Is This The End Of The Metro?

I don't take the commuter rail in town every day, but when I do I've seen the same woman hawking the Metro at South Station for years. About this time last year I even saw her talking to candidate Chris Gabrieli on the platform one morning. Usually I saw her in the mornings on my way in. Tonight I saw her handing out free copies of the Herald on my way home at 5:10. Has the Herald stolen some of the competition's best talent?

In 2004, when I was downtown every day, there was a guy handing out copies of the Metro in front of South Station every night. He did more than just hand them out, however. He would sing and dance and wish everyone a nice night. I never read that rag, but I once wrote to the editor of the Metro to compliment them on such a great hawker. I miss that guy.