The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-14

corner in which he used to sit. For
few years more they will come in,
| these old-timers. and they will ask
for Cam. Tom. fewer and fewer of
them every year: and presently the
clerk will forget who he was and some
drummer boy who had picked up heart
at the CaD'n'S. old stories with the NOR
/ al so carefully concealed that one felt
but did not see ii, will look at his
grey hairs in the glass and give a sigh:
They called me old man yeSter-
day! Maybe. they were right
For Cap'n. Tom has gone home.
Cap'n Tom got mis- title away back
| in the days when the railroads first
began to run. His business was that
of a conductor. In that day. when the
stops were frequent and haste by no
means the motto of railway managers
and railroading was more of a person.
al matter than ii is now. the job ana
Cap'n Tom came together and Rugged.
He was the beau ideal of the old con-
ductor. He had no airs. His import
ance dwelt in the minds of the public
and not in the heart that beat behind
the coat and buttons. Since the pub
lie has learned TO discount conduc-
tors, vanity has come into the pro-
fession-but Cap'n Tom was long out
of the game before any such fallacies
took root either with train-men or
public. Cap'n Tom knew every man
journey was ended. If he didn't know
him when he got on. that matter was
soon ended. He had an interest in
the world and in folks. The running
up and down on trains was. doubtless.
a great satisfaction to him. Gradually,
he, became a man of the public and 4
public character. When the trains
outran his philosophy. he retired TO
the Marlborough House. II was the
next best thing. There he saw every
body that came. and he knew every
body and everybody knew him.
Gradually he became through long
usage like piece Of the office furni
ture-an ornament and an attraction
that can never be replaced.
The way of Cap'n Toms connection
with the Marlborough was unique. II
originated with a unique man, the
late Major Blacknall. Major Black
nall and Miss Mary" loved Cap'n
Tom and when his railroad days We're
over they signed up or talked over an
informal contract whereby he was TO
stay at the hotel and do what he want !
ed to and leave undone those things !
that he didn't want to do. On Cap'n |
Toms part he stipulated no salary
and lived up to his agreement. He
was a kind of managing editor of the
guests. He would look after the cigar |
stand. clerk in rush, amuse when |
times were dull. In return he receiv-
ed what he wanted for his simple |!
needs without question and without !
contract price. 1t was happy and a |
simple arrangement. Its beauty was |
its lack of obligation. Each party |
got full service and either nad the |
right to quit without notice. The final
Clause was the one that made the tie. |
Capn Tom did not quit
For thirty-fiVe years he sat about !
the Office of the hotel. performing MS |
un-stipulated duties. making sunshine |
and smiling MS way towards the end. |
After Major Blacknall. the hotel went |
into the hands of Mr.. K. b. Raney, |
from him to Mr.. Louis Brown back |
again to Mr.. Raney. The hotel chang |
ed. but not Cap'n Tom. He still sat
behind the stove and waited for the |
guests. cool. grey-bearded image of
the past in love with the present. new
en- losing interest. always making new |
friends. daily greeting old ones. His |
humor was brief and intcroolative. lie
talked little except on the rare occa-
sions when he could be persuaded on /
to the stories he could tell so we'll |
He was a commentator on the life that |
drifted under his eye. Incidentally,
that was the life of the State. He was
a maker of quaint sayings and the
originator of terSe criticisms of people !
without sting and without malice.
When he had q knock" coming he |
waited for his victim to be on hama |
to hear the joke. Given Captain !
Roberts and Judge Riddick. he would |
entertain lobby-full of people halt |
the night with passing side-lights on |
the people who came within his no. |
tice.
The thing that made Cap'n Tom |
and kept him lmuSin~ and kept him
loved was that he never lost his in
terest Bravely he tried to appear
a man OF the world. He got no furth
POL th,a
buster of a surface cynicism. his |
heart was as frank and his sympathieS
as quick as those of "A child. Without |
smrtch of ambition or hope of wealth.
he was a gentleman who knew how
To take his ease without offense. 1t /
was his role to be quiet. to be OBJ
serving. to generously amuse and ,
watch-always kind-the hustle flow
around him and away from him. Sit
ting and 'aatching he saw without en-
wy praised without words and satrized
without malice.
Finally, even the Marlborough House
became toe fast for Cap'n Tom. The
stove was taken down and the lobby
took on new colorS. Without pro-
test Cap'n Tom moved out. went back
TO the country where there is time to
think about a traveller on the road be-
fore q company comes along. At the
home of his kinsman, Captain Mason.
day. Already he had disappeared
without fuss or feathers. The
news that his gentle spirit has disap-
peared from the earth forever VIII
bring special pain. to Il circle of the
old cronies with whom he deli"ht-
ed to talk and gossip in his own inim-
liable style; and TO a large circle Of
the public. who knew him in his place
and have vaguely missed his grave and
smiling visage. the unrest of his alb
sence will settle at the news of his ,
demise into a distinct and incurabie !
regret.
CORPORATIONS,