26.I believe honesty is one of the greatest gifts there is. It doesn't make any difference what they call it today. It's still what makes a man a good citizen. This is my code, and I try to live by. I've been in the taxicab business for thirty-five years, and I know there is a lot about it that is not so good. Taxicab drivers have to be rough and tumble fellows to be able to take it in New York. You've got to be tough to fight the New York traffic eight hours a day these days. Because taxi drivers are tough, people get the wrong impression that they are bad. Taxi drivers are just like other people. Most of them will shake down as honest fellows. You read in the papers almost every week where a taxi driver turns in money or jewels or bonds, stuff like that, people leave in their cabs. If they weren't honest, you wouldn't be reading those stories in the papers. I was born and raised in Ireland and lived there until I was nineteen years old. I came to this country in 1913 where I held several jobs to earn a few dollars before enlisting in World War I. After being discharged, I bought my own cab and have owned one ever since. In all my years of driving a taxicab, I have never had any trouble with the public, not even with drunks. Even if they get a little headstrong once in a while, I just agree with them and then they behave themselves. People ask me about tips. As far as I know, practically everyone will give you something. Most Americans are pretty generous. I always try to be nice to everyone, whether they tip or not. I have been trying this for a long time, and the longer I try, the easier it gets. 26. I am a new taxicab driver in New York.