The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-02-23
THE EXPRESS TRAIN.

LIE EAIhESS IhAINs
Two or three of us had lounged out
of the club one night into Santley's
office, to find out the news coming in
by cable, which the sleeping town would
not hear until the paper would be out
tomorrow. Santley was editor of the
Courier. He was scribbling away at
driving speed, his hat on, an unlighted
cigar in his mouth.
"You' re at it late, Ben?''
Accident on Western road. Sixty
lives LOST without looking up.
We seized the long white slips which
lay coiled over the table and read the
dispatch.
'Tut, tutr'
Infamous!'
"Nobody to blame, of courser'
81 tell you the officers of road
where such an accident is possible
should be tried for murderr' cried Fer
rers.
Santley showed his copy to the boy
and lighted his cigar. 6 think you re
wrong, Ferrers. Instead of being startled
at such casualties, | never travel on a
railway that | am not amazed at the
security of them. Just think of it.
Thousands of trains running yearly on
each, with but n minute to spare be-
tween safety and destruction, the safety
OF these depending on conductors, tele-
graph clerks, brakemen, men of every
grade of intellect, their brains subject
to every kind of moods and diseases and
tempers. The engineer takes a glass
of liquor, the conductor sets his watch
half a minute too fast; the flagman falls
asleep, and the train is dashed to ruin!
1t is not the accident that is to be Won
dered at; it is the escape that is miracu-
lousn'
We all had dropped into seats by this
time. The night was young, and one
after another told some story of adj
venture or danger. Presently Santley
said: There was an incident which
occurred on the Philadelphia & ErieRoad
a few years ago which made me feel as
do in the matter. | happened to be
an eyewitness to the whole affair"
What was it, Ben?'
cts rather long story
ono matter. Go on. You can't 90
home until your proofs come in, any
how"
"No. Well, to make you understand,
about five years had bad breakdown
-night-work, hack-writing and poor
pay. You know how fast it all wears
out the machine. The doctor talked of
diseases of the gray matter of the brain,
ETC., and prescribed, instead of medi-
cine, absolute rest and change of scene
would have swallowed all the nos
trums in drug-shop rather than have
left the Office for week
"tTll take country board and send
in my editorials, l said. ....
"'No, you must drop office and work
utterly out of your life for month at
least. Talk and think of planting po-
tatoes, or embroidery anything but
newspapers and politics.
well, obeyed l started on pc
destrian tour through Pennsylvania;
studied oil stock in Allegheny County,
and ate sauerkraut in Berks. Finally
brought up-footsore and bored beyond
bearing-in Williamsport. While there
| fell into the habit of lounging about
the railway station, studying the con-
struction of the engines, and making
friends with the men. The man with
whom | always fraternize most readily
is the skilled mechanic. He has a de-
gree of common sense-a store of GER
tain facts which your young doctor or
politician is apt to lack. Besides, he is
absolutely sure of his social standing
ground, and has grave self-respect
which teaches him to respect you The
professional lad just started on his ca
reer is uneasy, not sure of his position;
he tries to climb perpetually. l tell
you this to explain my intimacy with
many of the officials on the road, espe-
cially with an engineer named Blakeley
"This man attracted. me first by his
ability to give the informationI wanted
in few direct, sharp words. Like
most reticent men, he knew the weigh
and value of words. | soon became
personally much interested in him. HI
was about forty, his hair streaked Will
gray, with grave, worn face which
limited at youth of hardship ant
much suffering. However, Blakeley haC
found his way to the uplands at last
Three years before he had married
bright, cheerful woman. They had on
child-a boy. He had work and goo,
wages, and was, l found, high in tn
confidence of the company. On on
occasion, having a Sunday off, he too
me up to Jersey Shore, where his wifi
and boy lived. He was an exceptional
ly silent man, but when with them wa
garrulous and light-hearted as a boy
In his eyes Jane was the wisest an
fairest of women, and the boy wonde
of intellect One great source {
trouble to him was, as found, that h
was able TO see them but once in tire
weeks. twas necessary for the child
health to keep them in the country all