The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-10-30
BY EldOra Field

1.-THE public-say, you wouldn't
print what / think of the public,
after seventeen years Of street car
work" a w. Washington street car
conductor laughed.
They're funny-people, and what
strikes you most is that they're so
much alike; say and do the same
things. Take the men. Simply
dozens of 'em get on the street car
and feel in half o dozen pockets be-
fore they find their tickets. But oh
boy, that's nothin' to the women
with their hand bags. Lots OF time,
I watch a woman after she's on the
platform with people crowding be-
hind her. She'll open a hand bag,
then find a smaller purse, then open
the purse, then come back to the
handbag, then return to the purse
oh it's awful, but you can't say
a word, of course"
How do people act on a street
carr" a College Ave. Conductor re-
peated, half closing his eyes. well
I'm pretty new but I'm ready to say
that If anybody wants to go in train
in to harness his temper, con-
ductorin' is the job for him. Usually
people seem to think we've a per-
sonal grudge In enforcing rules
I'll report you has been hurled at
me so often that 1 hear it In my
sleep.
1.-THE ones that say they'll re.
port the loudest never do. Re-
ports come from the quiet ones that
don't threaten"
II have most trouble with smok
in" a Northwestern Ave. conduc-
tor remarked. "Smokin's against
the rules, but many of 'em GER
tainly try to get by. They lean
way out the window sometimes and
declare, I'm not smokin' on this car.
I'm outside Once in a while have
serious trouble. Once a fellow drew
a knife on me, but usually they
just joke"
Children are supposed to pay
after years, you know, Only last
week I sized up a little girl that
got on with ner mother. The woman
had paid one fare. l decided she
should have paid two. Isn't that
little girl over 81 asked. NO. she
answered quickly; only little past
81 Guess she thought we'd raised
the age limit and she'd play safe.
"They try to get their dogs by,
too,' he continued. people are
supposed to have a permit for dogs
Some of 'em either haven't permits
or forget to bring EN- along. One
day last winter a woman got on and
1 didn't notice anything unusual
about her until I saw some passen-
gers smiling. She had on cape,
but that didn't prevent my catch
ing sight Of furry little head which
she was trying to push back.
Everybody was looking in her
direction by this time, and her face
was getting red. marched up.
Madam, you must have permits
when carrying dogs on street cars,
said.
TN not carrying a dog she
said, as bold as you please. That
made me mad, especially as some Of
the passengers were snickering
Madam, you can't put anything over
on me- I answered. You either
produce a permit, the money for it,
or that dog comes off, Just then
furry little head came out; we both
reached for it, and then the passen-
gers roared. That devilish little dog
was a pet monkey, and as my book
o& rules didn't mention monkeys, l
retired to the back platform while
the passengers snickered all the way
downtown"
Transfers make for lot of rag
chewing" another conductor OBJ
served. 1.-THE older transfer is the
rnadder they get when I call 'em
for it. They have all kinds Of ex-
cuses-usually say the conductor
punched the transfer wrong. If they
have boarded the wrong car OR thew