The Washington times., 1903-09-06
QUEER THINGS SEEN ON
THE OWL STREET CAP

I before IL o'clock these fellows cannot
get home before 2:3O. The problem
probably will not be solved even after
Ihese kids" have become men, and
are old enough to have some sense.
anyhow. they are confirmed owls
now and are sapping the energy Of
youth when they ought 10 be asleeD
one sage man remarked a few nights
ago when the boys seemed to be I'M
usually full OF fun.
negro waiter Is added to the list
OF passengers at Tenth Street. and has
never been known to open his mouth To
a person In the car for more than =
year He sits about midway Of The g.
with eyes blinking stolidly. meditatIns,
smiling quietly over the fun OF the
boys, but speaking never.
A Few Transients.
This exhausts the list CT the ..raz,,.
lars" on this car. as the condu,to-
calls them Beside these there ara. ona
or two transients every morning.. One
Of these is likely to be beIated travel
er with a grip, and begrimed with the
dust OF the road He excites Ittleiwon-
der among the passengers. for 10 "a
perfectly known, as though actuaISv az
quainted with every man aboard. ana 3.
IS only necessary to be patient a fevx
minutes and he will tell the ona nav.
to him where he has been, the length
or the journey, and the best story he
heard on the trip, which is usually in
terrupted in the telling by the arrival
OF the man at his corner.
Somewhere along the line the car picks.
UP almost every morning one untortu-
nate who has tarried too long at tha.
wine. He comes in stupid, amiable. or
quarrelsome, according as the LIQUOR
has affected him But whatever his con-
dition the passengers shake themselves
awake and prepare for something out OF
the ordinary. Why It is that a drunken
man so interests and amuses everybody
we will not attempt 10 explain. but the
drunk" always excites interest. IL not
disgust. in the late car The passengers
smile at his unsteady gait, ana one OF
them will remark under his breath: ..Ii
would be satisfied with half that load"
"a Sardine on Wheels"
~
aboard more than usually loquacious.
He was first heard on the pavement
crying out: Hold on there,ye mustn't
miss old John He came in with a
boisterous salutation to all the aboys,
In the car. talking a blue streak. but
saying little that had any rhyme or
reason. He made a show OF paying his
fare. but the conductor did not get II
until the man explained how much
money he had the night before. and how
he had "blowed' IL in about every
saloon in town Finally, he fshed a
nickel out Of some corner OF HIS pocket
and his transportation was paid. The
drunk" had a familiar way OF lodging
around the car, slapping every man on
the knee, and inquiring particularly
after his health. His conversation was
maudlin, but he sought 10 impress upon
everybody that he was "a sardine on
wheels" and ''out for a good time" He
expressed a determination to stay out
back down town he knew where they
could get drink. He was still talking
glibly to the conductor when the last
sober passenger got of the car, declar-
ing that the country had II in for Teddy
and that Billy Bryan would be
the next President.
The "owl car" is a convenience much
appreciated by the few whom work or
pleasure keeps out late. II saves the
tiresome walk home. and has its pleas
ant associations, but 1t serves TO show
up human nature probably at its worst.