The Washington herald., 1909-02-15
FALLS CHURCH LINE
REPRESSES ROWDIES
Sunday Morning Stiffness
AStOnisheS Patrons.
COMPLAINTS BRING RESULTS
Former scenes of Free Fights Are
Replaced By Beatihc siIenee-Re-
spectacle People Journey Home
UnazsaiIed by Insult and Profanity.
Many Accusations Were Made.

The vanishing OF violence on the WASH
ington. Arlington and Falls Church Raj
road was Ike instantaneous magic IN
the ghostly stiffness OF the early Sabbath
morning It melted as a mist is dispsile1
in a July sun. The mysterious disap-
pearance Of all rowayism was the biggest
Of surprises 10 these commuters who had
become accustomed 70 regard it IS 3
necessary evil
The midnight train that conveys weary
Virginians 10 their slumbers was lamb
ike and reposefuI even 10 the point that
q doxology might have been appropriately
pronounced Peace reigned supreme: al
was quiet along the Potomac. The dis
turbers OF Quietude hied themselves home
ward sedately and conducted themselves
with such moderation OF speech and az
ton that certain officers OF the law sank
into boredom and extreme ennUi.
IF those who have seen rude fights
upon this much berated train could have
Travelled on it yesterday morning they
would have sworn their eyes deceived
them. No fists or blackjacks were bran
dished, no riots were even remotely
threatened, no ObsceRity polluted the at
mosphere, not even a good-natured
vaudeville show was proposed
ROwdies Kept Quiet.
It Is remarkable what powers Of self
repression and self-effacement are pcs
sessed by certain individuals under a
given set Of circumstances. When two
deputy SherifIs stand near BY. their cold
and unsympathetic eyes in good working
order; when an obserFant and calculat-
ing assistant superintendent is bent
upon censoring ali superfuous gayety. per
sons Of an exubersnt and exhnaraung
nature contain themselves as best they
can
So It was that the long-sunering and
soreIy troubled Virginians Travelled from
Washington, at I2I5 o'clock yesterday
morning, under conditions which promised
them more refreshing sleep than, accord
ing to their story. they have had in
months.
The washington. Arlington and Falls
Church Railroad proved 10 its patrons
satisfaction that the remedy for the
rowdyism Of the hurly-burly element is
simple and effective, provided there is
any desire TO administer IL
Many Complaints Made.
There were many things which these
patrons complained Of. including dereIict
conductors who took refuge in convenient
spots when trouble brewed. brutality 70
helpless inebriates. riots. involving the
whites and blacks, and vulgarity and
lswlessness unrestrained-
II the order kept UpOn the Sunday
morning train yesterdss resembled that
OF the kindergarten, the sanitary condi-
tons did not show ths same commend
able improvement The ears were litter
ed with peanut shells and with filth
The patrons OF the line believe that
the remedy for this evil IS also simple
The proposal 10 bring the conditions on
this train before the grand jury OF Fair
fax County was instrumental in efIecting
the relief. which has been vOuchsafed al
least temporarily.
Judge J. B. 7. Thornton. Of Manassas,
Va, has been a prime mover in the matter,
and affidavits we're furnished by VIII
liam H. Lynch. Talbot Lynch, Edward
Ballinger. Z. c. Hough. F. H Poston,
and Phil D. Posto1 in drawing Up e
petition for the court.