Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-03-01
CONDUCTORS TRADE SECRETS.
How They Know Whose Fare las No,
i:rrn rniI.

Been Paid.
How 10 know what passengers
haven't paid their fares?" said the
street car conductor. To tell the
truth, don, know: but conductors
are onto few little tricks.
While we glance a; the passengers
rs they get on il is not true that sc
depend on our memoir for faces 10
pick out the right ones. Conductors
are just lille any other persons. and
have 10 better memories for faces.
Still, we are able to tell pretty nearly
who hasn't paid his fare. don;
know whether l am giving way 4
trade secret. but this is how we man
age TO get almost all the fares that are
coming 20 lis
It's easiest on light snowy day,
but rainy lay is just as good. or
even 4 windy lay in summer. The
worst kind of weather in which to pick
out man or woman who owes you
nickel is on calm, still night in sum
mer. ] know this sounds as il were
talking of some peculiar kind of game
that needed TO be stalked in certain
kinds of weather and that isn't bad
guess for some of them do need stalk
ing
IT'S easy enough though For in
stance. when there's light snow
falling. the latest person TO get on
car. or the last half dozen for that
matter. have SNOW on their hats.
I, I'll,
il has melted into little drops OF
moisture on other passengers who had
been sitting in warm car. Then
the men will stamp their feet every
time. and the floor shows il. The
women won't do that. but the snow
drops on her hat give her away. The
man may shake them on his. but she
Wont take on her hat for that. 50 We
ave sure thing either way.
On rainy DAY it's the same wa.
except We can't tell exactly who is
the latest in. as on snowy day. but
we can get close enough To make \
guess and bluff that usually pro-
iuces the nickel. Still. an umbrella
l.; always sure indication. No matter
how hard or how little it is raining.
all the water seems to run OF an UNI
brella in. say. TWO minutes. so We get
good line on them. too
On n dusty day new passenger
ilccks the dust off his coat or hat.
while 4 woman does no such a thing.
don't know why she doesn't. but she
doesn't. Usually. though. she has her
veil half raised. and is either using her
handkerchief ON her little nose or 10
remove the dust from her eyes. Then
She may be smoothing her hair. which
has been rufTled by the wind, so it's all
easy guessing ii you are observaut.
Only on very calm days. with no
snow. rain or dust. are We completely
ut sea. Then we must depend On
memory or the quick glance passen'
ger may give AT another who hasn't
paid. when We say Fare sort OF
sharp like.
But you don't suppose We go to all
this trouble only to prevent passen-
gers from beating their way. DO you?
That is the least OF our troubles. be-
cause there isn't one out OF hundred
that isn't willing 20 pay. The reason
that We must watch so carefully is
that it's a bad break 10 ask q passer-
ger for his fare when he has pail
once
Both men and women resent this
instantly The :nen make some insult
ing remark and the women stare until
We fade away to the rear platform.
The secret OF being n good and popu-
lar conductor is in never asking the
wrong person for nickel. and not ii
preventing = passenger from beating
ride once in long time. The dead
beat doesn't write to the company tell
ing ali about il. but the person who
thinks he has been insulted does. -
New York Press