w. You see the driver can stop behind time, or go beyond
it if he likes. The latest car in the street, you understand, gets the
most passengers. So it is that the drivers who are feed by the
conductors stay from two to five minutes behind time, to the
inconvenience of passengers, but to the profit of the driver, the
conductor, the starter, the spotter, and for all I know, the
superintendent and president of the company. It is a fine system from
beginning to end. The amount of drink disposed of by some of the fellows
in authority is perfectly amazing. I know a starter to boast of taking
fifteen cocktails (with any number of lagers between drinks) in a day,
and all paid for by the 'road;' for, of course, the conductors saved
themselves from loss. Oh, yes, you bet they did! The conductor's actual
expenses a day average $5; his pay is $2.25, which leaves a fine tail-end
margin of profit. How the expenses are incurred I have told you. What
ken a man do? Honesty? No man can be honest and remain a conductor.
Conductors must help themselves, an' they do! Why, even the driver who
profits by the conductor's operations, has to fee the stablemen, else how
could he get good horses? Stablemen get from $1 to $2 per week from each
driver."

"Then the system of horse railroad management is entirely corrupt?"

"You bet. 'Knocking down' is a fine art, as they say: but it is not
confined to the conductors. The worst thing about the car business
though, and what disgusted me while I was in it, was the thieves."

"The thieves?"

"Ay, the thieves. The pick-pockets, a lot of roughs get on your car,
refuse to pay their fares, insult ladies, and rob right and left. If you
object you are likely to get knocked on the head; if you are armed and
show fight you are attacked in another way. The thieves are (or rather
they were until lately) influential politicians, and tell you to your
face that they'll have you dismissed. Ten to one they do what they say.
I tell ye a man ought to have leave to knock down lively to stand all
this."

II. THE STAGES.

The stages of New York are a feature of the great city, which must be
seen to be appreciated. They are the best to be found on this continent,
but are far inferior to the elegant vehicles for the same purpose which
are to be seen in London and Paris. The stages of New York are stiff,
awkward looking affairs, very difficult to enter or leave, a fact which
is sometimes att