The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-28 00:00:00

THE EAST AND WEST.

(From an American paper.)
" The Western World" and " Plymouth Rock
These two names, full of history and significance,
were givon a few years since to two splendid float-
ing palace steamers, designed and built to accom-
modate the travelling public going to and fro, from
the East to the West, and vice versa along the great
central through r)ute of travel. These steamers
embodied one of the numerous results of the ever ad-
vancing spirit of enterprise which has so signally
marked the progress of the Michigan Central Railroad
and its management during the last 20 years, in
the endeavour to furnish the best and most perfect
accommodations for the travelling public in every
respect. These boats failed; not from any want of
completeness in themselves, but because the electric
pulses of the peripatetic and would-be übiquitous
public demand a means of locomotion only less
rapid than that of the lightning itself, and these
steamers, with their gay and splendid appoint-
ments, " went into ordinary," and were finally
laid up to rot. But their names still lived—
the Western World, with its boundless prairies
and endless chain of lakes, river and mountain, called
to old Plymouth Rock unceasingly, bidding it come
in the spirit of those who first stepped foot upon
the shore, and win the wilds of this section to
civilisation and greatness. Time flew, and the
young giant of the West, outstripping in execution
even the most seemingly Utopian imaginings of
the plodding East, reached backward with its
hooks of steel and clenched the iron bonds that
to-day bind Plymouth Rock to the Western World.
And he has again immortalised those two pregnant
names, by emblazoning them upon the gilded pro-
portions of two palace sleeping chariots, whose like
was never seen, neither was it dreamed of in Eastern
philosophy, or learned in Oriental lore. Scarce
half a year has passed since the union was com-
pleted, and now Omaha, far away on the con-
fines of the great American plains, sends greet-
ing to old Massachusetts Bay, through the music
of a million revolutions of our palace car
wheels, whose roll never ceases to resound till the
thousand miles are passed. The " Western
World," and " Plymouth Rock," with their con-
sorts, will carry through " without change of cars.'
The Central link in this great chain —the keystone
of this mighty arch which spans the continent—is
the Michigan Central Railroad, and to it more than
to any other single power, if not all others corn-
binod, is duo the credit of what has been done.
The pioneer in all improvements that tend to pro-
mote the comfort of his patrons, she still leads the
advance.

For proof that this is no idle boast,we refer to
the recent placing upon this line of the new palace
hotel car, " City of Boston," to run between here
and Chicago. It was said, when the palace sleep-
ing cars, Atlantic and Pacific, and the palace hotel
car named above, were put upon the line, that the
ne plus ultra had been reached--that railroad travel
now stood upon the ultirna thule, and could go no
farther. But the " City of New York" followed,
however, and now this, the fourth of this class, has
just been placed upon the road. In finish and in-
ternal accommodations, this car as far surpasses

vance

any and all its predecessors as they were in
of anything of the kind in the country.
The " City of Boston" is 70 feet in length, and
contains within as spacious dimensions the entire
and complete paraphernalia and accommodations of
a first-class hotel. It has a saloon or hall capable
of accommodating forty passengers, besides state
and drawing rooms where families may shut
themselves up in seclusion from any and all
other passengers, during the entire route for
days together. Altogether sixty-four persons
can be amply accommodated with seats or berths in
this single car. A kitchen, with its cooking range,
steam and hot water, pantry, wine closet, &c.,
compactly built and almost entirely unexposed
to view. Meals are cooked while the trait! moves
40 miles an hour, as expeditiously and nicely, and
served with as much elegance as in the best hotels.
A bell connected with each compartment summons
the waiter any moment, and everything desired can
be had for the asking, and the charge for all the
delicacies and substantials of the Paso❑ is no more
than at the hotels. The fare is only 50 cents more
in these hotel cars than the price of an ordinary
ticket. The car is finished in black walnut highly
polished and carved in medallion and unique designs.
French plate mirrors occupy the ornamented panels
between the seats ; tables_ are arranged so as
to be set by a simple touch of a spring ; the seats
and chairs, sofas and ottomans, in a much less time
than itlakes to tell it, can be transformed into luxu-
rious couches, with hair mattresses, full-sized pil-
lows, and sheets fresh from the laundry. The cur-
tains are of the finest Terry silk and the carpets
Wilton. The magic touch of the attendants in the
early morning, causes all the berths to disappear, and
the cushioned seats of yesterday take their places.
The upper berths shut into the wall and ceiling so
as to " leave no sign" of their nature or use. The
head lining is beautifully painted and striped in
rich designs ; the curtain rods, lamp supports,
brackets, &c., are all silver plated, as are also
the window fastenings. The window lifts and
stops are combined, and fitted with rubber
tips to prevent any jar or rattle with the run-
ning of the car. The walnut finish is beau-
tifully relieved by ebony mouldings. There are
many minor details which go to make up the ele-
gance and perfection of the car, but they must be
seen to be appreciated. This car was built in Chi-
cago, and cost $30,000, a sum sufficient to buy
several fine residences on the avenue. Upon the
panel containing the name " City of Boston" on the
outside of the car is the significant representation of
hub" with broken spokes and missing felloes,
over which the tall blades of rank grass growing
seem to form the word " Hum," while a big " bug"
is seen crawling among the rubbish below. Our
Boston cousins will appreciate the artist's fancy in
this particular.