Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-08-26
THE GLASS RAILROAD.
RY GEORGE LIPPARD.
There was a moral in rha, dream"

] 49, 80 ''N'''''N' 10y N.'''
ut seemed 10 me as though had been
Suddenly aroused from my slumbers. |
looked around, and found mys'I If in the
centre of gay crowd. The first sensa-
ton experienced was that Of being borne
along with a peculiar, gentle motion. |
looked around, and found that | was in
long train of cars, which were glling
over q railway, AMI seemed to be many
miles in length. 1t was composed Of
many cars. Every car, open at the top,
was filed with men and women, all gaiIy
dressed, all happy, all laughing, talking
and singing. The peculiarly gentle mo
ton Of the cars Interested me. There was
no grazing, such as we hear on a railroad.
They moved on without the least lar or
sound This, | say, interested nc. !
looked over the side, and to my astonIsh-
ment, found the railroad and cars made Of
glass. The glass wheels moved over the
/ glass rails without the least noise or oscII-
lation. The soft gliding motion produced
feeling of exquisite happiness. | was
happy 1t seemed as if everything was
at rest Within was full Of peace.
While | was wondering over this cir
.cumStance a new sight attracted my gaze.
All along the road, on either side. within
foot Of the track, were laid long lines Of
collins, one contained a corpse, dressed
ror burial, with lis cold white face turned
upwards to ihc light. The sight FLIED
me with horror; | yelled in agony, but
could make no sound. The gay throng
who were around me only rcdoubIng
their singing and laughter at the sound OF
my agony ; and we swept on, Guiding
with glass wheels over the glass railroad
every moment coming nearer to the bend
of the road, which formed an angle with
the road, far, far in the distance.
'Who are lhosc 2 cried at last, point
ing TO the dead in their collins.
These are the persons who made the
trip before u.s. was the reply of one OF
the gayest persons near ne.
What trip?' asked.
r why, the trip We are now making -
the trip on this glass railway, was the
answer.
why do they lie along The road, each
one in his coffin " was answered with
a whisper and halt laugh which lrozc
my blood.
They were dashed to death at the end
Of tie raiIroad,' sand the person whom |
addressed.
You know the railroad terminates at
an abyss, which is without bottom or mca-
sure. Il is lined with pointed rocks. As
each car arrives at the end, It prccipiiatcs
its passengers into the abyss. They arc
dashed TO pieces against the rocks and
thcir bodies are then brought here, and
placed IN the collins as warning to 9th
cr passengers, bat no one minds Itwc are
50 happy on the glass railroad
j can never describe the honor with
which these words inspired me
What Is the name Of the glass raIIroad'
! asked.
The person whom ! addressed replied
in the same strain:
1T is very easy to get into the cars, but
very hard TO get out; once IN these cars,
every body is delighted with the soft gil
ding motion. The cars move 50 gently I!
Yes, this is a railroad Of HABIT, and with
glass wheels we are whircd over a 9 ass
railroad towards a lalhomIc,e abyss In
"a few moments wen be there, and they'll
bring our bodies and pu, them in coiilns
as warning TO others, but nobody viii
mind it will they 2
was choked with horror. struggled
to breathe, made frantic efforts to leap
from the cars, and in the struggle awoke.
/ knew it was only dream, and yet when
ever | think Of it, can see lhat long tram
Of cars move gently over lie glass rail-
road. can see the dead bodies III their
colins, clear and dislincl-on either side
Of the road, while the laughing AID sing
/ ing Of the gay and happy passengers re-
sound in my ears, only see those cold
faces Of the dead, with then CLASSY eyes
upliflcd, and their frozen hauts upon
rheir white shrouds II was horrible
dream?
And he Bard's changing features and
Frightening eye allesled tie emotion
which had been aroused hy ,Ac ,,Iy mym-
oTy Of the dream.
Ii was, indeed, a horrible dream. 4
long train Of glass cars. gliding over glass
railroad, freighlcd wlri. youth, beauty AMI
music, while on ether hand .ra slrclrncd
the victims Of ycs,crday-,.iIlag oger
the railway Of habit to"a,d tie l4ihon