The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-07-27

pleasure; but to look INTO their solemn
faces story is told (Which no fellow can
find out"
The cars running over the Mount Gents
railway are very similar to the cars used in
this Countrywide tickets, the agents, the
conductors, the engineers, and think the
engine, are Just like what we are accus-
toned to- and, moreover, the oflici als are
the perfect "pink of perfection " in the
discharge of their official duties. After
you have proceeded on your journey a
short distance, the conductor enters the
car, removes his cap, and proceeds to punch
the tickets with the same kind of instru-
ment used on our railroads. From the very
start your journey is through the "ever-
lasting hills, -" which increase in altitude
and grandeur, and remind one constantly
of the lines, "where hills peep DER hills
and alps on alps arise Even in the midst
of Summer heavy wrappings are very COM
Portable. feel as though l would like to
explain and fully describe this beautiful
and exhilarating ride over the Alps; but
the difficulty is just here step of the
way is SO full of interest "a rugged, barren
write up the history, one thing would lead
to another, and this letter would be pro-
longed beyond all human endurance. But
| feel that | must satisfy the readers Of this
letter with some sort of description of
this wonderful railway. So here it goes.
You must remember that this railway is
built over the Alps, and that the most in
teresting part of it is in the neigborhood
of the tunnel. And let me say just here,
that the correct pronunciation of GO Gents "
is "Ce-ne''
The tunnel was commenced in the year
1857, and was finished in the month of
December, 1871. 1t cost over SIS, 900, 900
in its construction. 1t is eight miles in
length, and should judge that it did not
pursue a straight line, but something in
shape like the letter u. Just before enter
| ing the tunnel the lights in the car are
| lighted, which affords a dim light, and by
which you can see stationed in the
alcoves through the tunnel watchmen with
lanterns in their hands. | cannot imagine
why they are placed there, or what they
have to guard unless these Swiss people
might think some person would get off the
slow moving train and steal the tunnel.
It generally takes the train about three
quarters of an hour to 90 through. The
tunnel is wide enough for two tracks, but
am quite sure there is only one track laid.
In passing through this tunnel, deep hol-
low sound is given out like the sad moan.
ngs of the wind produced by the rumblng
of the cars. This tunnel was excavated by
bands of French and Swiss workmen, who
commenced the work of excavating on OPP
poste sides of the tunnel. They worked
for several years, until one day the work
men on one side of the tunnel heard the
pick-axes of the workmen on the other
side. Cheer after cheer went up, greater
efforts were made, every nerve was strain
ed, and at last the thin partition of earth
and rock was removed and the workmen
stood face to face. Their work was done.
Under that lofty Alpine mountain, in the
very heart Of the mountain, had met that
day the two bands Of workmen, who for
many years toiled, but having a common
end in view, met face to face, all beaming
with joy and clasped each other in their
fond embrace, and then and there silently
swore the pledge of eternal friendship.
This railroad unites France with Swift
zerand. 1t may be of interest to some
one to know how much it costs to travel By
rail in Europe. The distance from Susa
to Milan is 124 miles. A first class ticket
will cost about $3.50. a second class, So,
and third class, about 1925. l would
advise all persons contemplating a visit to
Europe to always travel in second-claSs
cars, because they all go together, pulled
by the same engine, and the only differ
euce between a first and second class car is
in the upholstery, the first class being lined
with velvet plush, the second class with
leather, while the third class is not lined
at all-only the bare boards; "only this
and nothing more" To say the least of
it, travelling on foreign railroads is not
what it is cracked up to be. On most of
the railroads the passengers are locked in
their car, and in case of an accident you
would be sent "to kingdom come " in
very rapid and expeditions manner. There
is one satisfaction, however, in knowing
that there rarely is an accident, but when
there is one, they never do anything by
halves, but just sweep the deck, and leave
bab 70 h,;nor OF
the company for loss of limb. They evil
IDENTIFY believe " whatsoever We do, do with
ali your might and main, and therefore
they make finished job of it. And be-
sides when All accident does occur some
body has got to suffer. They do not do as
we do in this country when an accident
occurs, have nice little coroner's jury,
60 out and view the dead, the MANNED and
the dying, and then wisely determine that
there has been an accident, that somebody
has been killed, but that the railroad com
pany was not in fault, that the dead would
have died some time at any rate, and as
for the crippled they ought to have known
better than to run into such dangerous
either in Germany or Switzerland, some
one must be held accountable for it, for
how would an accident occur, they reason,
if some one was not derelict in duty p
When they commence to find out exactly
where the fault lies, and if they find out,
and can fix the blame on any person, they
hang him, and that, too, "without benefit
of clergy" But in this country we have
a habit of glozing over the faults and mis-
doings of others, and elevating to seats of
honor, persons who would disgrace the
most humble position. l believe we are
now passing through an era in which dis
honesty and unfair dealing has the strong
hold in the contest that while your pre-
tended friend looks upon you "with smile
that is childlike and bland" he at the
same time is entwining his fingers into
your pocket, and endeavoring to rob You
right under your nose. The way they