New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-03
WOES OF CH1UFFEURS.
They Lead a Strenuous Life, 7gith
Fec Com pensatiOns.

The garages where hundreds of New-YorkS
fine automobiles stabbed are interesting
places visit in the morning hours The big
touring cars. the trim little runabouts. the
stately coaches and dignifed victorias lie dor
mant then The gasolene steam electricity
which gives them life is turned off: they
silent. helpless.
About o o'clock the chauffeurs begin to drift
in to look after their charges. and TO get ready
for afternoon spin over the Hudson County
Boulevard. to the races or shopping
tour according 10 the sort and sex Of their
owners. Automobiles do not have to be fed
like horses. to be sure. but they do demand
motive power They must be groomed con-
stantly. and they up for repairs vastly more
often than it is necessary TO take the steed to
the hOrseshOers to the veterinary surgeon
Thus is the presence OF the man who turns the
wheel accounted for.
The New-York chauffeur has great deal
more dignity than any beliveried Fifth-ave.
coachman. He is alone with expensive ma
chine a great deal of the time. and he cuts his
own swath He can become the centre Of an
admiring. interested crowd in a minute by pull
ing up the curb and tinkering with the ma
chinery By his clothes, in most cases. one
cannot distinguish him from the owner. In
deed he plays owner 4 quarter of the time. and
his best girl gets many an exciting spin through
the park when the car is supposed 10 be resting
in the garage.
So the chauffeur comes along with strut and
turns off broadway to his stable still strutting-
He is doing we'll on his 500. SIS or 800
month and expenses. He has the Joy OF run
ming a car that cost more than he has ever
been able to gather together His life is full of
excitement and he moves on the crest of things.
Indeed from a superficial view. he seems TO be
a most fortunate person. and his work only
round OF play.
Before giving up ones place in the bank or
the Clerkshp in the department store to become
a professional chauffeur. 1t may be we'll 10 drop
into n garage and have a look at the new Occu-
patton from the insiie. Tribune reporter
found one in a side street just under the FOrties
which threw a flood Of illumination upon the
life and troubles of those who make their living
out of the new fad. 1t was a small stable. hold
ing hardly a dozen cars. but they were all most
expensive. and owned by wealthy men and
women The hour of the visit 10 o'clock.
and five Of the species under investigation were
in attendance.
There is a lot of people that thinks this
chauffin' is all cakes an ale" began the Oldest
man of the lot. He is known among his fellows
as Father John" and he is chauffeur for
of the richest old maids on the avenue.
ASK Alphonse what he thinks about it," came
a voice from somewhere in the shadows under
meath big sixteen horsepower car.
1T is the DEVILS own place." declared the
Frenchman with pronounced accent His head
was swathed in bandages. and the odOr of the
iodoform prevailed over the gasolene with which
the garage usually reeks.
I've driven most everything in my time"
continued Father John First it was a truck
then horsecar. and after that trolley up in
Westchester. Then the chOo-wagons came along
and | mastered them There is some trouble in
driving. whatever you drive. The trucks get
blockaded. the hOrsecar hours deviIish long
and the trolleys shoot their fuses, but for
punches Of trouble give me this dear little auto"
He stroked the polished sides of the old maids