The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-05-22

Have you eyer taken q sleeping car for
long ride, on any Of our, Western and East
ern railroads? It very curious expert
epce. 70 the old traveller such a journey is
full Of incidents. Accustomed to the trip
between Philadelphia, never make it with
out gathering material, for amusement and
reflection. The best course is to secure a
full Iouer Jerth, about thirty minutes before
the rush begins, and from your roost you
can, pnobserved, hear much and see many
odd sights. The conductor is a constantly
perplexed parsonage lie is questioned,
scolded, and importuncd by turns. He must
explain. apologize, and expostulate; In this
melee it is marvellous how he preserves his
temper. "Mr. Conductor" says a breath
less passenger who has just got in by the
New York line, "give me sleeping place e
"Have you ticket, sirs" Eyes, Ihave my
through ticket" "Sorry, sir, but you must
have sleeping ticket. You can get il at
the Office in the station house but you must
hurry up, or you win lose your chance. ~
And away goes the passenger, with about
ten chances to one Of being too late. 81
have taken places for .two,"' says . sott-spo-
ken, handsome young fellow, with a BLUSH
ing woman on his arm. "Yes, sir" says
the polite master Of ceremonies, "the lady
can sleep below, and you, in the upper berth
"But she is my .wife--and cannot sleep alone
or with anybody but me-" "Sory, my
dear sir, but our rules are ABSOLUTE can
put another lady with her." .But she is
my wife, tell you," Indignantly responds
the gentleman, ."I do not doubt you, sir,
but I do not know it, and to avoid trouble,
We have made an absolute rule to keep the
ladies' and gentlemen separate" And there
is no remedy but to submit, or to throw up
their tickets. and take another car. Ere
quently family ehters--mother. father,
nurse, baby. The same struggle ensues on
the temporary divorce Of husband and wife;
but the dispute is more readily reconciled,
and the parties pile in. After while, the
matron gently asks, ''are you comfortable,
Augustus dears' Perfectly" is the s,noth-
cred reply from an upper tier. "Do cover
up your throat, dearest; yon know you are
not well -srn your feet warm ~ "All right
gasps the husband, like man on the top Of
hay-loft. "Jane, what is the matter with
haby2 Can't you keep him quiets Bless
me, be is choking. Hand him, over to ne;'
and hear . squalling package passed over
10 the kind mother, who soon soothes il to
rest. Eutsrs . tat man, weighing about
three hundred avoirdupois. ',Conductor,
where is my berth?' "You have bat one
ticket and will please get IN alongside cfthis
gentleman n''-who happens to be delicate
dandy, Immediately able me, on the second
shelf, spd who rains down upon me perfect
shower Of mingled perfume. The heavy
passenger gets up and in, after q struggle,
ia which participate to the extent Of seeing
. huge pair Of legs, like twin anacondas,
hanging before me, and hearing series Of
angry growls and grunts; aud when the mnss
settles on the slender wicker bed, it shakes
the whole vicinity, and lssves me IN doubt
whether it can hang suspended, or will fall
and cFush ne. aG9d Bless me, sir" says
the exquisite, "but you are very large
man--yoq have pinned me to the ysll-l
shall soffocAte "Can't help it, sir; paid
for my ticket and intend to get my moneys
worth" Imagine the fat ones sleep and
snore, and sweat, and the miseriesi Of tht
nice young geatlem&p. Some Of the mex
perisnced travellers pnboet nduncoat them
! selves, which is always mistake. "Bundl