The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1907-08-02
PASSENGER MAN oT TODAY.
Pass seeker Comes NJ Nor. aa.!
Gloom Takes Place OF
NGahtlffy


a great railroad system is q lonely
man Just now In his office he sits.
rubhering at tho door and elongating
his neck Ike an excited mud turtle
until boy nonchantly approaches
with wet yellow telegram that In
forms him the Interstate commerce
com mission refuses 10 countenanee
rates in circular No. 2i,765sT6. and
that he must give two years notice
before operating the excursion next
month He is lonesome because the
pass seeker is no more.
Formerly he was noted for his af-
fable manners and the glad grip he
gave hands. He was priced as a
means to an end and personal ac-
quaintance with him was valued
above rubies, for could he not with
wave Of his hand or a scratch of
his own pen send a person witherso-
ever he would go? When he reached
point where he could slap people
on the back, give them a cigar and
send them dazed, into the street
without the pass they asked for, yet
with a feeling of sadness that they
had called. he was slated for promo
ton. Railroads don't like to offend
people, not even those who demand
passes when they have as much right
to demand freight cars for play
houses for their offspring And at
time. too, when freight cars are be-
ing fought for by shippers.
To him came all those who were
troubled Or oppressed The trouble
because they were broke, the oppres-
sion because railroads charge for
passage. To them he would lend
sympathetic ear. until the ear would
look and feel like a photograph
horn in a popular sc moving picture
show.
If he couldn't give pass, owing
to some severe strain of rules in case
he did, his duty was to break the sad
news so gently the seeker would feel
Their and that the directors, aye,
even the stockholders, were weep
ing because he couldn't get it.
Many and various were the people
who asked for passes and for reduc-
cd rates Many and various were the
reasons they gave for it, ranging
from allegation that the seeker had
once saved train from wreck to the
TACT that some years ago he shipped
pig from Minneapolis, and that it
went over the company's lines for
three miles. More often there was a
no reason at all.
But it has been changed now. The
ink has grown dark on the stubs of
the once rapidly thinning passhook.
The bench where the seekers sat
and awaited their turn to soak the
railroad man for transportation is
filled with dust. The suspicious glare
is fading from the chief clerks eyes
and he is becoming actually compan-
ionable, when he sees a man come
in he does not associate him with
passes He sometimes thinks he
may be intending adding to the con
science fund.
But the general passenger agent
is lonely. But for the myriad rules
and orders of the interstate com
merce commission of his state he
would be driven 10 the golf links
every afternoon about l2;i0. Ills
face is losing that look of affability
that once characterized IL. The smile
that wouldn't come off is fading uu-
der the loneliness
For nobody comes for passes. Ills
skill in the gentle art of throwing
people off the track Is disappearing
Tits keen Wit Is rusting disgraccfui-
iy it's aWfuily tame nov.
The people who have To- travel
have Welded to the inevitable and
bus tickets from the tity office. He
never sees them The ofurr clerks
COME and wo and be- is weary of see
ing thelf hslr parted iu The middle
tte kuot What muscle the railroad
business has left him sud yearua for
conflict wirb fhr promoter ot "a
aamt would Hv mAEasine nstb ,.s.
fousrg ,,feuHtsH. wto .eHAH fo have
blm advertise fa the sstrug of seven
fesu mlieaKe bansa aud three aunuai
assasa rta Fasa e5.lN Atfepaa fo fh"
PASSES. tHeeteE thr sfr tsth'rit