The national Republican., 1867-08-26

GAIL HAMILTON, in her new volume Of
Western travel, wool Gathering" thus
speaks Of Western railroad management:
l suppose that the present style OF rail-
way management is Just as good for the
healthy development Of q country as any
other, or wise and energetic men, who de-
sire the development OF o country, would
change it. People, it is found, will travel,
whether they travel comfortably or un-
comfortably. II man desire to go West
to make his fortune he will 60, whether
he is treated with civility or incivility on
the road, whether his carriage be warm or
cold, and his surroundings clean or un-
clean. And as lis, perhaps, cheaper on
the whole for o corporation to disregard
these small matters than il is to regard
them, probably there is no use Of saying
anything about them. But though in the
struggle for life one cannot stand upon
trifes, II is very certain that in travelling for
pleasure ones opinion OF country is
largely influenced by Just those trifles.
And very justly too; for ii is in little
things that civilization shows itself 1t is
the fnger-nails rather than the fneness Of
the broadcloth by which you judge the
man. Barbaric splendor may consort with
barbaric rudeness. A journey from the
scacoast to the interior shows plainly
enough whence came those unpleasant
books which British tourists haye from
time to time written about America. To
foreigner the temptation to ridicule and
vilfy a country which lays itself so fear
fully open to ridicule and vilifcaton must
be well nigh irresistible. He may feel
that it is no more than strict poetic justice
for him to take out in fun what has beer
taken out Of him in fare. Moreover, the
disagreeable traits are thrust directly ant
continually upon his notice, are perpetu
ally interfering with his personal comfort
while the excellencies are more remote
and abstract and as most travellers are su
perfcial and selfish, like the rest Of us, We
get irritable and irritating books, ant
much bad blood. But to countryman il
is too serious matter to be made a jest
Of 1t involves personal shame and blame
do not know how our own compares witt
other countries; we may be on higher plant
than any in the Old World, but for al
that our plane is low. The foulness Q
some-of many-of the steam-cars wa
such alone shudders 10 remember Man
ofthe slips it was impossible to enter, s
filthy had the floor been made by thei
previous oOCupunts' rNeh Wheh w
were able to secure decent one, it woul
often happen that the nasty habits Of tn
men around would render your position
absolutely sickening. Railroad companie
have instituted the smoking-car and th
ladies' car-very good as far as it goe
But the ladies' car is not reserved for W,
men. Men are allowed to enter it if the
accompany women. / suppose it was a
sumed that woman would be the man
guarantee for good behavior. Pity it
not SO but, spite of wife or child, me
bring with them unclean lips and defle
whole car; while man of perfect purit,
if he happens to be alone, must be shr
out into what horror Of great darknel
the imagination fails to portray. II, il
stead of ladies' car, we could have
clean car, the arrangement would be fl
more agreeable.