The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-29
CHIV4LRY IN n CABLE OAR.
Conductor Proves King Arthur and the
Passengers knights of the Round Table.

Passengers knights Of the Round Table.
New York chivalry may be worn threadbare
in spots, but every now and then some great event.
triting occurrence, gives proof thai the warp
and wool of it are still intact One Of the little
things that proves the innate generosity Of human
nature occurred the other day in a southbound
Broadway near Union Square.
A hunchback was sitting we'll up toward the
front immersed in the reading OF municipal
report A magazine and some Congress Blue
Books lay in his lap. His long, spider like legs
sti etched almost across the car. His body was
so short that a child on his tight lowered above
MIN But he was well dressed, and his dis
proportional face and head sunk deep upon his
shoulders bespoke intelligence and education
A heavily built man entered the at Sew
entcent street ard sat at the dwarts left Ho
had removed his cigar as he came In, but II was
still smouldering, and as be held 1t between tho
fngeIs Of his left hand, dying and almost i'm
perccptible wreath OF smoke arose, and was blown
acloss the little mans face. The dwarf dropped
the report which he reading. and glanced
up startled. His eye fell upon the cigar which
the newly arrived passenger still held. Then
he raised thin, piping voice in an angry cry of
protest.
"Conductah. Conductahl"
The passengers glanced at him, but the con-
ductor did not hear.
"Conductah. Conductah!" exclaimed the little
man again with his voice raised In a shrill shrek
of childish anger.
The conductor came back and stood before
him There was an expression OF concern, al
most Difference, in his face and attitude.
YES sir" he said.
"Conductah," sqpealed the little man. jerking
his thumb at his big neighbour that man has a
cigar 1t OfcndS me Please remove him"
The great size of the offender, the littleness
and deformity Of the dwarf, the childish queru-
lousncss Of his voice, his important manner and
imperious command combined to form an effect
simply farcical. L! was enough to make theatri-
cal audience with laughter, but in that Broad
way car not smile was visible The passengers
looked at the furious dwarf and the only expires
sion on their faces was one of commiseraton and
sorrow. The man with the cigar had n right 10
look angry, for by this time his cigar had gone
b cd 1 stnSd lowering ab"ve pbe e phH
in the attitude of schoolboy who expected to
be Cancd.
'I'll report you" piped the dwarf well see If
the company's rules are to be broken this way;
But The. big man with the cigar had moved to
the opposite side Of the car and the conductor was
going out Still nobody had smiled.
"COnductah, ConduCtahl squealed the dwarf
again, and the conductor came back quickly.
Eyes, sir" ne said
Give me your numbah; shall report you for
By All the traditions of comedy this sally
should have aroused roars Of laughter but il didn't
The man with the cigar looked more uncnm-
Portable than before. and threw the backcned
Havana out Of the window, MS though to destroy
every vcstigc Of a CRSus bcl
The conductor gave his number and bent his
head humhiy. SO that the dwarf could make sure
Of the figures. The little man iottcd them down
and then buried himself once more in his reading
Everybody looked relieved. The conductor
Withdrew quietly. the man whose Gig ar lad caused
the trouble followed him minute later and fur
lively slipped his card into the conductors hand,
Not n man on that car showed tho feelings which
cnch Of them must have felt. They saw the bitter
ness and scorn that filled the little creature, and
pRrdOnrd him for II as part Of his dcformity.
in those days" sCid great poet, speaking
Of the age Of Chivalry which some people say il
gonr-'in those days mcknight Of Arthur nohlcst
dealt in scorn. But II man were halt. or blind,
in him scorn was allowed, part Of his defect,
md he was answered softly by the king and all
his table"