The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-14
BISHOP GAVE
HIM A LESSON.
Conductor Proddsd The Clergy
man Very Roughly.
THE MAN LOST HIS, POSITION.
r. Rev. Asn1 G. Potter Taught tho
Offender What Ferhsaranss Iasant end
Secured Work for Him Again.

New York, Dec 14.--"Stop at Forty
third street? Yes sirl With pleasure,
sir. Anything else, sirg"
That is how all the conductors OF the
Metropolitan Street Railway company
speak to patrons these days. II is hoped
and believed that the new order OF po-
liteness will last
1t was brought about by Bishop Henry
&. Potter. who taught one man In the
employ OF the line IA lesson In. manners
that was supplemented by course of
stud; imposed on him by the superintcnd-
ent OF the Broadway branch, who at the
same time announced that rtideness on
the part OF the conductors will not be
tolerated hereafter
Bishop Potter told the story of his ex-
perience the other evening at dinner
at which he was a speaker. Those he adj
dressed were few. bat every conductor In
the Metropolitan system has heard the
speech since.
BISHOP POTTER STRUCK.
The bishop said that he was "A passen-
ger on Broadway car, and while gettls
on he passed the conductor just as the
car lurched, as broadway ears sometime3
do. and he was thrown against him,
Shiny on your own size. grOwled the
conductor. retaliating with a vicious dig
i'm the bishops side with his elbow Bishop
Potter demonstrated with the man for his
impoliteness.
"Aw," the conductor sneered why
don't YOU start ear line of your ownt'
Bishop Potter said nothing but took
the mans badge number and the number
of the car.
AT the stable Bishop Potter left the car
and went to the office OF the superintend-
ent, where he made complaint
Next day the conductor appeared at the
office Of Bishop Potter, No. % Lafayette
place. long before the reverend gentleman
i've lost me job" ,he said, with an In
tured air How was TO know you was
a bishop"
ut is not a question OF my being a
bishop" replied the clergyman warmly.
II was a passenger on your car l paid
the company five cents to transport me.
and any one who buys FIVE cents worth
Of transportation from the~line is pa
tron and customer. entitled To polite treat
msnt." .r-ttt -ue tsn
-"l}ut I've lost me Job" argued the man.
'and | didn't mean 10 be rude, But pas
scngers prod conductors with umbrellas
and sticks or give -em kick when they
want to attract their attention. and l
thought YOU were prodding me"
You struck me with your elbow" the
bishop said. II am "A much larger man
than you and also much stronger and
could have put YOU OFF your own car"
CONDUCTOR WAS SORRY.
"wen. I'm sorry, bishop" the man
said contritely. II think IL you can get
my job back Ill know how to treat pass
Cngcrs better"
Tnen Bishop Potter read him lecture
on pohteness.
you should use forbearance, he said.
whats tbat?'' inquired the conductor.
"Forbearance Is when some one pro-
vokes you and YOU forgive them, cx-
planned the reverend gentleman. ''and III
order that YOU may really know what Il
is am going 90 give you an object lesson
on II. You struck me. savagely with your
elbow and as a result of IL YOU lost your
position.
"Now Ili get your position back for YOU
II | can because | think you are sorry
and win be better conductor hereafter.
That Is what Is called forbtarancc. It's
n good thing TO use Try H. you'H get
along much better With your messengers.
even If they are not all elersymen."
LED WHAT lie PREACHED.
The conductors eyes We're fill OF tears
as ne took a letter from bishop Potter
asking the superintendent 10 reinsiate
him. He was reinstated after listening TO
another lecture
The action OF Bishop Potter will remind
the reader OF Mark Twain and the cab
man.
Mr.. Twein was the victim OF a cahman's
overcharge and valiantly exposed him be-
fore the mayors MARSHAL The cabman
lost his license.
Then. like The conductor. he went 10
his victims house and begged of. Mir.
Twains sympathies were aroused by the
mans plight and he forgave him and got
his license back.