Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1894 — SUPERSTITIOUS TRAVELERS. [ARTICLE]

SUPERSTITIOUS TRAVELERS.

A Veteran Ptucnger Conductor Talk* of the W hum of TonriataNo one but the experienced passenger conductor knows just how whimsical and cranky the traveling public really is, says the Pittsburg Post. A traveler may have some peculiar fad or notion when he is on the road, but he never dreams that there are thousands of others just like him, or perhaps worse. In years of experience the conductor rubs elbows with all sorts of people, and in spite Of himself becomes a mind and face »eader, who takes a back seat from no one except the professional. “Yes, travelers are superstitious and cranky,” said a veteran knight of the punch yesterday in response to a query. “I think the average passenger conductor deals with more oddities daily than the curio collector of a freak show, as to superstition, I think there is more of it crops out on trains than anywhere else. Last week, just as the train was ready to pull out for Chicago, a welldressed man came out of the coach on the platform and in an agitated manner asked me what day it was. “I tQld him it was Friday, and without ano her word he ro-oniered the coach, and in a moment returned ttitilllis luggage, and by way of explanation stated that he never began a journey Friday and would wait until the next morning. That is only a sample. The much-mooted unlucky thirteen is perhaps the cause of more worry and inconveniece to tourists than any other sign which they deem of 111 omen. I have known passengers to begin at the head of the train to see if they could find No. 13 anywhere. “If the engine happened to be thirteen they would resignedly wait for the next train, and if they succeeded in finding number thirteen on any of the coaches they would hold up their hands in holy horror. I have seen pa c sengers refuse to ride in a coach that held thirteen passengers, and if )ou will ask any ticket man he will tell you that of all sections in a sleeper thirteen is the most difficult to dispose of. “Then aside from the superstition which prevails among the traveling public there are countless passengers who are cranky, and if they lose a chance to kick are in bad humor for a week afterward. They kick for a seat in the center of the coach; kick because the train goes too slow or too fast; kick because they are in a draught or because it is too hot. And the worst of it all Is that when they kick I am the Individual who is called up to hear them, as if I were responsible for the whole business. “About the only time when some fellows don’t kick is when they are on their honeymoon. Everything goes on as smoothly as if it had been ordered so, but let the same men ride on the same train five years later and the chances are they’ll kick themselves into exhaustion.”