BRIEF BUT NEAT

New Zealand Tablet, 4 September 1913, Page 62

BRIEF BUT NEAT

During the journey of a Royal train 1 from Balmoral to Windsor the ordinary passenger traffic was very much disorganised, and express trains were suddenly ‘ drawn up,’ to the no small annoyance of commercial men and others, who could truly say that with them ‘ time was money.’ An express train between Perth and Aberdeen was a great sufferer in this respect, and a certain commercial traveller was quite boisterous in his denunciation of the frequent stops. At last, when he had tired his fellow-passengers with his grumbling, he 'flopped down the window and shouted: ‘ Guard ! I say, guard!’ ‘Yes, sir?’ answered the official addressed, approaching the compartment. ‘ Oh, guard, this is simply disgusting ! Why all these stops? What’s up, man; what’s up?’ said the commercial, in bantering tones. The guard’s reply was brief, neat, and certainly to the point, for he simply answered : ‘ The signal.’ . tThe ‘ commercial’s’ window was closed with a bang.