Cassidy’s Routing
Employed in the Great Northern yards in Minneapolis is a switchman whom we will call Cassidy.
One day Cassidy entered the superintendent’s office without removing his cap or pipe.
“I want a pass to Duluth,” he said.
His evident show of disrespect peeved the superintendent. “Well, Mr. Cassidy, you haven’t approached me in quite the proper manner,” he answered gruffly. “Here you have your cap on your head and your clay pipe stuck in your mouth. Do you believe this is showing proper respect for your superior officer? If you desire a pass to Duluth, you must leave this office at once, walk around for an hour or two, and come back. As you step in my office, you will ask for the superintendent of the Great Northern; I will reply, ‘I am the superintendent of the Great Northern, what can I do for you?’”
Cassidy promptly departed. He had been gone about an hour, when he came back, pipe in his pocket and cap in his hand. He walked briskly into the superintendent’s office and inquired in a rather superior manner, “Are you the superintendent of the Great Northern?”
“I am, what can I do for you?” was the reply.
“You can go to hell, I’ve got a pass over the Northern Pacific.”
* * *
It is always good to be nice, but not always nice to be good.