Evening star., 1940-03-17

through back yards, automobile
graveyards, rolling meadow and
straggly forests, all strangely un-
beautiful to the seasoned commuter.
Conversation Halts.
Conversation is at q standstill.
Friends from the same Government
omces nod hello. Occasionally, they
talk in tired tones for a few seconds
and relapse into quietness. When
they do converse, it's generally in
terms Of slumber: Guess I'll get
to bed early tonight" Generally
sleep Sunday and catch up"
boy, I'm tired" "Got to bed
early last night" -.
AS group, commuters must be
exceptionally well up On current
events, for the person who boards
the train without at least one news
paper is rarity. BY the time the
more nervous passengers are dom
ming coats, most have passed
through the sports section and are
immersed in the financial columns.
Women, usually about one-third
the number. are more likely to be
reading books. Usually they appear
less tired by the grind, although
they doubtlessly prepare meals at
night for husbands.
The number Of commuters has
doubled in the past five years, and
their routine seldom varies. say
veteran conductors. who somehow
appear cheerful and fresh as
daisy among the unsmiling pas
sengers.
There are at least IS trains each
day on the two lines, and the COM
muter, who buys monthly tickets at
$1725, is seldom late for work If he
misses his usual train.
Workers in the Navy Yard Gus
tomarily travel on trains between 6
and 7 am. Clerks and minor execu-
tives prefer those between Z and 8.
Higher executives, generally carry
ing brief cases, patronize those an
hour later.
Reasons for Practice.
Why do they commute? Reasons
vary.
"Well, It's like this" said the
middle-aged metal worker In the
Washington Navy Yard: I've been
in the shipbuilding business In Bal
timore for almost q quarter-cen-
tury. Back about seven years ago
there wasn't much work. So got
a Government JOHN the Navy
Yard. My kids were born and
brought up in Baltimore and my
wife has all her relatives there.
They don't want to move. Besides,
the Government might lay me OF
and I'd be out of luck because there
are no other shipbuilding plants
around Washington. I've been
piling up lot of seniority at the
Nevy Yard and if I'd give up the
job now could probably get good
Job In Baltimore-but you know
what civilian shipbuilding Is like.
After the war I'd probably be out
on the street again. You can get
used to committing after . while
and I get good pay"
The woman commuter frowned at
being interrupted. She was reading
Gone With the Wind" She was
young and chic.
I'm from Detroit, and so is my
husband. He got job with Social
Security in Washington and then
was transferred to Baltimore. It
was kind Of expensive living in
Washington, so got q Job in the
Commerce Department. When my
husband was transferred I decided
to keep on working because my
salary helps . lot. I hope he'll get
transferred to Warrington. It's .
swell city,"
The man reading the comic page
explained:
well, I'm . Baltimorean and
married one. Some day hope to
get . job back home, 20 I'm staying
there. I don't think my Job viii
last after the next election. anyway,
so I'm not taking chances" He was
. clerk In the Security and Ex-
change Commission.
The grim-faced, elderly man, who
must have been an executive, judg-
ing by the size Of his well-stuffed
brief case, testify crumpled the
financial section, and explained:
"Yes, I'm q commuter. Ike to
travel, that's why"