The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-04-09

" cav Sc 4 m 3 lh ftu " ~ ~ 1pll
question my
n wasn't questonin you, boss, q:
was just astins you. L
He resigned himself 70 the despoti.
and began to transfer his burdens to-
the seat But he did nothing to the,
satisfaction 81 the EnglIshman. Every.
thing must be placed otherwise: the
catch,all here, the portmantean there
the Gladstone there, the goifsticks
there, the greatcoat there, the rain.
coat there. The porter was putting
like donkey-engin and mutiny was
growing in his heart HIS last com.
mission was the hanging up Of the
bowler hat.
He stood on, the arm Of the seat to
reach the high hook. From here he
paused to glare down,Rith an attempt
at irony
.'Is they anything else2''
mo. Yousmay get down" Z
The magnificent patronage of this
-wilted the porter completely. He re.
turned to the lower level, and shut
fed along. the aisle IN q trance. He
was quickly recalled by q sharp:
"Pawtahts
:'Yassah!'l
"What time does this bally train
start?"
"Ten.thutty. sab"
"But It's only ten now"
"Yassah. It'll be teu.thutty a lit
tie later
go you mean to. tell me that I've
got to Sit hyah for half an hour-tust
waitin'le
The porter essayed another bit Of
irony: 7 g q
"Well," he drawied, II might tell
the conducta you're ready. And meb.
be he'd start the train. But the time
table says ten.thutty."
He watched the effect OF his satire,
but 1t fell back unheeded from the
granite dome Of the EngIishman,
whose only comment was:
"oh, never mind. I'll wait"
The porter cast his eyes up in de-
SPAR, and turned away, once more to
be recalled.
"Oh, pawtahl"
"Yassah!"
II think wen put on my slippahs."
"Will we?"
"You might hand me that large bag.
No, stupid, the othah one. You might
open It. No, it's in the othah one. An,
that's IT, You may set it down."
Mr.. Wedgewood brought forth q
soft cap and a pair Of red slippers,
The porter made another effort to
escape;Ihis thoughts as black as his
face. Again the relentless recall:
"oh, pawtah, l think we'll unbutton
my boots"
He was too weak to murmur "Yas.
sah." He simply fell on one knee
and got to work.
There was a witness to his helpless
rage-a newcomer, the American
counterpart of the Englishman in all
that makes travel difficult for the Eel.
low travellers. Ira Lathrop was zeal.
GUS to resent anything short OF per.
lection, quick and loud OF complaint,
apparently Impossible to please.
In everything else he was the op.
posite Of the Englishman. He was
burly, middle-aged, rough, careless in
attire, careless Of specials uncouth
and savage as one can we'll be who is
plainly a man OF means.
1t was not enough that freedom
Afro.American should be caught kneeI.
ing to an Englishmanr But when he
had escaped this penance, and ad'
vanced Hospitality to the newcomer.
he must be greeted with a snarl.
SAY, are you the porter Of this car,
or that mans nurse?"
II can't tell yet. What's yo' mum.
ba. please?"
The answer was the ticket. The
porter screwed up bis eyes to read
the pencilled scrawl.
"Numba sem. Heah she is, boss"
Fright next to a lot of women, III
bet. Couldn't you put me in the mems
end Of the carr"
mot ve'y we'll, sub. i reckon the
cab is done sold out"
With a growl Of rage, Ira Lathrop
slammed into the seat his entire hand
baggage, one ancient and rusty valise.
The porter gazed upon him with in.
creased depression. The passenger
list had opened inausplciously with
two Of the worst types OF travellers
the Anglo.Saxon race has developed.
! But their anger was not their worst
trait In the porter's eyes. He was, in
a limited way, an expert in human
character. h.
When you meet stranger you re-
veal your own character in what you
ask about his. With some, the first
question is, who are his people%
With others, what has he achieved
With others, How much is he worthy
Each gauges his cordiality according
to his estimate.
The porter was not curious on any
Of these points. He showed a demo
cratic indifference to them. His one
vital inquiry was:
"How much will he tip?"
His inspection Of his first two
charges promfsed small returns. He