Putnam patriot., 1919-03-21
THE GONG THAT
 MEANT EATS
The Old Familiar Sound No Longer Heard At Railroad
 Stations
co4oaei Parksr's Caag stsl-a Year
 Ago


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 To return to the store where the Rep. vas waiting his turn with ears open. The Colonel was talking. The Colonel is good talker, by the way, and it pays one to listen, especially if one is news story gatherer The story the Colonel was telling was half over when the nosy newsy listened in but he gathered that 1t related to the gong used in the old days to inform reached a station where eats could be had in hurry and at about twice the price charged elsewhere But we are not intending a comment of criticism of prices at depot restaurants, we are too thankful to find them sprinkled along the line. or We were, when Ro- ing up and down the pike as travel ing salesman before becoming a news paper gem. While, az we say, we were pleased to hear the non-melodi- ous gong and responded often Co it's appeal, we still live, and, although di- gestion is somewhat impaired, we re member with pleasure the many pies deyoured during the minute the train stopped That IS, numerous pies were deYoured over term of years. not at one sitting; oh, no, think of the ex- pense
 As the reporter listened he soon got the thread of the story, which was about the last appearance of the old familiar gong at the old railroad de pot between the tracks near Front street bridge Here is what the Col onel was saying after the reporter got on the wire
 That old gong, yes, I'll tell you how it left the city. I don't know. never did know where it went A train came in one day and there was a gang on it. and later gong on it Ike restaurany wIs crowded with GUS toners as soon as the train stopped. was busy and the girls were busy waiting on customers. Soon l heard my gong Some one on the tram was beating it recognized the old familiar sound l stood between love and duty-love of the old gong and duty to my customers and the till. l sutek behind the counter and then rushed forth just as the train was pulling out l could near the echoes of that old gong until the train rat tied over the trestle south of the city. The noise died away and the gong never returned never knew. don't know to this day, what became of it "
 With the conclusion of the tale the Colonel slipped his market basket on his arm and went whistling out of the door to get ready for the regulars who call at the noon hour for their dinner
 But there was the idea for the story-the old gong. You must be out of your teens to remember it well. It was used, as stated earlier in the story, to attract attention to the rail road eating house No noise just like 1t was ever heard before. We don't know where the custom originated. But it was custom. and the sound l~,.-n tk. apnrDarh 10