TAXIS
SIR.—When I read Mr. Humphris's letter of Ser tember 11 I was strongly reminded of an experienfe I once had which was almost exactly similar in 10 beginning but very different in its end This is the story, which shows that the human race ea° occasionally behave properly, a fact your reader' must sometimes forget; and also that taxi-drivers ar' much alike all the world over. In January, 1943, I travelled home to Enala04 from Canada. I had to pass through New York, and transferred some luggage between stations titer' by taxi. On arrival at the second station the me.,,tel read about $1.20. I offered the driver $1.50. ti° refused it, saying this was 'transfer work' and 0' 'standard charge' was $5. (Almost exactly the sato' words as those overheard by Mr. Humphris.) I knel I was being 'done,' but reluctantly handed over 5 after slight protest. As I was turning away, Is° large station policemen loomed up, one taking day° the number of the hastily retreating taxi, the other asking me with the most heart-warming Irish accent; `How much did that feller take off you, laclY And where did he bring you from?' I told him; an', he said, 'Ah, the dirty feller, we'll have it off biol., He then asked for my name and address. When ' explained I was in New York for one night otilY' and was then embarking from Philadelphia 10', England, he asked at which hotel I would be spendil the night. Late that night the telephone rang besW my Bed. It was the sta-tion police: They had cate the taxi-driver and he was to appear in court t elext day. 1 thanked them and asked them, if money i,Were recovered, to give it to the Red Cross. .t. Eight months later in this Somerset village in war- 1, time England, I received by post a money order for t (I think) 18s. from a police court in New York. Restitution. 1 was more moved than I can say and hope that the young American who was so badly treated by the taxi-driver in Brook Street, and who ' received no restitution, may read this.
If ever I fall among thieves, I hope it may be in a . New York railway station.,—Yours 'faithfully, , . MARY WALDEGRAVE
Chewton House; Chewton Mendip; Bath, Sonrerset
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