News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1912-07-24

Il wasn't questionin you, boss, |
was just astin' YOU
He resigned himself to the despot,
and began to transfer his burdens to
the seat. But he did nothing to the
satisfaction Of the Englishman. Every
thing must be placed otherwise; the
catch-all here, the portmanteau there,
the Gladstone there, the golfsticks
there, the greatcoat there, the rain
coat there. The porter was pulling
like donkey-engine, 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 with an attempt
at irony.
"Is they anything else?"
mo. You may get down"
The magnificent patronage of this
wilted the porter completely. He re.
turned to the lower level, and shut
fed along the aisle in a trance He
was quickly recalled by a sharp:
"Pawtah!"
"Yassah!"
What time does this bally train
start?'
"Ten-thutty, sab"
"But it's only ten now"
"Yassah. It'll be ten-thutty a lit
tie later"
do you mean to tell me that I've
got to sit hyah for half an hour-just
waiting"
The porter essayed another bit oil
irony:
WELL" he drawled, 81 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 it fell back UNDECIDED from the
granite dome of the Englishman,
whose only comment was:
"Oh, never mind. I'll wait"
The porter cast his eyes up in de
spair, and turned away, once more to
be recalled.
"Oh, pawtah!"
"Yassah!"
81 think Well 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. All,
that's it. You may set it down."
Mr.. Wedgewood brought forth a
soft cap and a pair of red slippers.
The porter made another effort to
escape, his 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 Vas
sab" He simply fell on one knee
and got to work.
There was witness to his helpless
rage-a newcomer, the American
counterpart of the Englishman in all
that makes travel difficult for the fell
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 speech-as uncouth
and savage as one can we'll be who is
plainly man of means.
1t was not enough that a freeborn
Afro-American should be caught kneel-
ing to an Englishman. But when he
had escaped this penance, and adj
vanced Hospitality to the newcomer,
he must be greeted with snarl
Say, are you the porter of this car,
or that mans nurse?"
Il can't tell yet What's yo' num-
ba. please?"
The answer was the ticket. The
porter screwed up his eyes to read
the pencilled scrawl
''Numba sem. Heqh she is, boss"
Fright next to a lot of women, I'll
bet Couldn't you put me in the mems
end of the carp
mot ve'y we'll, sub. 1 reckon the
cab is done sold OUT
With 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 inauspiciously 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.
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 WORTH"
Each gauges his cordially 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 promised small returns. He
buttoned up his cordially, and de-
termined to waste upon them the IT.
reducible minimum of attention.
1t would take at least a bridal
couple to retsore the balance. But
h-;doI oounloc In their first bloom