In his solitary wanderings, Srila Prabhupada made acquaintances with a number of local people.  There was Mr. Ruben, a Turkish Jew, who worked as a New York City subway conductor.  Mr. Ruben met Prabhupada on a park bench, and being a sociable fellow and a world traveller, sat and talked with the Indian holy man.

Mr. Ruben:  He seemed to know that he would have temples filled up with devotees.  He would look out and say, “I am not a poor man.  I am rich.  There are temples and books; they are existing; they are there, but the time is separating us from them.”  He always mentioned “we” and spoke about the one who sent him, his spiritual master.  He didn’t know people at that time, but he said, “I am never alone.”  He always looked like a lonely man to me.  That’s what made me think of him like the holy man, Elijah, who always went out alone.  I don’t believe he had any followers.