The Saint Paul globe., 1904-02-25
eossIP from GOTHAM.

Ten yards of sackclot4E by thumb
nail measurement, and a pint of ashes,
not packed down, would have Sufficed
yesterday if distributed with Judgment
among certain New Yerkrs families of
fashion, which made a pretense Of OBJ
serving the first day OF Lent. That
there was a general observance among
those whose religious inclinations lean
in that direction, there is no doubt, but
the method was less rigorous than in
other days, and many we're the fngeni-
Gus subterfuges to excuse the evolution
that has been SO gradual as almost to
escape observation. Sharp contrast
brings out the strength of a picture. A
comparison hetween the Ash Wednes-
day of fifty years ago and yesterday is
SO marked that the student of the two
periods-if he could have duplicated
Rip Van Wrinkles snooZe-would feel
profound amazement.
Every woman who rides on a surface
car will thank the authorities of the
road for issuing the order that pro-
hibits the transfer agents and con-
ductors from licking their thumbs or
forefingers to aid in tearing off a Slip"
said one of the regular riders on the
Columbus avenue branch. But really
it is difficult to keep track of all these
corporation changes. so / don't know
To l4dIlk the In6
Interurban or the New York City Street
railway. Still, it doesn't matter which
as long as the rule Is carried into effect.
1t is q wonder the board of health did
not discover the danger of this prac-
tice years ago. Some genius discov-
cred that the mouthpieces of telephones
were alive with microbes, and we had
all sorts of screens and bug-killers to
keep us from becoming infected, but
01lV NOW wa are coming fo learn that
transfer agent who uses chewing to-
bacco dabs the transfer ticket with
brown thumb nail imprint, which is
unsanitary-to say nothing of the soil
ing Of white gloves Really it seems
as if the t-Interurban-New York
City railway was awakening to the
needs of the hour. / have two transfer
points in mind which I shall be glad to
name rs the 'fine-cut' headquarters of
the line" '7C
Oh, for a Langdon meterI 1t is the
one in 100 that runs for the consumer
1t saved 1000 feet of gas month for
a poor, abused victim of the monopoly.
Why cannot ali of us have such luck
| had a meter that we named Lou
Dillon" and because Of it's record
breaking propensities persuaded the
company to take 1t away and put in
new one. The latter is now called
"Milifpede," because 1t records 1000
feet more every week than Lou Dillon.
The collector dares not present a bill
in person, but slips it under the front
door and runs. But being robbed and
sandbagged Is fun when you get used
to such treatment.
A beautiful red automobile stood
shaking and stewing at the postoffice
on Monday, and many citizens with not
a second to spare stopped for a look at
1t. Behind were the initials ID. S. c."
The chauffeur was OF distinguished
mten, and the owner appeared to be a
respectable person. I'D. S. Chamber
lain," said one. 'Drury S. Coombs,"
breathed another. 'Delano S. Cooke" I"
whispered a third. David S. CowIes,"
ventured fourth. Several other names
| We're mentioned fitting the initials.
Finally young man said: "Shucks!
Department Street Cleaning" Then
the crowd went on about its business.