A NEW USE FOR THE COW-CATCHER

New Zealand Tablet, 11 October 1906, Page 37

A NEW USE FOR THE COW-CATCHER

.Of the stories attributed to Artemus Ward, the best one, perhaps,, is one which tells of the advice which he gave to a railway conductor soon after the vwu'W ar. The track was in a wretched condition, and the trains, consequently, were run at a^ pher* nomenally . low rate of speed. - When the cond~uct>6r" was punching Ms ticket, Artemus remarked : ' Does , this railway company allow • passengers "to gave advice, if they- do so in a respectful -manner ?' ; The conductor replied in gruff tones that he supposed so. «• 'Well,' Artemus went on, ' it occurred tome thatlt would 'be well to detach the cow-catcher f roni "the ' front of the engine and hitch ' it to the -rear of the ,' train ; you see we are not liable to overtake a cow ' .but what's to prevent a cow strolling into this car and 'biting a passenger ? ' -