The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-11-16
Editorial Correspondence.

was the serious inquiry from those not Of sea-
proof stomachs. 1t is so no longer of necessi-
ty. The Railroad gives us stormy weather
outlet, and like the provldent woodchuck, we
are not compelled to put our trust in one hole
for escape. Intending to take the Sanford
steamer on Monday afternoon, l found the
cold north west wand and threatening sky too
ominous of discomfort on a raging sea. So |
did not abide in the ship, but committed my
self and luggage to the care of Conductor Mace,
and moved westward to the Burnham junction
for night ride by rail to Boston. And prompt
ly rolled in at the depot the long train from
Bangor, with two of the Pullman palaces at the
rear
Pullman is benefactor. If blessed be he
who invented sleep" as the devout Spaniard
exclaimed. then twice blessed be he who in
vented railroad sleep with comfort. Stepping
out of the raw air into one of the cars was like
going into the warmth and luxury of drawing
room, with carpets, rich curtains, mirrors, and all
comforts and convenences. The attentive color
ed youth was converting the lower tier of seats
into berths, letting down the upholstered shelves
which constituted the upper ones, spreading
out the sheets and blankets, and saying in turn
to each possessor of Pullman ticket, "Your
berth is ready sin" Soon the passage way OF the
car was walled on either hand by long curtains,
depending from roof to floor, with here aud
there citizen of the republic getting out of his
clothing to greater or less extent. according
to individual taste. Ladies there were too
but of the possibilities of those shelves for hoop
bon1 hahn, ta,;o, I ~
prepared to speak. They were mostly congre
gated in closed apartment at the rear, though
there was IN outpost or two in the curtained
avenue manifesting themselves by the feminine
giggle, and at the occasional stops of the train
a suppressed wall attested that the cares Of
maternity were there. Complying with the
suggestion of the attendant, my tickets were
placed under a metallic slip at the foot of the
berth, that the conductor might see them read
ilv. And thus ''marked and numbered on the
margin" as the bills of lading have it, | voyaged
to the land of Nod, luled by the steady roll Of
the wheels and the easy swaying of the car.
Sometimes at stations the change from motion
to rest would cause an awakening, and then
noises which had been drowned became audible.
A snoring neighbor took those occasions to as
sert himself, like foghorn to the listening
mariner, with suppressed laughter from the
girls at the far end of the car. At length. with
a Jerk of the train that caused my musical
neighbor to awaken with a snort, we stopped
at the depot in Boston, in the gray of the morn
ing. The free American of African descent
brought the freshly shining boots to the early
riSers, received the remunerative scrip, assisted
the unnitiatcd in the mysteries of Pullman
washings and toilets, and made smooth the
sometimes rugged ways of railway travel.
The facilities and comforts Of travel over this
route are now of the first class. The Maine
Central has spared no expense or labor on its
part Mr.. Prescott, who is to remain in charge
OF the Eastern road from Boston to Portland,
is one OF the most accomp lished railroad super
inendents in the country, and is adopting every
possible device that can render travel rapid,
comfortable and safe. The movements of trains
are regulated by telegraph, and ut every station
Il bail is displayed by day from mast and a
lantern at night, without seeing which no train
| is permitted to come up 10 a ton
ANNUAL ELECTION.
| Tuesday was the day on which the annual
choice of Governor and Legislature took place,
and looked in al several of the ward rooms to
| see how they order these things in Massachu-
| sets. 1t was much like the same occasions at
home. The same ballot box, check list, and
| long array Of disinterested patriots with hands
full of tickets. But the Massachusetts, ballot is
something strange to the Maine man. While
with US the law declares that the vote shall have
| 10
the agent of Il freeman's will to be about three
! inches square. in sister state ii blooms out
in sheet about a foot each way embellshed
| with birds of freedom and other taking devices.
| These are scattered with such reckessnesS and
utter disregard of the price of paper that even
| the non-voting stranger finds his arms full of
| them as he passes by the voting places. The
| Democratic vote bore the Old Revolutionary
rallymg cry OF adams and Liberty" in fancy
| green lettering across the back But alas /!
those times, like the days of iyary are no
more.
FEMALE SUFFRAGE DISCUSSED,
Attracted by the announcement that the Gues-
ton of the right and eXpediency of permitting
| women to vote would be discussed at Music
| Hall on Wednesday evening, dropped in, to
| discover if possible how soon our ward rooms
and ballot boxes must be enlarged to crinoline
proportions. The affirmative side was support
| ed by its acknowledged leader and champion.
Mrs. Iiyermore, and the negative by Gen.
James A. Hall of Maine. Music Hall is u
beautiful structure, and never appeared to bet
| ter advantage than on this occasion. An au-
dence composed Of the best intellect of Boston
| tiel IFS full capacity. up through the rows Of
balcony to the trctted and gildeu roof The
great organ, with its huge shining pipes giving
| a radiance of gold, and its statuary challenging
admiration, was yielding its harmony to the
subtle touch OF womans fingers, shaking the
| building with its double bass, and sinking into
soft, wierd notes. like far-diStant music heard
at evening. soon ripple of applause ran
around the crowded audience, and the speakers
were seen coming upon the platform, led by
Gen. Hartman who was to preside. The chair
man stated that there would be three speeches
of fifteen minutes duration allowed to each
speaker. concluding with one of ten minute
each. To Gen. Hall was assigned the beginning.
Space will not allow a report of the debate
1t was able and well sustained on either hand
There was much thrusting and parrying, and
some good hits, supplemented by applause.
In course of his remarks Gen. Hall said
If this Government has been well and wisely
managed under male suffrage, if the unjust
things in it have gradually, step by step, been
swept away, if certain laws which were unjust
towards the female population of this country
Il half a century ago have been all the time
since that undergoing correction, and if they
to-day are in this process, why, it would seem
that there Is no great necessity for bringing
about this great change and giving the ballot to
the women of this country. Women did vote
once. The Constitution Of the State of New
Jersey in 1916 allowed them to vote. The last
time they voted there they voted early and of
ten, as often as they could by Disgusting them
selves in the changing of their dress; and in
heavens name who can equal a woman in that?
Laughter. Mrs. Lyermore says not only
that, but the men changed theirs and put on
womens dresses. All have to say is that is
the thing you will have to do when women
vote, [Applause.l | havn't any doubt that if
female suffrage should be brought about, you
would find any number of repeaters in this city
wearing womens garb, and voting fifteen or
twenty times apiece. This resulted in the an
nulling of female suffrage in New Jersey by the