“SYDNEY SHARKS.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 2, 12 December 1911, Page 3

“SYDNEY SHARKS.”

When the Bondi car left the railway station shortly after six o’clock the other evening, says the “Sydney Morning Herald,” the centre compartment of the smoking section possessed a rural atmosphere. The entire seat was occupied by a woman and five young children of healthy bucolic appearance, ranging in ages from two to twelve years, and on the floor reposed baskets of all shapes and sizes, containing a miscellaneous assortment of fruit, vegetables, clothes, and live stock. Two ducks made their presence distinctly audible, and a small box emitted a continuous noise, resembling a cross betw r een the grunt of a young pig and the squeak of a kitten. The car was crowded inside and outside. As it left the station the conductor collected the fares under difficulty, and when it rounded the corner into Liverpool Street he again visited the compartment and demanded “fares” in an austere voice. The woman, in obedience to the command, again paid another tenpence, and the process was repeated twice before the end of the first section was reached. She visited her purse again three times before Queen Street was passed. The passengers had now' thinned out considerably, and normal conditions prevailed. The conductor w'ent his rounds once more, and the woman again offered to pay. A look of perplexity slowly passed over his face. “Madame,” ho said, “have you not already paid your fare?” “Paid my fare!” returned the visitor from the country with withering sarcasm, “how much more do you want? It is a deliberate cheat; a robbery. I’ve heard of Sydney sharks, but the trams beat all t ever experienced. Mark my words, young man, it’s the first and it’ll bo the last time I ever ride in one of your cars. I’ve already paid 5-1 lOd; if vou want more, I get out and walk.”'