The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-08
card with either eve, and my percentage
began 10 shrink

card with either eye. and my percentage
began 10 shrink
MUST READ FINE PRINT.
"Then came the same test almost on dis.
lance Seated thirty or forty feet from a
large card hanging on the wall. l was
asked to read down. I got about half
way and then had to give it up. could
see that the old surgeon was sorry for me.
he marked my rating in his record
book. lie had att Aled me once through
a rather severe accident and / had not
passed entirely out of his memory
THE last trial, and the one i'm which l
failed totally. IS called The test for visual
angle The examiner stands squarely in
front Of the applicant. so close that his
face almost touches that of his victim.
Then he extends his arms. tells you TO
keep your eyes on his eyes, and in a
second more says:
a" My right hand. how many hngers%
4 tried 70 fudge a little and glanced
sidewise. but his stern Keep your eyes
on mine, brought me back to taw, and l
had 10 finally acknowledge that / couldn I
see a finger.
UNI Wei. that's bad. I'm afraid
I'll be obliged TO refuse your application.
Let's try that again once more he tri d,
and although I felt that he gave me an
men OF TWO more space / dHoll AaA4NA anu
the examination was over.
while 1 was yet in the office another
man from another division came In for a
trial He was young; not more than
twenty-five. and he finally wriggied
through the eye tests and was led into
the rear office for the physical eXamina-
ton which 1 was permitted 10 witness.
"He was apparently am almost perfect
man when stripped. and he was reapirg
q harvest Of '2Js. the perfect mark, until
the doctor picked up stethescope. only
a second blasted that young mans hopes
Of getting a Job ON that railroad. The Old
surgeon laid down the instrument, and,
looking his man I'm the eye. said:
HEART WAS AFFECTED.
I'm very sorry, but / can't PASS you
You have heart trouble and II you were
perfection IN every other way ! would be
obliged to refuse you on that ground
alone
While She young man was dressing /
talked with the surgeon in the Office. lie
said that about one I'm four failed to pass
his tests. and when one thinks for mo
ment OF the great number that are turned
down By the yardmaster cause OF
palpable unhtness or on account OF prev
ious bad record. you can see about how
HdAh IL - " Sc a. J'' Nt e''-''-a 80
ing.
Hardly a railroad In the country VIII
hire you II you have even finger gone,
and on most of the roads the age-imit TOT
new employees Is thirty years.
81 have never teen in railroad office
applying for work where absolute FAIRNESS
in examination was not used. I'm fact. ale
most any surgeon is willing 10 give an
applicant the benefit Of "a Little doubt but
then. on some thi1gs there must be no
doubt. ar eyesight and a stout heart
are the chief, for on the perfect work OF
tbese organs often hangs the safety OF
hundreds OF human lives and thousands
Of dollars worth OF property.
THE Pennsylvania lines, b. and o. and
c. B. and O., ami Lake Shore and Michi.
gan Southern roads are the most critical
I'm their examinations Of new men, and the
most careful IN their treatment OF old
employees. They have almost perfect hos
pital and relief arrangements, and on TWO
OF these old employees, who have become,
through age or physical infirmty, unable
10 work are pensioned.
1.-THE Illinois central G. and y. W, and
NJ. and st. Paul. and I'm fact all Of the
railroads entering Chicago. have rigid
color blind tests. bat some have not as
vet adopted the strict physical examina-
ton thlt renders the train service on the
older roads so nearly perfect