Connecticut western news., 1910-12-01
THEY'LL LEARN
A Few Pointers for Prospective Trolley
 Conductors.


 Conductors.
 The trolley cars will be running into Canaan before long, and in all proba- bility a good many of Canaan's young men will find employment as conductors and motormen. Naturally they will have to qualify for the work by course of instruction. which is generally pre- scribed and provided by the railway company.
 This course of instruction is all right, in its way and as far as it goes, but the average trolleyman makes it point to equip himself with additional qualifi- cations aside from those demanded by the company, and as the craft generally seem to consider these additional qualifl- cations the most essential, it is the pur- pose of the writer, who knows a whole lot about trollsymen's g etiquette, through experience and observation, to give the prospective applicants for conduotorships some pointers that will enable them, at the very beginning of their trolley careers, to appear like old and seasoned employees with city street railway expert ence.
 When lady boards your car, at the starting point in front of the hotel, and tells you she wants to get off at Bragg street, you are to assume that means Hoag's crossing; and if she tries to get your attention after the car has passed Bragg street, look the other way and wink at some other passenger in the front of the car, who appreciates joke If the lady finally gets up and pulls the bell-cord and stops the oar, ask her why she didn't tell you where she wanted to get off, and tell her to step lively as you can't keep the car standing there all day.
 When you see passenger from the O. N. E. road coming on a run from the depot to take your car for Ashley Falls, have your hand on the bell-cord, ready to start your car when he gets within ten feet of it. The nearer you let him approach, and still get away from him, the more expert you show yourself to be as conductor.
 When a passenger who is a stranger, asks you how he can reach High Street, ask him if he thinks you're a blooming city directory.
 When passenger hands you aquarter for fare, give him five cents change, and if he insists that he has fifteen cents more coming to him, tell him your re onto his game and that for two cents you'd give him punch in the jaw.
 When a woman gets on board with a child just big enough to walk, ask her how old the kid is. If she says it's under six, tell her she can't play that game on you, and make her pay two fares. If she happens to be a handsome young lady, with three of her little nieces ranging from seven to ten, pass the children free.
 When the weather is bitterly cold, leave the rear car door wide open. If a passenger ventures to close it, push it open again with a vicious bang, and glare threateningly at the person who closed it-unless he looks as if he might be director of the road.
 When feeble old lady boards the car, give the starring signal before she can reach vacant seat. and when the sudden start sends her sprawling over the feet of the other passengers, ask her if she's drunk.
 Have an understanding with the motorman, to make sure that if there is mud puddle within fifty feet of cross walk, the car shall stop where the dis embarking passengers must step in it.
 These are but few of the hundred rules in the unwritten code of the aver age trolley conductor in the bigger places. By carefully studying and ob- serving them the new conductor will escape the suspicion of being "green hand" or farmer" out of his element, and furthermore he will make the occasional traveller from the city feel more at home on the car.