The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-03-16

CHlCAGO, UNI mdrCn 10, 1000
There is nothing like being posted as to the
manners, customs, and style of every portion
of this great country. -tr
Here am, comfortably seated in the Sher-
man House, the bon ton of the great Western
metropolis, for the purpose of portraying the
sights and items Of interest of my trip on pa
per, for the general benefit of the Norfolk COM
munity, and any others who may profit by the
sketch.
Leaving Jersey City, March 6, at o'clock,
p. M, we were soon rushing along at lightning
speed on the New York and Erie Railroad,
bound for this city. At $50 we laid up thirty
minutes for supper, after which we continued
our course. The accommodations of the Erie
road are most excellent, and far superior to any
road have ever travelled on. Sleeping cars
are new addition to railroads, and are, at
this advanced stage of science, rendered almost
complete. The train was a large one, and be-
ing crowded, rendered the sleeping accommo-
dations anything but lonely Strange beds
make strange bed-tellows. Most true as men
from all parts of the country are thrown toge-
Their. 1t was my lot to occupy a section of the
slumbering car with three Alabamians, who
were returning home from New York city,
where they had made their spring-trade pur-
chases. l will not attempt to furnish descrip-
ton of the interesting conversation; suffice it
to say that one half the night was passed in
describing war scenes that occurred in and
around Tuscaloosa, Ala. Finally, all got fast
in the arms of Paddy Murphy" until the
bright suns rays came peeping through the
windows, causing our shakey sleep to end. AT
ter making our toilet, welcome guest, in the
shape of young man, came along, repeating,
breakfast at the next station" After enjoy
ing good meal, we soon were on our route
again. By 10 A. M. it commenced showing
and freezing, and continued all day.
The first town of any importance we stopped
at was Elmira. The buildings and streets are
laid out in good order and with TASTE
The iron horse soon signalised its impotence
by snortiag call aboard" and we are off again
At Salamanca, N. Y. we changed cars, and
| made our debut on the Atlantic and Great
Western Railroad. After leaving Salamanca, a
| new crowd of motley citizens filled the cars.
L also noticed, stuck up in many places, g Be-
ware of Pickpockets" learned we were then
approaching the oil regions, which place is in
tested by SO many of these ight-ingered gen.
try that frequent cases of a pocket-book, va
lise, and satchels disappearance renders sharp
look out for these gentlemen of the road neces-
sary for self-protection.
At last, after a weary, watchful ride, Cory
is reached. Three years ago it was most
complete wilderness. When the oil fever broke
out, clearings were made and shanties built;
to-day it is quite town, with some of the
best oil refneries in the country. There we
were relieved of many of the fast young men
an joined by others
Everything passed along secure until the
next station, where some passengers were
taken aboard, and just as the cars We're start
ing, violent commotion arose at the car door,
where gentleman had seized young man by
the breathing pipe, and was administering
most severe thrashing to him, he had attempted
to pick bis pocket A general rush was the
was formed. After considerable trouble and
fuss, three of these gay gents were fished out,
then a scene, that beggars description, COM
menced. All the most extensive, high-worded
language, that Webster never thought of, was
used. These gents could not get out, so there
they were, with an indignant crowd surround
ing them. The losers of pocket-books defended
themselves as best they knew how, until
Meadeville, Pennsylvania, was reached, where
they departed In wonderful hurry, followed
by a crowd. The final termination know
aught of.
Meadvlle, Pennsylvania, is quite a railroad
centre, where we had a late dinner, and re-
ceiving an invitation from friend, to attend
a grand ball, to be held there that evening, I
stopped over.
1t was given by the railroad company, and
was truly grand affair. The young men and
ladies tipped the light fantastic toe in most ex-
cellent style, till the wee small hours. Ye cor
respondent did participate, and enjoyed the
affair much.
Next morning, off for Cleaveland Ohio
when few hours ride on the cars soon
brought the city in view. Cleaveland is fine,
t1ourishing town, and destined to be great
commercial inland point. Commodore Perry's
Statue, is the most interesting ornament the
town can boast of.
took the night train for Toledo and Chi
cago, on the Michigan Southern Railroad, an