New-York tribune., 1916-03-07
PUBLIC SERVICE
BEDARNED, SEz'E
Whatd Elmer Guy Do if
His Trolley Car Was
Abolished?

Elizabeth, y. J.. March 8. Elmer Guy
rubbed one brick-red hand over the
gray stubble OF hil chin this morning
and contemplated the scenery that
rushed by his trolley car. A sign on a
telegraph pole read Speed limited to
three mile, an hour" and the motor.
man reversed quickly. az he realized
with horror that he had been exceeding
the speed limit.
Gosh darn me-" he grunted. and
been runnln' at three and half"
There were two passengers in the
car, both OF them. for comfort and more
room, sticking their heads out of tho
window, tortoise-wise. Elmer Guy
stopped his car by using his size II
shoe as a brake, got tacks and hammer
from the tool box and nailed cabbage
leaves on the bases of the nearest tclc-
graph poles.
whats that for,- asked one Of the
passengers
Them cabbage leaves is for the rab-
bits answered old Elmer Guy, squirt
ing pint Of tobacco juice on the snow.
81 always stop the car 70 feed the crit
ters. They know Elmer Guy, them rsb-
bits dew"
Elmer explained why he took such
pains. He had once run over rabbit,
he said. while succumbing 10 n Wild de-
sire for speed on his daily run between
Aldine and Kenilworth.
How fast we're you going" asked
tho other passenger, wiping away some
tears.
Bout four miles an hour. 'Scuse
me seen Mrs. Smith, and I better
90 back for her. alters like TO accom-
modate folks. do"
Against the protestations OF his two
passengers. who said they had only an
hour and half to reach Aldine, two
miles away. Elmer Guy got out, re-
versed the trolley pole and sped back
20 Mrs. Smiths farm That lady man
aged 20 squeeze into the rear door OF
the car by edgng IN sideways. The
mOtOrman then reversed his uniform
cap on his gray head and became q con
ductor. ht and entitled 20 collect fares.
81 hear" said Mrs. Smith, munohing
an apple. that the Public Service Cor
poration wants 20 put this line out %
business. That bother you any, Elmer1
wal, ! should say it would" re-
turned Elmer, when he returned from
taking a small stone of the track.
"Ain't been on this trolley line nigh
onto half dozen yearsl Amt / car
ried things for folks and made the pas
sengers wait while | been buyin' things
in the village fer IN? Ain't ! alters
kept this car warm n the passengers
get the wood 70 make the stove? Amt
| been feedin' the rabbits along tho
line? Amt ! got the best library in
town under that seat, with Ellen Glim's
Two Weeks and Shakesper's 'Silss
Mariner Besides all that, amt | the
only man can run this trolley"
You bet" replied one Of the passen-
gers. Elmer stopped again 20 feed the
rabbits Another passenger got on, but
he wouldn't pay his nickel. whereat the
conductor told the motorman not 10
run the car. The motorman did what
the conductor told him and the car
stopped until the jitney was paid.
Mrs. Smith then told Elmer that all
the neighbors we're circulating petit
tions 20 the Public Service Corporation
asking that no further action be taken
TO abolish the trolley line connecting
the tVO suburbs because IL would throw
the motorman and conductor out Of EN-
ployment.
Amt / deseryin'?' ne queried. "lll
keep runnin' her. Public Service or no
Public Service. Only them city smart
Alecs attending Upssls College in
kenilvorth give me lot Of trouble o.
rocsin' the car. But ! get even by re-
portin' 'en 70 their teachers. Nuther'Il
! get cigarettes they want me 70 buy
for EN- down 20 town