The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-02-25
RAILROAD MYSTERY SOLVED

1t used to be profound mystery
to us how SO many railroad mer
managed to work their way up
wards from brakemen and station
agents to general managers and
presidents. We have spent good
deal Of time trying to figure it out
While at American Falls last week
the mystery was cleared up. The
truth came to us like a flash. We
had occasion to call at the Ameri.
can Falls station, which is reputed
to be part Of the o. S. L. system,
to make inquiry respecting belat-
ed train. The official in charge
was apparently immersed in some
ponderous interstate traffic prob
lem. We kicked the boards in
front of the stockade, hemmed and
coughed, thumped the stove, tap
ped on the window and performed
various undignifed antics in the
hope of apprising the incipient rail-
road magnate of the presence of a
humble creature who craved an au.
dience. But the incipient paid no
more attention than a rabbit pres.
emily, in our softest and most ap-
pealing accents we ventured to
breathe 'please, sir" A corru-
CATION of the brow and wrinkle of
the nose was the only indication he
gave of being disturbed. Maybe
our voice did it, or maybe a flea
caught him between the shoulder
blades. Again we risked "bLease,
sir, in a little louder tone. No re-
suit. We got desperate and at the
risk of being Drained on the spot,
crled' please. oh please, be kind
enough to condescend to tell us
what you happen to know that
your honor will divulge respecting
No. I. He turned slowly around,
gave us stare that shrivelIed US
up, and with majestic austerity
pointed a long, threatening index
finger towards a little blackboard
that hung across the room. Then,
without uttering a syllable, he
slowly turned away and was again
wrapped in the imponderable drap-
cry OF his own magnifcence. We
slinked away feeling so utterly
small and mean and Insignificant
that we apologized to buck Indian |
for addressing him without first be-
ing formally introduced. In re-
hecting on this incident which is |
typical of nearly all our intercourse
with station agents, it flashed into
our mind that the road from brake
man or station agent to general
manager or president Is not up
wards, it is long, down hill pull.
Some day that august individual
who now presides at American
Falls may take tumble and drop
into the humble rank of general
superintendent or vice president, or
even president, and if that misfor-
tune befall him, all his magnif-
cence will desert him and he will
be reduced to polite, afable gen.
tleman. We think he was ponder
ing that kind of a disaster when we
to disturb him.
BY way of violent contrast, and
we would record it in letters of i'm
perishable gold if we coul1, on that
same trip we met two con iuctors
who were real gentlemen. They
1ldn't make one feel like a scrub or
A criminal when one had occasion
70 speak to them. They were uni
ormally courteous and accommo-
lating. Riding on their trains
gave one kind of homelike feeling
hat is the joy of travelling. We
lon't know their names, but we :
hall endeavor to find out who was
n charge of the 3:34 passenger 60
ng east from Caldwell Monday
morning, February 13, and who in
'harge of the west bound passenger
which arrived in Caldwell about
80 a. m. Wednesday, the 18th. t
We want to write panegyric on {