Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-11-13
GOT THEIR PASSES
TWO CASES WHERE PURE NERVE
WON FREE TRANSPORTATION.
THE CASE OF THE CANDID MAN WHO
TACKLED OLD COMMODORE
VANDERBILT.

"You may have heard the story Of how
Commodore Vanderbilt issued pass to
candid man." said the general passenger
agent of a western road as he fingered
gingerly daintily tinted piece of paper.
"Nof Well, an early country acquain-
lance of the old commodore, whom he
had known years before he became q mil
lionaire, was in New York one day and
thought he would pay his friend a visit.
He presented himself in the Office of the
president of the New York Central and
was very kindly received. After the
conversation had proceeded for awhile in
a friendly way the commodore remarked:
"'Is there anything l can do for you?
Is there any business in your callY
Eyes replied the caller, i am going
up to Albany, and | wanted to see if you
would give me pass.
"The commodore's manner changed in
stantly, and he was at once a strict man
of business, looking at the request from
purely business standpoint.
"'On what do you base your request
for a pass| he asked. Have you rem
dered the road any service, or is it indebt-
ed to you in any way|
"'No,' replied the man, 1t does not owe
me anything. l have not had any deal
ings with it,
"'Then why do you ask for passr
"'Well, as l told you, l am going to
Albany, and don't want to pay for the
trip if I can ride free. 1t just occurred
to me that you might furnish me trans
portation if | asked you, and so / asked
"'My friend remarked the commodore,
k~,o, h. h. I'D
for pass and told me the simple truth
about it. You shall have a pass And,
calling clerk, he ordered him to furnish
his caller with transportation.
81 have had parallel experience to
that of the commodore. This note is
from student at one of our high toned
young womer's seminaries, one of whom
/ had no knowledge before the receipt
thereof. 1t was written just before the
summer vacation began and while prep
arations were going on in the seminary
for the closing events. 1t asks me if l
will not be kind enough to furnish the
writer with transportation to her home in
Kansas. The letter is nicely worded.
There is nothing bold or unladylike about
it, but its receipt puzzled me considerably.
l could not recall the name as that of any
one of my friends or acquaintance and
could not conceive of any reason why
such a request should be made. Just to
satisfy myself | dictated a note to the
writer, asking her to call and see me in
reference to the matter, and in the course
of day or two | had a visit from the
young woman in person. She was a fine,
handsome young woman. The term bux
ON would hardly apply to her; she was
altogether too cultured and refined for
that. Her whole appearance indicated
that she was not one to whom the finan-
cial consideration involved would appeal
very strongly. The moment | saw her l
knew she could not be applying on the
strength of any previous acquaintance. l
had never seen her before.
"'You desire a pass to - / said to
her by way of introducing the subject.
Eyes she replied. 4 would consider
it favor if you will be kind enough to
furnish me one.
ION what grounds, might l ask, is
the application made? You know we are
in the habit of treating these matters as
purely business transactions. Have you
any business reason to advance as the
basis of your request?
"'Well, no. | do not think l ever
thought of the matter in that light. In
deed, do not think l should have ever
thought of applying for pass had not
several of my classmates been provided
with them, and | did not see any reason
why, when they had them, | should not
have one too. Their parents are as rich
as mine, and l could see no reason why
they should ride free and | pay. l want
ed to be on an equal footing with Them
DO you know on what grounds they
received their passes?
"'Oh the father of one is railroad di-
rector. He got his daughter her pass.
Another is the daughter of large manu-
facturer who ships trainloads of goods
over the road. Another is the daughter
of general superintendent. She travels
free
"'And your father?'
"'Oh, his money is in other kinds of
investments. He is not railroad man.
"'Well. you see. your case is different
from any of those you have mentioned
eyes, l know it is. but l want to do
away with at least some of the difference.
l do not want to pay when they can ride
free
"'You would hardly think it reasonable
to ask for free transportation for the
whole school you attend. would your
"T never thought OF the reasonable
ness. All | thought of was that unless |
could get pass | would have to pay,
while some other girls could ride free
"'But if | should give you pass you
would be riding free and some other girls
would be paying. There would be a diff
ference between you and them still
"'Oh. yes. but | do not care about that
kind of difference. l want to be always
classed among the most Fortunate
"'Well. you are candid about it, any
way. l like that. Strictly speaking, you
are not entitled to any pass, and | should
turn down your application with a cold
refusal, but owing to your candor l sup
pose shall have to make an exception in
your case
"She got ner pass.''-Chicago Post.