New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-10
THE NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH.
One Car Conductors Tact in Bad
Situations.

Too few streetcar conductors perform their
duties with any great degree Of reason or tact.
but there IS one on the Rergen-st. line who in
the opinion OF those who have watched him,
should be destined for better things. Where
other men press difficulty into open trouble
he applies good humor and common sense, and
rarely fails TO come out OF it satisfactorily to all
concerned. one night. OF rather early one morn
ing. a man known TO the conductor an old
passenger got into the in intoxicated
condition. IL WAS one OF those ''jags' which
causes its possessor 10 imagine everybody his
enemy and 10 be continually looking for trouble.
Ordinarily the man was respectable and quiet
citizen, with a nice family. All these things
the wise conductor had noted previous oc-
casions. So when the intoxicated passenger re-
fused TO pay his fare and abused the conductor
for daring 10 ask for It the conductor did not
do as most of the servants OF the railroads
would have done. He did not grab the offender
by the neck and throw him off I'm the gutter.
neither did he wait until policeman appeared
and then turn the generally respectable citizen
over 10 the tender mercies OF a bluecoat TO be
locked I'D all night in a cell and arraigned in
the morning in a police court on a charge OF
intoxication. The conductor spent some time in
trying 10 jolly the abusivey drunk passenger
into parting with a nickel. Failing in that, he
carried the man to the corner which. from OBJ
servation the conductor knew was nearest his
house. and took pains that he got safely
to the street. The conductor rang up the fare.
trusting TO get il back Two days later the re-
spectacle citizen got the car again. The con-
ductor requested him 10 stay on the platform
minute. and asked him if he remembered riding
home on 3 recent morning without paying his
fare The man did remember. but il was pain
full subject so without saying anything he
handed the conductor a quarter, told him 70
keep the change and walked into the car
on another occasion a good looking young
fellow whom the conductor remembered 10 have
seen only three or four times before got onto
the car with a young woman. Both were In
evening clothes and a glance showed that they
were persons of refinement and perhaps social
position But few conductors would have the
brains TO make such observations. but this one
not only noticed these facts. but a shadow
Of anxiety pass over the young mans face as he
delved stealthily in his various pockets. The
conductor had already sized up the situation,
when he heard the perplexed one excuse HIM
self for minute. saying that he wanted TO go TO
the back platform TO speak TO friend.
Say, old man. he said to the conductor in a
stage whisper. for heavens sake don't put me
off; but haven't got a cent. You see. changed
my clothes and forgot TO change my money I've
got my theatre tickets all right, and If you can
only let me get 10 the other side of the bridge
think / can get loan from friend OF mine"
The conductor didn't say. many OF them
would have said
Air, what y'u giv'n us. Do y'u think I'm an
easy mark? I've heard that yarn before. If
y'u don't come up with your fare y'u go of
the car, see"
And some OF the conductors are just stupid
enough to believe that because the passenger
was well dressed he lying about not having
the carfare. But conductor was different.
He looked at the young man a minute. Then.
holding out ffty-cent piece TO him, said:
Perhaps your friend win not be in. You'd
better take that. Do you think IL will be
enough? You can send il to me-"
So the astonished but grateful young man
gave his card to the conductor took the latter's
address and accepted the 80 cents. The con-
ductor had not mistaken his man. for two days
later he received a note. thanking him again
for his Kindness end inclosing a crisp two-dollar
bill.