The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-29
THE POLITE CONDUCTOR
EFFECT OF A NEW RULE OF ETH
aUETTE LAID DOWN FOR THEM.
Women the Chief Cause of Their
Troubles-Unreasona PROPOSE
tions Before Them.
New York Sun.

was blocking the entrance door Of the car.
"Ah, thank you very much indeed, ne
added, as, with scathing look, she stepped
about foot from the door.
The passengers looked at the conductor
in establishment but he seemed uncon-
scious of their attention, although there
was just a suspicion of a sarcastic inhec-
ton in his voice when he leaned forward
and said:
''This is Thirty-eighth street. Does any
lady desire TO get off?'
Are you joshing us?" asked fat man
on the back platform, "or are you var
sity man in hard luck?'
NO" said the tall conductor, YEARLY,
''but we have had rules of etiquette made
for US and have been told that any COM
plant made against us by woman for
incivility will result in immediate dismis-
sal. Excuse me a moment, please.
What is it, madam he said, almost
tenderly, TO a woman who was coming
down to the door with fiery eyes, "Ah!
past your corner? am so sorry. Allow me
to assist you. Be very careful now. The
step is rather high"
He jumped back and started the car,
leaving the surprised woman standing in
the street and looking after the car in as
constituent. The fat man leaned forward to
hear the story.
"A lot of women complained of what they
called the impoliteness of car conductors,
and the result is that there will be an In
crease of accidents owing TO conductors
having to neglect their work to talk pretty
to women.
mo. madam, this car will not take you
to the Battery, l am sorry to say. 1t is on
its way in the opposite direction.
hot IL - -hn oro
that the best plan would be to alight from
this car and board one going south. No; L
regret very much that l cannot return
your fare. You have been riding in the car
from Eighth street, you know.
"Hai ha! ha. a rObber? Oh, madam,
trust you do not think A fool? Oh, you
are testing, l am sure. Let me help you.
Bat me over the head with your umbrella?
Please don't.
That's the sort of thing we're up against
all the time" went on the tall conductor,
as the irate passenger descended; and
they say we are thugs and brutes because
we tell woman like that that we have no
time TO talk TO her.
Now a conductor can't very well be a
thug bad character for he has TO give
excellent references and he has to have
$50 in ready money TO plank down for
uniform first thing-a suit worth about SO
at most.
HIS TALE OF WOE.
"Of course a conductor seems to be rough
very often for he has to collect fares.
That's his business. When the is
wedged full of people he has to get through
somehow and he has to push.
LAS to uncivil talk l think conductors
stand more abuse than any other class of
employees We have men swear at us and
women hit us regularly and we have to
stand it.
People with bad money to pass always
nick ont W. have tn
watch out for them and smile pleasantly
when we know they are on the car for the
purpose of skinning us, and that If they
caught would be out Of pocket just
that much.
Pardon me, madam, you have lost your
purse, you say? Tch. ,tch! tch. dear me.
that is unfortunate. Have l seen it? No, L
have not. i shall look
You think the man next to you took it?
We'll YOU would have to see an officer
about that. Get one for you? l am sorry,
madam, L cannot leave the car. / search
the man? 1t would be quite impossible.
He may not have it.
What are you TO do? suppose you
might continue on to your destination 1t
had samples in it, did it? Sad indeed
Take my number. 1t is l7,011. Yes. mad
am, that is correct. You think L have it?
Why, my dear woman, you just said YOU
thought the man next you-insult you? 1
wouldn't do such a thing
The conductor passed his hands across
his brow as the woman went back into the
car weeping, while sympathetic passengers
turned to near of the conductors brutality.
Things are coming my way to-day he
said. when you get one of them cranks
there is always a string of them to follow.
l tell you it gets on TO a fellows nerves.
And that's just what is the trouble with
a lot of conductors when they talk loud
and slam the bell and get grouchy. 1 tell
you conductor gets on the point of break
ing loose sometimes when things begin TO
crowd him. And during the shopping hours
u crowded a
Il can tell you some of the women are
enough to drive a man insane. And I'm no
woman hater either. When you get a car
full of women with two or three cranks
and seven or eight fools on board you lose
your head.
There isn't any man living who could
hold down this job and keep his temper all
the time. We have women scrapping with
all day long for things the mOtOrman
does. He starts the car without the prop
er signal or he doesn't stop it and women
come at us for it.
1.-The motorman, on the contrary, is a
sort of ladies' pet. They ca him the poor
it's hot or cold or if the wind blows on him
they wonder how he stands it,
Men give him overcoats and cigars, but
no one ever gives conductor anything but
back talk. l can never understand why peo-
pie can't see that a conductor has the
work of about three men to do at the same
time. Why doesn't some philanthropist in
vestigate the lot of the car conductor.
INFORMATION WANTED.
Eyes, miss, l will stop the car with
pleasure. Can j tell you what part of the
park the Obelisk is in? l am afraid Lob,
thank you. sir. The gentleman says it's on
the East drive. Am l sure? Are you quite
sure. sir? Yes? Thank you. Yes, quite sure.
miss.
Where is the East drive? On the east
side of the park, l suppose Miss Don't 1
know? l think You don't wish TO know
what l think? My number? Seventeen thou
sand and eleven. Your brother is one of the
directors of the road? Well, wellr'
The young woman took her way in spir-
tied fashion across the street while the
conductor hoped down to assist a woman
and three children on board.
Take plenty of time, little ones" he
said What is that, dear? Your ball has
rolled in the gutter? Well. run and get it,
Well hold the car for you. That's it.
Madam, will you kindly call TO your son
to hurry? He can't find the ball? | am
sorry, but he'll have to come on then We
can't wait any longer.
The car won't go without your child?
Then you'll have to go back for him. Put
you Off? 1 should hate TO have 10 do that.
madam.
See. the motorman is getting impatient
and he Is liable to start the car All there
is the little dear. Jump aboard, little man
Il can tell YOU" said the conductor. as he
wiped off the taffy candy which the chill
dren had smeared over his hands 'people
don't stop 10 think all a conductor has TO
do. He is responsible for the running of ne