Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-05-02
Johannes Phenixini.

The following letter from John Phoenix to tht
editor we extract from the April Number of thu
KnickerbOcker Magazine:
'On the fifth of January. at eight A. NJ, l lef
the fremont House in hackney carriage the
wheels whereof had turned into runners. This
method OF progression. rendered necessary by the
deep SHOWS is considered great amusement in
the North. Being particularly dangerous to life
and limb, and usually terminating in pulmonary
consumption, the pastimc is very properly called
slcighing.
With a through-tickct for the great city OF
Cain in my pocket, took scat in the cars at
the WOrcestt Rail road depot. After waiting half
an hour. during which time my sympathes were
deeply interested by the performances of an un-
happy young couple. one Of whom WAS going
somewhere and the other s'nt and who in con
sequence were slobbcring over each other to n
terrible extent a sudden harsh bark WAS heard
from the engine, grating jar, which acted OH
my teeth like lemon juice. followed, and we were
off The motion of rail road car is of two kinds
which may be called the hcave and set, or whip
saw movement and the tip and SITTER, names
sufficiently expressive to require no farther tx
panation We started on the heave and set
which gradually merged into the tip and sitter
as our velocity increased.
On entering q rail road car the first object OF
the solitary traveller sheud be to secure an en-.
tire seat to himself. This may generally hc done
successfully by taking the outside seat and skill
fully disposing small carpet-bag, great coat
umbrella, and cane so as to cover the inner one.
AS the passengers throng into the car, many will
gaze earnestly at the place thus occnpicd, but will
usually prefer to move on rather than give you
trouble; but if the car quite filled, the question
will undoubtedly be asked, Is that scat taken,
Sir?' when you should reply with an imperturba-
bic coun tenance, Ii is. Sir y and the inquirer
with PERHAPS slight glance of suspicion, will
move on. AS a mans object should be to make
himself as comfortable possible in this world,
that his mind may be in proper frame to pre-
pare for the next, slight deviation from truth
for the purpose of securing this object. like the
above, is quite pardonablc, in which opinion am
corroboratcd by my dear friend and Christian
teacher X. B-TcH--s. whose celebrated and use
full aphorsm, Never lie, unless it is necessary.
Will doubtless rccur TO the readers mind. IIav.
ing made my arrangements in accordance with
these views. and being as comfortable as circum-
stances would permit. the motion of the cars being
that Of a small boat in high sea, and their noise
like unto q steam saw-mili composed myself to
the journey. AT Framingham the usual nusanccs
Of railroad cars commenced. First appeared the
snail boy with the Boston newspapers, which had
been brought to him by our train then the dirty
boy, with the parchcd corn who, in the intervals
of trade. dabbles among his merchandise with bis
sore hand. and devours so much of that dry com
mpulty, yOu uIt III Dellctt HllU I'd DE MS
own best customer then the big boy with the
fearful apples, three for five cents , and finally
that wel-known and most indefatigable wretch
with the 'lOZcngers,' who on this occasion actual
iy sold n roll of The description called checker
berry to an elderly individual of the MUGGINs
family sitting near me, who eat them, and to my
great joy, became wofully disordcred in conse-
auence But the boy Wit the ACCORDION was not
there think he has NJ y"t got so far North
4. L.. .a.I-I l.. - IL. ~
however, on the Philadelphia cars. II was a.'"r
eleven o'clock the train had passed New Bruins
wick, and the passengers were trying to sleep,
(ha ha y when the boy entered He was n see
dy youth. with a seal skin cap, a singularly dirty
face, gray jacket Of the venlilating order and
short but remarkably broad pair of corduroy.
corduroys' lie wore an enormous bag or baver-
sack about his neck, and bore in his hand that
most Internal and detestablc instrument an ac
cordeon. despse that instrument of music
They pull the music out Of it, and il comes forth
struggling and reluctant, like cat drawn by the
tail from an ash-bole, or squirrel pulled shrek
ing from hollow log with ram-rod. This un-
principled boy commenced pulling at his thing
and horrfed us with the most awful version OF
that wretched Dog Tray that l ever listened
to. Then he walked around the car and collected
forty-two cents. Then he returned to the cen
tire of the car. and standing close to the stove,
which was red hottie night being cold-he es-
sayed to pull out Pop Goes the Weasel when
suddenly pop went the boy he dropped the ac-
cordeon, burst into tears, aud capping his hands
behind him, executed frantic dance, accompa-
MED by yels of the most agonizing Character
saw it all, and felt grateful TO a retributive
Providence. He had stood TOO close to the stove
and his corduroys were in n light blaze; few
inches below the termination Of the gray jacket
was the seat Of bis woe. After he got on fire The
conductor put him out, and a sweet aud lneiiabie
calm came over me. realized that whatever is,
is right and fell into deep and happy sleep.
The musical nuisance, fortunately, was spared
us on this occasion. tourist travelling by rail-
road across the United States would have but lit
tie opportunity TO collect notes for his forthcom-
ing work. Thus my idea Of Albany, at which
Dutch village we arrived shortly after dark are,
hasty scramble down platform then huddling
into sled with other bewdered and half-frozen
passengers then rapid foot-race of about q
quarter of a mile, encouraged by shouts of Leg
It! the cars off, mo they amt plenty OF
time Hi hi there, round the corner, thems
the cars,' etc. then more cars and we ground on.
1t was on this Albany and Buffalo train that a
little incident occurred which may be worthy Of
mention. and serve as caution TO future limo
cent travellers I had ci,.orvnd tha, ~ -, cb