Evening star., 1950-09-04

stuffed, or the marine critters
| which Beebe has dug up from 10.-
900 fathoms, or any of the other
odds and ends which scientists
and explorers have unearthed in
the odds and ends of the world.
The most peculiar thing about
the Paris taxi driver Is that to
look at him, he looks like millions
of other men. Completely ordi-
nary. And, when not behind the
wheel of his vehicle, he acts like
other men, enjoying food. wine,
song, romping in the woods with
his children, prize fights, soccer
matches. and Judging on his in
come tax.
But once seated behind the
steering apparatus Of his taxi he
sheds all that which makes him
appear and act normal, and be-
comes as unique as a two-headed
saxophone-playing aux.
He is the only species of taxi
driver in the world whose f1rmest
belief-every bit as strong, if not
stronger than his religions that
all passengers should want to
travel only in the direction in
which he. the driver, wants to go
Completely Independent.
For a passenger to want to &C
to Montmartre. say, when the
driver has just returned from
Montmartre and is bored with
what is going on in that section
seems completely ridiculous tc
him. Why should he, just for the
sake of earning a living. make a
trip to a part Of town that he
isn't interested in at the moment?
The Paris drivers just won't ac-
cept fares to parts of town they
do not care to visit. The promise
of an extra tip brings only a
laugh.
If taxi drivers machine
is pointing east and a fare is
| foolish enough to ask to go west,
he will be told in excitable, but
very understandable language.
that he can seek another cab.
To be able to travel about Paris
by cab without trouble one must
learn by the cut of the drivers
clothes, the look in their eyes,
their postures. just what section
of the city appeals to them.
Even after a man has mastered
this Sherlock Holmes approach to
a cab driver. he can't be really
sure that his selection will prove
a happy one. 72s sta+ &gS
This is because of the eating
habits Of the drivers. And the
drinking habits. A passenger
might be going in the direction
that is favored by the driver but
run into him at a time when the
driver is hungry or thirsty. And
the drivers usually are both.
And what does this mean?
IL means JUST CIllS.
Roulette Less Risky.
The drivers determination to
eat or drink where he always does,
even though it be in a part of
town he doesn't like save at
drinking or eating time, causes
him to refuse to accept a fare un-
less the fare happens to be going
that way too.
Summed up, all of this slightly
confusing description means that
a man who wants to get about by
taxi in Paris must be lucky
enough to want to travel in the
direction the driver wants to
travel. or in the direction the
driver takes when thirsty or
hungry.
This makes the chances of get
ting winning" taxi driver much
longer than that of hitting. a
number at roulette. In fact. I'd
much rather bet on three coming
up in roulette than I would on
hailing a taxi in Paris and get
ting a driver who, on hearing the
address, put the car in gear and
started out. .-..
Truth is, that never has hap
pened.
Not once, in any French his
tory, is there mention made of a
man having such phenomenal
luck.
If the French government will
allow a Paris taxi driver to be
taken out of the country (and II
should welcome such a project)
I am going to take one home
with me and try to see that he is
given a place Of honor in New
York's Museum of Natural His
tory.
He belongs there.
Distributed by McNaught Syndicate, Inc }