The New York herald., 1921-05-08

and probably the least appreciated,
is the subway system. It is always
the case that residents Of any city are least
appreciative of the wonders of their own
home town. Who goes to the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, to the Aquarium, the
Botanical Gardens the Museum of Nat
ura History? Why, visitors, Of course;
honeymooners principally. 1t is the same
way everywhere Down in Atlanta we have
the United States pententiary. 1t is Won
derfu institution but more New Workers
tnan Atlantans have seen the inside of 1t.
The workings ,of the place are particularly
familiar TO the enthusiastic coin col
lectors of the financial district.
AS a matter OF fact, our subway ride was
forced upon us by the courtesy of one of the
conductors who, by the way, for some rea-
son or other are called guards We have
always found the subway conductors to be
courteous polite and attentive. If they
chance to observe you running breathlessly
to catch a train they will use every en-
deavor to close the door before you can get
in thus showing consideration for the other
passengers whose discomfort you intended
to increase by crowding in among them.
If YOU ask to be directed to a certain place
in the city they will uniformly msdirect
YOU and let you off at a station five or ten
tocks from where you wish TO go, thus CIV
ing you an opportunity to walk along the
streets and observe the wonders and beau
ties of the CITY, Sometimes they viii not
answer at all, but respond merely by draw
ing all the lines of their faces down tight
and g-~ring at you, thus indicating, without
being s, discourteous as to say So that you
should not have asked the question at all.
II is positively sickening the way New
Workers are continually panning the subway
conductors Instead they ought to be ac-
claiming them as the one great force that IS
n bn humility of the people,
WHY. il Is easily imaginable that without the
Influence OF the subway conductors New
Workers would become so proud, SO AFRO
gant SO overbearing that they would be
absolutely insufferable As it is, man comes
from his office puffed up with pride over ms
successes of the day, with the sycophancles
of his clerks ringing pleasantly in his ears
absolutely in love with his own charming
personality, naughty in spirit, disdalnful IN
mind, contemptuous in attitude.
In the subway he is greeted with q snarli
cultural voice, quivering with scorn' says
watch your stepl" Then he becomes
human sardine lie is punched in the rlos,
noked in the back of the neck with an UNI
brella. his feet are trod upon he drops a
rockare and can't pick il up; he Is pushed
ana showed and pummeed and bumped
until he is a changed man. When ne hnahS
las the aGo on! Get off If this is your
stationt" snapped at him he has learned the
t,uth of what Tom MOORE WiotS'
,Humility. that low. sweet root
Irrono which all heavenly virtues shoot.
Ite il then in the proper frame of mind TO
or,brace his Wife kiss the babies, compl-
mont the dinner and thank heaven LOT
nome to rest In. =,
For all Of which he owes thanks to the
subway conductor.
w FELL, we We're saying It was this
fnr rake
w a ride on the subway. We had an
engagement on Ninth avenue and decided 70
talTe the seventh avenue subway and walk
the two long blocks. We had an idea that
~ could connect at Rector street, 80 we
asted the conductor of the first train that
came along If his outfit went up Seventh
avenue
.Where do you want to get off?" he asked
.'At Seventh avenue and Twenty-third
street." we replied.
"Hurrv up Get on. Watch your STEP
he said.
lie Immediately closed the door and the
train started up Broadway. After about
three stations grew suspicious II took
4 couple of stations more before We could
summon sufficient courage to speak to the
conductor because we had no way Of escap-
ing in case he grew angry or became volerk
"Isn't this the Broadway subway?' We
finally asked timidly.
yes" he answered, glaring at US
But 7 asked for the seventh avenue sub
way"
"Its only three or four blocks over TO
seventh avenue and Twenty third street."
he said.
we indicated IN hurt tone that we felt
oursef deceived that had no business at
seventh avenue and Twerty-third street
and had intended merely using thar ~ an
alighting point. that our ultimate destina-
ton was Ninth avenue. Hc listened with 2
bored air ut may be interesting 70 New
Workers 10 learn that he did not strike rs
or even attempt to do So. fIe merely re-
marked;
well you can get there by taking sur
face car at Twcnty-thrd street, or you
can ride with me to Times square and take
Il seventh avenue subway back, or you can
walk Two blocks more will not hurt you.
We mentally admitted tho truth of what
he said and dropped the subject
- we decided not to SO to Ninth avenue
at all. but to take advantage Of the
~ opportunity 70 40 something We hove
always had secret longing 70 do which
WIS to ride to the end Of a subway line and