The Detroit times., 1911-11-29

London is mourning the disappear
ance OF it's historic and traditional
'busses or perhaps il may be its bus
drivers
The bus driver and his rather cum
bersome. hut on the whole sociable
and delightful vehicle has had to sue
cumh 10 the combined influence of
the essentially modern taxi and tube.
IL is told with touch of pathos
that in central London there are
yards that are full of buses-'buses
that are already exiled from their
own yards. 10 which they will never
return buses that will never leave
the Yards where they are now hud-
died except 10 pass under the nam
mer. buses that will never trundle
along London streets again. And in
the horse repositories are now hun
dreds OF 'bus-horses that will never
drag them again, perhaps never again
hear "Hrrup! which means Higher
up but are TO be dispersed fresh.
out of work among "jobmasters. par
eel carriers tradesmen and others.
Both buses and horses are pathetic,
for they have the pathos which at
taches TO all passing things. But more
pathetic than either-because he is
not only human but an old friend
is the bus driver who is passing with
them, who will never again mount
his perch or cry 'Lipoostree!" and
when an old friend is passing some
tribute is his due.
The Philosophic Friend.
He was not only friend. but philos-
opher: and how he came to be a
philosopher is not difficult 10 under
stand Both his altitude and his at
titude were favorable to the practice
OF philosophy He had all a cobbler's
leisure for self-communion with the
advantage over the cobbler OF betnf
more in touch with realities and his
fellow humans. From his perch he
daily passed a whole world in review,
noted all the comedy OF the pave
meuts, and got into the habit OF Asrp
ming up a sudden sltuation-a street
row. a curious crowd the rights and
wrongs OF an accident-and all the
oddities OF chance and circumstance
that the tide OF London's streets
throw, up. And as the germ OF all
PHILOSOPHERS is criticism OF ones fel-
low creatures. he the bus driver, be-
came philosopher malgre lui.
But he had human weaknesses that
should not belong TO the tried philos-
opher. Generations OF tradition had
convinced him that philosophy was
expected of him, and so he tried 10
live up TO reputation that was hard
" higher than his deserts. Genera
tons of country cousins, and even OF
admiring townsmen. had encouraged
and even a little spoiled him with
their kind words until he came to re-
gard himself as not only qualified but
compelled to give his opinion on
whatever problem might be presented
TO him. And when his philosophy
failed TO meet the case his wit step
ped into the breach.
The Wit That Came To His Aid.
His wit, There again, says one who
could appreciate his qualities while
not overlooking his defects, his repu
tatlon went a little before him. a
dangling carrot which he could never
quite catch up. He was supposed "a
excel in that branch OF wit known as
repartee, though in practice it was
found that he rarely adventured be-
yond variations. and those rarely
subtle. on the old theme OF You're
another" But we so spoiled him by
great expectations that we angled
ever for the bite OF wit that was to
turn the laugh against ourselves. and
we humored him land ourselves) by
seeing more in his jokes than was
sometimes 10 be found in them. We
would take no denial; aud he, recog
nizing what was expected of him, gal
lantly did his best 70 maintain the
reputation of his tribe, relying on the
charitable ears thrust forward from
the front seat, confident OF the laugh
that was ready to burst out on trust
| solaced in the last resort by the con
viction that ii his inspiration failed
we should ascribe his failure 70 our
own clumsiness in prompting him, or
at the worst to our ill-luck in stumb
! ing across one OF his rare "off days.
He has been known TO feign sui
! len taciturnity quite contrary 70 his
real nature rather than reveal that
I his wit was, as Or. Johnson said in
another connection, temporarily 'out
OF pocket"
The Tongue In Controversy.
Yet how he loved TO talk, given a
sympathetic ear For he became real
ily solitary on his perch when his bus
had left London's central roar behind
il, and was jolting and trundling
through some suburban street. Then
he would even turn around and take
stock OF you and If the impression
were favorable he would open with
the weather, and then go on to talk
de omnibus rebus and other things
besides And though he was not al
ways a wit he was full OF mirthful
boisterous witticisms and his tongue
wagged well i'm dispute.
II was his pleasant little make-be-
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