WILL YOU SHAKE HANDS, MR DRIVER?"

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11589, 21 May 1903, Page 6

WILL YOU SHAKE HANDS, MR DRIVER?"

Two Herculean men. who had not had much previous experience in driving-loco-motives, ran a train on the Essenden line. An fncident' tint Attracted considerable attention occurred just as the. train they were driving ran into the platform at Flindexv street. The passengers were streaming up the pathway towards the exit as a particularly well-dressed young lady made her way towards the engine. She w«s attired in a neatly-fitting coat and skirt, and it waa noticeable that she wore a pair of white kid gloves. Advancing to tho side of the engine she looked into tho cab, and catching the eye of the driver remarked. "Will you shake hands with me. Mr Driver?" The driver shut, off tho steam that, was hissing nut of the cylinder, and with a regrcful look at his black hand*- replied : "I don't, think I'd better. I'd spoil your gloves, mw*s." "Never mind the gloves," came the answer. "I want to shake hands with yon men." The. driver rubbed his hands with a piece of cotton waste, and taking the whitegloved hand in his grimy paw thanked the young lady for her sympathy. "And your friend?"' she queried. The fireman came forward, and raising his hat also took in his black hand the neatly-gloved tingein of his lady interrogator. And two very determined and loyal railway employees took the train out of the station.