Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-10-15
From Chambers Journal.
Mankind, from Railway Maids point
of view

Mankind is composed of great herds of rough
looking persons, who occasionally rush with
frightfu impetuosty into our refreshment
ROOMS calling for cups of coffee, and hot bran
dy and water, which they tumble into them
selves scalding, and pay for in furious haste;
after which they rush out again, without ex-
changing civil word with any body. Man
kind, even of the first class, dressed queerly
in pea coats paletots, cloahs and caps, with no
sort OF attention to elegance. They indulge
much in comforters, and green and red hand
kerchiefs, and sometimes little is seen of their
visages beyond the mouth and the point of the
nose. While they stand at the bar eating or
drinking, they look much like a set of wild
beasts in menagerie, taking huge bites and
monstrous gulps, and often glaring wildly ask
ance a. each other, as if each dreaded that his
neighbor would rob him of what he was devour-
ing. 1t WAS very pnamiable sight, and
has given me very mean opinion of manhood.
They appear to me set of beings devoid of
courtesy and refinement. None of them ever
takes off hat or cap when eating, ard not one
of even those whom l suppose to be clergy
men, ever says grace before the meat which /
hand him. A soup or sandwich is no better in
this respect than brandy and water When a
lady comes i'll among these rude ungracious
animals, unless she has y husband or some 9TH
or friend to take care of her, she is lett to for
age for herself; and have seen some fororn
examples of the sex come very poorly off, while
gentlemen were helping themselves to veal and
ham, pies, and slices of the cold round l don't
know any difference in mankind for a great
number of years. They are the same muffied-
up, confused looking, munching, glazing bolt
| ing crew, as when | first became acquainted
with them at the station They are not con-
versatile creatures They can only ask for The
things they wish to eat or drink, and what they
have to pay for them. Now and then, / hear
some making remark to another, but it
seldom goes beyond such subject as the cold
ness of the night; and this, by q curious COIN
cidence, always find to be alluded to just be-
| fore | am asked for a tumbler of punch, as if
! there was a necessary connection between the
two ideas Sometimes gentleman, when the
bell suddenly rings for seats, and he only begun
with his cup OF coffee and biscuit, will allow a
naughty expression to escape him. Beyond
this. mankind taciturn, stupid set, for tho
| hear of speeches and lectures, and converse
| zoines, never hear or am present at any, and
can hardly believe that such things exist.
am, ingeed, rather at loss to understand
how all OF these things that one hears of in the
newspapers come about. We are told there of
statesmen who conduct public affairs, or sold
iers who fight calamity for their country, or
great poets or novelists who charm their fellow
creatures, and of phillosop pliers and divines who
| instruct them 4 few will lay their heads to-
gether, and raise Crystal Palace. Some will
combine and throw Tubular brpge across a
mystery to me, for | see nothing of mankind
but coarse eating and drinking, and most un-
dignifed trimmings off when the bell rings
There must surely be another mankind who do
all the fine things.
One detestable thing about mankind that
comes under my observation, is their gluttony
Every two or three hours they rush in, de-
manding new refreshments, and eating them
with as much voracity as if they had not seen
victuals for week. They eat eight times a
day on our line, and the last train is always the
hungriest besides taking the most to drink.
1t is perfect WEAKNESS TO me, this constan:
Notwithstanding. What with the quantity
they eat, and what with the haste of eating, we
must send out hundreds of indigestions from
our room every day.
On account of these shocking habits on the
part of mankind. l have for sometime past en-
tertained great contempt for them, insomuch
that L almost wish to see them scald them
selves with my cups Of tea, and choke upon
my pies. For me to think of marrying any
specimen of so coarse a crew, is entirely out OF
the question: so il is quite well that Ton
Collard, the guard, left me for Be.sey last sum
mer, as yet, no other follower has come for
ward 1t will be best for them all to keep thei
distance-so assures them their obedient, hum
bic servant,
SOPHIA TANEAPn