Re: (erielack) The Cigarette Girl

[WSmith5957_@_aol.com]

I never heard of this gal, but did u or ur friends ever happen to see the 
heavyset older guy that the DL guys used to let hang around the station & 
sell newspapeers on the trains during the stop in Scranton. He appeared to be 
retarded & would walk thru the coaches  on #s 5 & 6 or 1 & 2 mumbling 
"Peppy??, Peppy??.
     After a while, I asked around & one of the conductors told me he had 
been a pretty good boxer in the 40s, but took one too many hits to the head. 
The railroaders let him hang around the station in the bagageroom & keep warm 
in the winter & when the trains came in, he'd get on the coaches on one end & 
walk thru selling the Scranton Times or the Tribune. He had an old canvas 
paperbag like us kids used to have. (I had a TIMES route & later a TRIBUNE 
route - they paid more).
      This was 'workfare' as seen on the DL&W. Hey, we gave tpoor guy a place 
to keep warm & nobody bothered him.
Regards,
Walt Smith

------------------------------