National Republican., 1875-06-15
lArrHE DEPOT.
Sight, R.fors the Train pspsrt,.


Now that the warm weather Is advancing,
people begin to look forward to their summer
vacations upon the hills and along the Hmpid
brooks. The depots present even 20 early an an
mated and interesting sight Just before the de-
paTture of one Of the through trains. The depots
appear most tesming with life ct the departure
OF the night trains, perhaps, because every
else the hum Of the city is hushed. The bright
light streaming out OF the portals, the rush Of
hackmen and porters, the buZEing throng within,
the sound Of escaping steam, the merry ring Of
the hammer on the oar-wheel, the busting air OF
everything about the depot, slI tend to make q
strong contrast with the quiet without.
Young men in checked coats and white beavers,
and with little portmsntesus, lean idly against
the rali nEs, or gather In lazy groupes about the
large room and form part Of the still life OF the
scene. Men with long linen busters and travel.
ing bags slung BY strap over their shoulder,
wander nerTously up and down, thoughtfu
coming over all the display bills and apparently
Some come In with curiously shaped packages,
which excite the tnqutBtttVeness Of the loungers.
An eager crowd press around the baggage room
and the ticket agents little window, making all
sorts Of inquiries about possible and impossible
contingencies The ticket agent is considered an
clock and II a bell Sounds run ont and beer down
the length Of the dimly lighted csryar to see If
their train is ready; but the greater part know
iDgly keep their seats and smile pstronizingly
upon their more nervous felloW-trsvelers.
Iti trait OF the American, in whatever posi-
tion he may be placed, to endeavor to give the
impression that he was never more perfectly at
home in his life; and when, therefore, he travels
he pretends, OF course, to know all about It. He ia
been piiloHed anywhere except on the rigid arm
Of carl seat with the SCOT drifting with the night
air into his face. So the old gentleman with the
blue glasses and old-feshioned sarpet-bag conde-
seendinEly listens to the anxious inquiries of the
old lady in green dress, and with frill OF gray
locks hanging over her eyes, who wants to know
~ mi cat n n nat n a
and answers her with few expressive shrugs, and
muttering the names Of q few unheard-of places,
railroad timetable, which, he says, contains all
information necessary; and the old lady wipes
her glasses and broOds over the card with very
little result excepting q more confused state Of
mind than she was in before, while the old gen
tleman clips away, congratulattng himself that
be had not committed himself, or at all en-
man comes in carrying one tired little one while
he leads another, and his wife follows, loaded
settle own in q corner after much tying and
pinniDg and smoothing out Of the little ones
clothes and sundry oVerhaulings OF the baggage
to see that nothing had been forgotten. Lovers
who have accompanied the object of their Afec-
tiOns to the depot grow sad and sentimental as
the hands of the clock creep around to the time
of departure. One poor woman talks earnestly
to her two young boys, who are going out in the
country, trip which they have long looked for
calculated over her poor earnings for weeks.
Her Ead face is full Of motherly affection and
anxiety as she gives them little hurried bits Of
advice, and puts small roll Of bills-a large
sum to her-into their pockets.
As the time grows shorter, the tears glisten In
her eyes and the few remaining minutes are
passed in silence. One man, with heavy German
features, who has evidently recently been made Q
widower, sits with q babe in his arms and large
basket by his side and gaZes Vaeantly at the floor
dreaming Of his Fatherland and his young bride
and long tedious trip across the Atlantic. Oc-
caEionally bis eyes falls on the sleeping babe in
his arms. His lace darkens with gloomy look as
his dreams of the happy past are suddenly broken
by thoughts of the misery and grief Of the present
Other men, With their legs stretched out, are
noddinR in their seats totally unconscious Of the
life about them, and wake with start, when at
unusually loud, only to relapse again into the
same sleepy condition. Delicate young men, with
equally delicate guns and hsh-pOles oonspicu-
ouslJ displayed, imagine themselves the heroes
Of the hour, and talk loud and sWagger to sustain
their part.
The buses and express wagons rattle up
amidst q din of shouting from the drivers and
porters bringing in fresh loads Of expectant trAv
elers. The gong sounds. The sleepy men start
up hurriedly and grasp for their bundles. Aman
dressed in Q smart suit of blue, with slver-plated
badge on the front Of his cap, comes to the door
PhiladelphiS and New York" The final instrue-
tions are given. Every one hurries toward the
gates and stream down the long platform of the
car-yard. Lovers gaze longingly: after their
sWeethearts as they leaJe them at the entrance
OF the car. There are few hurried CALCULATIONS,
The gong sounds again. The train moves slowly
out into the night, leaving few on the platform
gazing after It as It disappears in the darkness,
who turn sadly away, passing again through the
new quiet depot out into the street and homeward,
with q sense Of loneliness depressing all.