motorman when he wrote that
line, or assuredly he would have given him
show. The motormans existence is one
OF constant hold-ups short stops, blocks
and impediments. His nerves must be con-
structed of Bessemer steel. for be he never
so careful he will always find danger on the
line. because of the absolute confidence the
public place in his ability, power and con-
troll.
You haven't notion" said one of these
much-harassed but patient creatures, what
narrow escapes we have. Now, on my line
there are seventeen schoolhouses, and some
days j have to pass these just as the chill
dren are coming out. Those kids don't
know nothin about danger, they don't rec
ognize it when it's right on top of them.
And what is more, the people who ought to
look after them seem just as careless as
they are. It's me, I'm the person that has
TO look after their safety and / can tell you
are hundred or more children from eight
TO twelve years old playing in the street
mouth, and hold on to the brake like grim
death and stand ready to jump out at
seconds notice to sweep some more than
usually enterpriSing youngSter from under
the fender. Nerves of steel. Well, that's
what you need if you want to be motor
Now. you'd think grown-up people would
have more sense said a motorman on one
of the cars running out Eighth street, ~but
they're worse than children. Just look at
that woman. She belongs to the city; she
amt no country stranger; she ought to
know better" He pointed an indignant
nnger at StyliShly dressed woman crossing
the street not three yards ahead of the car.
She had just seen a bonnet a petticoat
in one of the windows across the street
and what does she care or think about troll
ley cars? Nothini All her mind is fixed
on examining that bonnet or pair of corsets
OF or pair pair Of Eos stq S or praPs it's fringe
But it's with me to save her from an un-
timely end. I'm the man with the motor
handle In one fist and the brake handle in
the other, and 1 must pull up or stand the
consequences.
That's the same kind Of woman he
continued when he had got safely past the
danger, that always makes a business of
holding up the car in the middle of a block.
We amt supposed to do it, but we can't get
out of it. They'll kick up fuss. complain
10 headquarters and we lose three days.
It's this way. When they start out walk
ing along the block they really mean to go
to a store at the other end and take the
car when they come out. But on the way
they happen to look in their purse and find
they haven't as much money they
thought they had. So they suddenly deter
mine to get on a car and be whirled past
the place of temptation before they reach
it on foot and fall
You mustn't smoke on this car sir"
SAID the motorman of Walnut-street car,
its against the rules on a closed car.
T The s. ne went on as the man who had
a look of disgust on his face and an excla-
nation of rage on the tip of his tongue
he owns the earth. He'd ha' liked to kill
me for tellin' him that. For my part I'm
fond o. smokin'. never go to bed at night
until have smoked pipe or two and read
the days paper But it amt my fault I
didn't make the rules. I've only got to car
ry them out or get suspended. Some people
don't have no consideration, any way
It'll be a good thing some day when all
the level crossings in the city are done
away WITH said d motorman on a Twelfth
street car. mo. there amt been so many
accidents at the crossings since the horse
cars We're done away with, but that amt
the fault of the steam railroad companies
l can tell you. If 1t wasn't for the careful
ness and watchfulness of the trolley motor
men and conductors there'd be good many
accidents Just see how easy 1t would be
Tor the trolley to jump the wire while we
go Jolting across the tracks. and leave us
standing plumb in the middle. Nothing
It's coming along thirty or forty to the
nour while the conductor is at work get
ung the trolley wheel back in its place.
tel you. never cross one of them railroad
ment"
Three days" said another motorman.
three days, that's what We'll get If I'm
minute before my time: and three DAYS it
is if I'm minute behind nv time. IT'S
three days If I'm caught lettin' anv one
smoke on the platform, and you never can
5eli VINO the sootter in the car. It's three
Gays II cross a street without pulling UP
on both sides It's three days for most ey-
cry little thing that is easy to do or leave
unaone. and there seems to be list as
and ended with three days And three
days suspension means loss of three
days pay and. perhaps, waiting three DAYS
longer for a job because your place NAV
have been filled in the meantime
All things considered. it is safe to saw that
Gilberts song might be freely paraphrased
indeed his life does not appear to he made
up entirely OF beef and skittles''