Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1875 — Chasing a Street Car. [ARTICLE]

Chasing a Street Car.

He was middle-aged, corpulent, and, to all appearances, highly respectable. On ordinary occasions he is, no doubt, dignified and majestic, but on Saturday night, when he came up Baltimore street, near Frederick, and saw the last red car turn the corner of Gay street and go on at a rate of speed that is altogether unusual for street cars his nature seemed changed, and he struck out after it. The old man’s wind was first-class for a person in his condition, and although he waddled along at a pretty lively gait he didn’t seem to gain much, and when he got to Gay street the car was rattling past Holliday street, and the driver seemed to urge his horses to greater speed every moment. The old man held his own gamely, but couldn’t gain an inch, and when he reached Holliday street the car had just passed South, and still the driver could be heard telling the horses to “ git up.” The old gent novr became fearfully excited, his legs interfered, and he broke badly, losing several yards. “Hey, hey,” he yelled; “stop that carl” But this being the last trip the conductor was seated inside the car with a note-book and pencil, busily engaged in knocking his week’s expenses out of the fares, and the job was so pleasing that he did not hear the yells of the old gentleman. The car rolled on and the old gent now got mad, loosened his necktie, and struck a gait that would have astonished a professional. This gait began to tell and he gained on the car at every step and just after it passed Calvert street he put on a magnificent burst of speed, collared and got on the hind platform. He was wringing with sweat, and when he bolted into the car and sat dow r n near the conductor that individual thought be was a “ spotter” in tbe employ of the company and hastily concluded balancing his accounts. The old man had just got a little wind, paid his fare, and settled himself in his seat, when he looked out of the window and saw that the car had passed his destination a moment after he got on. He only wanted to go to the Carrollton Hotel. He roared for the conductor, ordered him to stop the car, and got off in a humor that can be better imagined than described. —Baltimore American. The Zion's Herald thinks people are not cutting down their personal and general expenses at home as they should.