Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-01-17
4 NERVE TRYING JOB.
TIE MANY WOES THAT HAUNT THE
STREET CAR CONDUCTOR.
One OF the Fraternity. while Enjoy
ing nm Unwelcomc Lay on, Frees
His Mind About the Crank. and the
CranLiness He Encounters.


Crankiness He Encounters,
"Oh, yes, I've got time to talk with
yOu-lots of time" replied the street
car conductor, with a nod and a smile.
I've just got a lay OF for three days,
and I'm not pressed for time Told a
lady 10 step lively and she got me
this lay of TO pay for it,"
Now, see here" continued the man.
the public sees only ore side OF this
question. l see complaints In the pa
perS every day about conductors, and
while some of them may be justified,
it's a one sided affair. You can't name
public position which tries a man like
running car. The public doesn't seem
TO know that he is bound to observe
and obey certain rules and regulations
or OF goes his head. He has got to
make time with his car or he Will con-
fuse the whole system. He has got TO
keep track Of his register or be report
ed 10y a spOtter. He is responsible for
his motOrman. he is constantly making
change. and he must be ready at GER
tain points with his transfer tickets.
It's physical and mental strain with
no let up. and it's a blessed relief when
his car makes it's last trip.
Just you watch out bit as to pas
sengers. Nobody is In a hurry. An ele-
waited train will take on 30 people to a
ear while we are taking on FIVE. The
fat and the lame and the blind travel
by surface cars. Nine women out of
ten Will look the whole length of a car
before stepping up. The mother with
three or four children is sure to turn up
at every fifth corner. Men and women
on crutches use the car hourly. You
find yourself getting behind time and
call out Step lively. pleaser TO some
man or woman who seems purposely
slow, and the next thing you know you
are reported for impotence
"A woman gets on and asks me to
please stop at a street 80 blocks away.
try 20 remember It, but II fail there
is n row. A woman rides three blocks
and finds she has taken the wrong car,
and you can bet your life she puts all
the blame on me. A half drunken man
falls as he gets of, and half the pas
sengers are ready TO declare Il is my
fault. There are men and women who
viii seek to beat a conductor out of the
fare, and there are men and women
who viii force him to change a bill
when they have plenty Of silver ON
my soul, l do believe that nine enths
OF the street car patrons are always
ready for row with the conductor
The other day l kept tab on the
number Of questions asked me on my
various trips. These were outside CUES
tions and asked by strangers to the
n no Ear-
conductor must be "a sort OF city guide.
you know, and you will find most of
them well posted and willing TO inn
part all information. favorite ex-
preston of those who complain Of us
Is that we are expected to watch out
for our passengers. That is true. 1t
is also true that three out Of five pas
sengers appear helpless and to need
looking after. I'd be glad to help wo-
men and children and the lame and
halt and aged on and of, but happen
70 have few other things 10 see 10.
The mOtOrman is at the brake, but
I'm running the car. II he's not on
time. / get the blame. II he has an
accident I'm hauled up with him
Just take your station on the rear
platform OF n car and start out. You
must have transfer tickets and change
Your register must be set. If your mo-
torman is In bad temper, so much the
worse. He'll stop short or stop long
or not at all, and the first thing you
know half a dozen passengers are
blessing your eyes. Six or seven peo-
pie may get on at once, but If you miss
fair therell be a spotter to report
you.
you must be looking out for those
who want to get off. On almost every
trip you'll have a passenger with an
old transfer ticket, a Canadian dime
or a counterfeit nickel. If not, then
it Will be some half drunken fellow
who is aching for a row. You may
have your pocket picked or your watch
taken. If the car bumps into a truck,
the mOtOrman folds his arms and takes
It easy, but you must get names and all
that and write out a report. If you
pass woman wanting a car, she'll re-
port you. If you take her up and she
has to stand up, she'll blame you,
DO the best you can, and let luck be
with you ever so slick and you'll have
day OF 1t to tire you out mentally
and physically. You'll get Ito the
barn OF your last trip feeling mad and
banged up, but glad it's over with, and
you'll he mighty lucky to get on with
that Some one has lost money on
your car, or some one has complained
that you were uncivil, or you are a
nickel behind the register, and you get
a wigging to help along the nightmare
which comes as you finally tumble
into bed
Yes, the public have rights" sighed
the conductor as he finished and rose
TO go, land I'm agreed with the people
who write to the papers, no matter
what their complaint, but If you hap
pen to know Of any Job in a sawmill
please put me on, and I'll take 1t kind
ly Of you. | shan't be particular about
the wages. What I'm looking for is
an easy posish. New York CONNER
cial Advertiser.