Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-11-05
FOR THE LITERARY CADET,
STAGE TRAVELLING.

IA
Miss Tabitha Horthing and her band. bor.
Kind reader did you ever travel in a stage.
A strange question, however, to ask; for since
the facilities for locommotion are so great. il
would be strange, surely, if you had never seat
ed yourself down, comfortably, quietly and in
dependcntly in stage coach, and enjoyed the
sight Of light and airy clouds Of dust which
constantly surround The vehicle, and expert
enced those exquisite sensations occssioncd by
the easy and graceful boundngs Of the car
riago over rocks and bitches, which our proyi-
dent surveyors have left in tho streets. Oh, it
is bliss to travel in a stage! One feels SO nde-
pendent so much at home-so perfectly alb
stracted from care and trouble. Besides Won
have your travelling companions, with whom to
."whilo away tho time" There is your intel
ligent traveller, who is constantly reminded by
some passing objects If wha, he has seen be-
fore, and who has tho poli,eness and good feel
ing to give you descriptions OF scenes ho las
witnossed-places he has visitod--obiects he
has seen-characters ho has met-ane cdotes
he has heard, &c. &c.-all Of which serve 10
render the time agreeable and interesting.
Then there is your sour traveller, who is contin-
ually exclaiming-"poorro roads''-'bad Goa CHI
es''-"lazy horses"-'slow drIvers,' or, if
satisfied with these, still will find something on
which to vent his feelings. and shew his mar
vellous judgment, and thus will strike another
key with "bad land'-ignorant farmers" mis-.
erablc buildings" &c. &c. Now this has the
effect to render every thing around you dsa-
sreeable; nor is this all, it tends to give one a
disposition TO look at things on their dark side |;
and this, to beings, surrounded as we all are,
with objects which have their bright and their
dark side, is by no means desirable. There is
also your selfish traveller. who very uaceremo-
nionsy tells you every thing relative to himself
where he is from-There he is going--what
his business is-what he has done--what he
intends to do &C., all Of which is designed only
TO tell you what you otherwise would have new
or known, that he is a man Of consequence.
Again there is your concise traveller, who has
a talent to set every thing in a ludicrous point
of view-who cracks his harmless Jokes, and
thus contributes his quantun. of amusement
and pleasantly. Lastly, there is your sleepy,
dry nodded traveller, who, not finding augbt
to interest HIMSELF very composcdly shuts his
eyes and goes to sleep; and indeed batting a
few thrustnes Of hIs head into your face and
eyes, and few thumpngs from hs unma mage
able body is, TO me, a very discreet and eieuer
fellow traveller.
! say" to me-" for am aware that 10 Ira
vellers in general, this last rs the most disa-
grecblc class of Travellers one will meet with.
On this subject, our Female Travellers are ge-
neraly very sensitive. They cannot bear the
sight OF person falling asleep before them
in the stage--for they think it rude and
unmannehy. For this OCCASION, IA man had
better be at homo and abod, than to fall
asleep in the stage thus bringing upon him
self the odum OF all tho passengers.
I was few days since taught the truth OF
this observation by bitter experience. Having
occasion TO take a short Journey of few
miles, and believing that It would be more ex-
pediious and cheap to travel IN the stage, !
had comfortably established myself on the
back seat thoieof, (thero being no other pas
scnger) and was pursuing tho " even tenor of
my way" q speak not of the roads) when the
stage was stopped with the cry Of "a Passen.
ger" Eager TO ascertain who was TO be my
fellow-traveller, I thrust my head ou, Of the
stage, and saw Young woman at that precise
moment, asking the driver il there was " room
for Miss Tabiha worlhing and her band box"
| The driver answered afirnatiyoy aud forth.
with NJ iss Tabnha Wotlbing,on aud her
band box" were ushcred with much ceremony
into the stage. Tln former took seat by
myself, aud the latter was placed. with much
care, on the middle bonch Miss Tsbitha
gave mo 10 understand, in a few short excla-
mations, that the band box contained some.
thing very valuable /; accordingly, Z looked
upon n with much reverence. and treated II