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inutes。 〃Do as well as you can；〃 whispers the 〃influence；〃 〃but do it quickly！〃 That motto might be engraved upon the fronts of our homes and business buildings。
It is on account of this new standard that rapidity in a transaction on the Street is appreciated more than correctness of detail。 A broker to…day will take more credit for having received and executed an order for Chicago and returned an answer within six minutes； than for any amount of careful work。 The order may have been ill executed and the details mixed； but there will have been celerity of execution to boast of
The young man who expects to succeed in business to…day must be a 〃hustler；〃 have a snap…shot style in conversation； patronize rapid transit vehicles； understand shorthand； and eat at 〃breathless breakfasts。〃
Being taken recently to one of these establishments for 〃quick lunch；〃 as I believe the correct phrase is； to eat buckwheat cakes （and very good they were）； I had an opportunity of studying the ways of the modern time…saving young man。
It is his habit upon entering to dash for the bill…of…fare； and give an order （if he is adroit enough to catch one of the maids on the fly） before removing either coat or hat。 At least fifteen seconds may be economized in this way。 Once seated； the luncher falls to on anything at hand； bread； cold slaw； crackers； or catsup。 When the dish ordered arrives； he gets his fork into it as it appears over his shoulder； and has cleaned the plate before the sauce makes its appearance； so that is eaten by itself or with bread。
Cups of coffee or tea go down in two swallows。 Little piles of cakes are cut in quarters and disappear in four mouthfuls； much after the fashion of children down the ogre's throat in the mechanical toy； mastication being either a lost art or considered a foolish waste of energy。
A really accomplished luncher can assimilate his last quarter of cakes； wiggle into his coat； and pay his check at the desk at the same moment。 The next； he is down the block in pursuit of a receding trolley。
To any one fresh from the Continent； where the entire machinery of trade comes to a stand…still from eleven to one o'clock； that DEJEUNER may be taken in somnolent tranquillity； the nervous tension pervading a restaurant here is prodigious； and what is worse … catching！ During recent visits to the business centres of our city； I find that the idea of eating is repugnant。 It seems to be wrong to waste time on anything so unproductive。 Last week a friend offered me a 〃luncheon tablet〃 from a box on his desk。 〃It's as good as a meal；〃 he said； 〃and so much more expeditious！〃
The proprietor of one down…town restaurant has the stock quotations exhibited on a black…board at the end of his room； in this way his patrons can keep in touch with the 〃Street〃 as they hurriedly stoke up。
A parlor car； toward a journey's end； is another excellent place to observe our native ways。 Coming from Washington the other day my fellow…passengers began to show signs of restlessness near Newark。 Books and papers were thrown aside； a general 〃uprising； unveiling〃 followed； accompanied by our objectionable custom of having our clothes brushed in each other's faces。 By the time Jersey City appeared on the horizon； every man； woman； and child in that car was jammed； baggage in hand； into the stuffy little passage which precedes the entrance； swaying and staggering about while the train backed and delayed。
The explanation of this is quite simple。 The 〃influence〃 was at work； preventing those people from acting like other civilized mortals； and remaining seated until their train had come to a standstill。
Being fresh from the 〃other side；〃 and retaining some of my acquired calm； I sat in my chair！ The surprise on the faces of the other passengers warned me； however； that it would not be safe to carry this pose too far。 The porter； puzzled by the unaccustomed sight； touched me kindly on the shoulder； and asked if I 〃felt sick〃！ So now； to avoid all affectation of superiority； I struggled into my great…coat； regardless of eighty degrees temperature in the car； and meekly joined the standing army of martyrs； to hurry； scampering with them from the still…moving car to the boat； and on to the trolley before the craft had been moored to its landing pier。
In Paris； on taking an omnibus； you are given a number and the right to the first vacant seat。 When the places in a 〃bus〃 are all occupied it receives no further occupants。 Imagine a traction line attempting such a reform here！ There would be a riot； and the conductors hanged to the nearest trolley…poles in an hour！
To prevent a citizen from crowding into an over…full vehicle； and stamping on its occupants in the process； would be to infringe one of his dearest privileges； not to mention his chance of riding free。
A small boy of my acquaintance tells me he rarely finds it necessary to pay in a New York car。 The conductors are too hurried and too preoccupied pocketing their share of the receipts to keep count。 〃When he passes； I just look blank！〃 remarked the ingenious youth。
Of all the individuals； however； in the community； our idle class suffer the most acutely from lack of time； though； like Charles Lamb's gentleman； they have all there is。
From the moment a man of leisure； or his wife； wakens in the morning until they drop into a fitful slumber at night； their day is an agitated chase。 No matter where or when you meet them； they are always on the wing。
〃Am I late again？〃 gasped a thin little woman to me the other evening； as she hurried into the drawing…room； where she had kept her guests and dinner waiting。 〃I've been so driven all day； I'm a wreck！〃 A glance at her hatchet…faced husband revealed the fact that he； too； was chasing after a stray half…hour lost somewhere in his youth。 His color and most of his hair had gone in its pursuit； while his hands had acquired a twitch； as though urging on a tired steed。
Go and ask that lady for a cup of tea at twilight； ten to one she will receive you with her hat on； explaining that she has not had time to take it off since breakfast。 If she writes to you； her notes are signed； 〃In great haste；〃 or 〃In a tearing hurry。〃 She is out of her house by half…past eight on most mornings； yet when calling she sits on the edge of her chair； and assures you that she has not a moment to stay； 〃has only run in；〃 etc。
Just what drives her so hard is a mystery； for beyond a vague charity meeting or two and some calls； she accomplishes little。 Although wealthy and childless； with no cares and few worries； she succumbs to nervous prostration every two or three years； 〃from overwork。〃
Listen to a compatriot's account of his European trip！ He will certainly tell you how short the ocean crossing was； giving hours and minutes with zest； as though he had got ahead of Father Time in a transaction。 Then follows a list of the many countries seen during his tour。
I know a lady lying ill to…day because she would hurry herself and her children； in six weeks last summer； through a Continental tour th