The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-10


appeared-he was the controller OF the
train To him 1 showed my tickets He
said they were for the second-class. 1 took
out my purse and said that I ready
to pay the difference between first and
second. 1 did not, however offer TO bribe
him. Here, 1 am informed. is where
made my mistake 1 simply offered 10 pay
TO the railroad company what had been
ready TO pay it from the first. This honest
proposition created great excitement. There
were conferences between the train officials
and presently the controller returned and
announced that I must pay him sum,
which about 81 in excess Of the differ
I ence between first and second-cIass fare
OF course 1 refused and the train started
with the matter still unsettled. but the con-
troller had retained my ticket. without
which would not be permitted to leave the
station at Venice.
! At the next station the controller ap-
\ peared again and renewed his demand I
told him to wait till we reached Venice.
! But at the next station he came once more
| and told me TO come with him to the Capo
| staziono. To this official tried to explain
matters in American-French. which passes
/ current in Paris. but is not very good coin
]
hension it was time for the train to start
and 1 returned to my compartment while
the controller went TO his.
OFFICIAL COLLISION.
II there had been communication between
| the cars as there is on an American rail-
road and Qn corridor trains, as they are
called on some European roads, the whole
matter would have been explained between
stations. But as it was, the controller and
l could not get together until the train
reached Venice. where in voluble italian
the matter was laid before the Capo Sta
ziono. 1 got the Cook interpreter and, to-
gether, we reached an understanding. The
additional 81 demanded of me was a fine
for not having declared at Bologna my in
tention to change from second to first class.
To my explanations the station master re-
turned sneering and supercilious replies
paid the fine took a receipt and immedi-
ately made application for a refund Of the
amount. AT the same time, 1 made a COM
plant against the man who had examined
my ticket at Bologna. He had declined all
responsibility at Venice, even to denying
that he had ever seen me or my tickets,
though I had witnesses to prove what
had said. L was told there was not the
least likelihood that the italian railway
management, having got its clutches on
my 81. would ever let go. This proved to
be the case. They simply declined to re-
fund the money.
An American traveller went through a
similar experience travelling with a dog
from Rome to Naples. He did not know
that there was tariff on dogs This is one
OF the peculiar features of European travel
In America, without a special permit you
may not take your dog into the passenger
car, but he may travel in the baggage
car without paying fare. In European
countries there is a regular tariff on dogs
in Italy it is equal to about third-class fare
and If you pay this fee your dog may
occupy a place I'm the compartment with
you If no one objects. The ticket for the
dog-biglietto per cagnialino-must be pro-
cured at the baggage office and must be
shown to the conductor of the train and
surrendered at the station exit like a ticket
for traveller. In Switzerland, by the way.
they charge fare for dogs on the street
cars; and in Lucerne the rules of the
tramway company say that only small dogs
may ride, and these must pay the same
fare as an adult passenger
TROUBLE ABOUT A DOG
The traveller with dog Proposing in a
wicker basket got on the train at Rome
At small station not far along the road
he took the dog out on the platform for
exercise. The train conductor saw il and
demanded its ticket. The American in the
few italian words at his command indi-
Gated that he had none. Thereupon the
conductor demanded the equivalent of a
full fare for the dog. The traveller declined
to pay 1t. Some French travellers in the
same compartment took an interest in the
matter, and studying the official italian
guide, of which they had a copy, discov-
cred there the tariff on dogs But accord
ing to this the conductor had demanded a
sum greatly in excess of the fare, and the
traveller, pointing to the tariff. declined to
pay 1t. When he reached Naples he was
surrounded by officials OF the road, and a
Gaze interpreter was hunted up. Through
him the traveller learned that he was being
fined several times the dogs fare for fail
ing to declare him at Rome. No protest
, awaited. The fact that the dog was dis
played openly a sufficient evidence
Of the lack of intention to deceive But
he was held up and compelled to pay the
I fine and the dogs fare. Nor was any re-
I cept for the money given to him, though
2 he demanded it. These facts were laid be
fore the railroad direction, but it had the
money in hand and it declined to disgorge
D These are instances of the ways in which
2 American and English travellers arr
] harassed and annoyed in Italy. Other case.
1 have heard of. One was that of a travel
er whose luggage was lost" and who paiC
a reward for it's recovery. A fellow-travel
| er told him afterward that he had seen {
: | subofficial Of the road ordered by his chic
. ! to conceal the luggage so that this highe
: official might claim a reward for finding
I it. Petty exactions, insults. indignities an,
= | discomforts are the lot IF the travellers wh'
n | trust themselves to the Italian railroad
| 1t is unfortunate that the most interesting
: country in the world should be the mos
n | uncomfortable to visit
q GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm.
Remembered.