West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-04-11

Would Steal the Prizes.
They've come" screeched the FIRST ur-
chin TO Get out of bed early ON Saturday
morning in the city where dwell the political
grafteH The cry was soon upon every
body's lips, and was echoed and &c echoed
through the big town. a drummer aroused
too early from his morning nap. threw up
the blind a, Ben Williams hotel and yawn.
ing exclaimed "well, it's d---d early FOR a
ei'eus.' But he was mistakes. rare thing
for drummer, too. lie saw cars loaded
with canvass covered vehicles, much re-
sembling circus wagons. But 1t was no
circus
1t was the street cars says the Manning
ton Advocate
,hrong surrounded the cars from carly
morning ontil late at night, when the last
one was unloadcd. Business men forgot
their Saturday trade and wandered down
about the depot, watching hungrly and
eagerly every movement of the pretty brand
new stree, cars. They were unloaded one
10y one, and taken up town where they were
placed on the ''short line" running from the
postoidce out to the Watson colony
They've come, " the old gray haired men
said To their wives when the went home to
to lunch at noon. And each of them seemed
as young as the youngest boy.
They've come" yelled the hello girls
over the line, aud the word was passed
| along from house to house.
They've come" said the ministers to
their wives and they forgot their Sunday
sermons.
They've come" cried the society girls
and they giggled as they donned hats and
automobile coats, skurDing down to where
the "dear swee, things were standing ON
the tracks.
"Look out, said one Of the workmen to
a crowd of old men, who with silk hats and
gold headed canes were standing patting The
frs, car as fondly as it it was a living thing.
"Look oot, Pm going 20 turn it around"
and they fell over each other To get ont of
the way Street cars were new TO them, and
they thought the thing might be turned like
four horse team.
1t was great day. So was Sunday and
so will every day until those old fossils get
used to metropolitan ways Fairmont has
been dreaming about those street cars for
the last twelve months. 1t seemed too good
to be true. a thousand persons clustered
about the first one to reach Main street. and
they even forgot the new Court house for
the time being. Actually they did. The
mayor and several of the councimen had
their dinners brought down and they sat on
the eurbstohc, fearful lest the 'qhing"
might get away If they left it for a moment.
Boys fought for room near the cars, so
they might stand with their hands upon
| them. Ola chaps who had never been far
ther away than Barracksyile, recalled how
''ihem there is just like the kris seed down
to Moo York when wuz down thar.
ooh, doesn't it remind you of Whesling," ."
said one society girl TO another. 81 think
they are painted slch lovely shade. VIII
just match my new Easter hat" Several of
the local politicians came down in a sort Of
huff and told the workmcn to back the
cars right down to the depot "Wc have
not been fixed yet, and these ca,s can not
be unloaded nor run in this town until we
have been fixed"
II is said that Governor Fleming, Fay
Watson, NiIt Hartley, Ben. Williams and
one or two more Of the boys gathered to-
cether after the first car was brought up,
and offered the manager new hat, II he
would take them a ride that afternoon.
But nobody rode not even the small boys.
/ The electricity had not been turned ON
and the cars were hauled out across the
bridge, by horses. a Chioaman came along
and remarked. Ono pushec, no puilee, but
go like helee, alice samce Then The
Mayor remarked "Now won't Manning
ton be green with envy ?"
'Yes, ard Morgantown too, " echoed an.
other old citizen. "Yes," said another,
and Grafton, and Littletou and Oh, so many
places. So will Monongah and Glovers Gap,
all be enyious. There was quite row that
night amonga lot Of policeman as 10 who
should be depulizcd to "sit up" with the
cars and watch them. There was a sort Of
suspicion that Grafton was going to send a
mob down tha, nigh, to join with Morgan
town iu stealing the cars. hey only have
four wheels aud two trucks, and could be
carried away by SIX or eight good strong
men.
One old lady who had just gone down to
the scene, fcmuked 10 her husband that
night "Say John, I'll just bet you new
I PER Of yarn socks that those cars will be
gbne when Sunday comes
mo they won't, be gosh" said the old
man" For intend TO stay down there all
night and watch them myself" Il was
equal TO circus day. The old women for
got their Saturday men1ing, and the young
women forgot their chewing gum. They
bad viii Schaner out an the afernooa
taking pictures Of the thing One man
offered $40, ~ they would take the canvass
off, Fairmont, you know, has never had
many mctripoliian improvements But one
would never have known they were a little
grecnish until their frs, street cars came
10 gave the whole snap away.