NAMES TO AID MANNERS.

The New York Times
November 26, 1922

Bus Conductors Find That Public Likes to Know Them.

The neat green and gold badges on the breasts of the Fifth Avenue bus conductors are beginning to have an effect. They announce the name of each employe with the conspicuous prefix "Mr." Now that the novelty is beginning to wear off the normal effect may be judged.

"It's this way," explained one of the conductors the other day, "the passenger who wants to be pleasant, and the one who wants to kick, both find the name plate convenient. People use conductor's names all sorts of ways. One will ask: 'Will you please let me off at the next corner, Mr. Jones?' Then there is the woman who wants to ask a favor, such as being let off in the middle of the block near her front door. She begins by saying, 'Mr. Jones, may I trouble you just this once to stop,' &c. The passenger seeking a privilege usually makes sure of your name before beginning. He often repeats it again at the end of the question besides. The passenger with a grievance catches on to the name plate right away. If he is particularly mad he drops the Mr. 'See here, Jones,' he says, 'I'll report you for this.' Then maybe he takes out a pencil and writes down the name before your eyes.

"What proportion of them mention the name? Just now I should say there was about one to every busful, say fifty passengers. But the regular customers are beginning to catch on. After they get to know us they usually smile or nod. Later they will wish us a 'Good morning,' or a 'Good night.' Since the name plates have come in they add our names, 'Good morning, Mr. Jones,' and more of them are doing it every day."