Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 306, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1912 — He Went Over the Wabash [ARTICLE]

He Went Over the Wabash

Story of Stuyvesant Fish’s Futile Effort to Teach a Switchman to *Bo Polite. Elmer T. Stevens of Charles H Stevens & Bros, told -the following story at the Association of Commerce luncheon at the La Salle hotel in Chicago: “When Stuyvesant Fish was president of the Illinois Ceatral railroad, he waß sitting in his office one morning with the door closed, looking over some reports. The door was suddenly opened and in came an Irishman with bis bat on his head and his pipe in his mouth, and, walking up to Mr. Fish, he said: “1 want a pass to St Louis," “President Fish, somewhat surprised, looked up and said, ‘Who are your “The man replied, 1 am Pat Casey, one of your switchmen.’ “President Fish, thinking it w%s a good chance to teach the man a little lesson in etiquette, said: ‘Now, Pat, I am not going to say that I will

refuse your request, but there are certain forms that a man should observe in asking a favor. You should knock at the door before you come in, and when 1 say ’tCome in,” you should en ter, and, taking off your hat, and re* moving your pipe from your mouth, you should say, “Are you President Fish?” I would say, “I am, Who are you?” Then you should say, “1 am Pat .Casey, one of your switchmen." Then I would say, “What can I do for you?” Then you would tell me, and the matter would be settled. Now, you go out and come in again in a little while and see if you can do better.* “So the switchman went out, closing the door. About two hours later there was a knock on the door and President Fish said, ’Come in.’ In came Pat Casey, with his hat off and his pipe out of his mouth. Pat said, ‘Good mornln’, are you President Fish of the Illinois Central?’ President Fish said, ‘I am. Who are you?* *1 am Pat Casey, one of your switchmen.* ‘Well, Mr. Casey, what can t do for your 'You can go to h , I got a pass over the Wabash.’ * *