The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-11-26
A STRANGE STORY.

Frr5E REGlsTER.' lbs ,Rti ~ -
Did I ten them of queer people and
strange experiences. go 80 .-... -
Yes, indeed, did +. nv "~.s f,..s,. ~
Can / recall them now! ~ m
No-yes. One remember, because 1t
was the most inexplicable affair that ever
befeu memo, did not befall--but that
has ever came to mo secondhand" al
most as good as new. .sa,.. .,a,gs 49,"
I found myself one day ut certain
town with s'connection" till six o'clock
in the afternoons train that might
make sixteen miles an hour, with ninety
six miles to get over. Due on the plat
form at halt. past seven o'clock. That
wouldn't do. So Of course I had to have
= especial" IT,. 1871
Place and time-central Iowa some
years ago. Country just flat plain, not
the rolling prairie land lying further
west, NO towns, few Villages, fenccless,
t1eeless; s speck of anything easily seen
affair had any speck existed, 'aa &c.
Even the ties were without incident.
One after another, one after another, all
alike-same length, striking family re-
semblance, lying on the even ground
without so much as ditch at the side to
break monotony. ...-.-
Nothing of interest without, 80 turned
my eyes to inspect what might be found
within. They are generally wide open
when they are too look at machines or
machinists. ~-.as e'-}.- .a-. e
I have travelled behind engines, and
on them by thousands, and have walked
about and questioned and gazed and ex-
amined them pretty thoroughly but al
ways with fresh wonder and admiration.
Strong as Titans, obedient as slaves
simple, complicated-helpful, mercilees
beautiful yet terrible.
And I never look at them without
wondering what manner of world this
will be when some one learns how to util-
ize not one hundred, nor fifty, but even
fifteen per cent Of steam. 80 s a2i
As to their manipulators; fools don't
abound among them. A man needs log
ic and brains to be good machinist. I
like to watch irst-class ono listen to an
argument on subject with which he
may be ever SO unfamiliar. he sees
flaws, AMI knows where the screws are
loose, and the sequence is broken, and
the point overlooked or bunglingly made
better-half the time-than the combat
ants, though they be no mean ones.
If man knows q machine he knows
how to argue from cause to effect step by
step of the way, and he isn't easily 'bam-
boozled," and there's precious little s'non-
sense" about him.
Ny engineer was one of the right sort.
A clear-eyed, intelligent. wide.awake
young fellow from New England--the
last man in the world you would ever
suspect OF either drink or superstitious
aim-fams. ~, -.
He was explaining te me some of the
mechanism, when, with his right hand
on the lever, he suddenly paused, threw
himself half out of the little window, gaz-
ed moment up the track, then, turning
his head with his left hand thrust up be-
fore it as though shutting out some awful
vision, drove on. -. - -s
There was no mlstaking the attitude
and its meaning. ..E . ..-
"You have run over some one here
said /. .-. .s. :-+- .sf
"Yes-no-I don't know" he answer
ed.
His fireman seemed to notice neither
acton nor answer. gazed at both with
amazement akin to horror. 'Am I rush
ing through space forty miles an hour IN
the keeping Of two madmeni" thought I.
"Let us see"
"You don't kuow2" a3.
II don't wonder you look" said he,
"and ask too. Will you kindly oblige
me by telling if you saw anything off at
the rights' 49,. -.
Nothing" said !, "but open plain.''
Nor ahead of us9'' #9-aT t.
"Nothing but level track" -s--..
"Nor behind us9 Did you looka"
ayes I looked back. There was moth.
ing but track and plain.' ..
II knew it," said he; s|kncw it Just as
well before asked as afterward, but
couldn't help asking. Do you think that's
9ueera" ia. - - >.r.. -, .>,...s 10y
II think you are troubled. That is
more to the purpose. Do you mind my
asking what troubles you1"f Isat @1s4.t :.
"D0 mind9 Didn't just want to tell
you and see what you can make out Of
IT." and he drew his hand over his fore
head and across s.clear eyes as though
it were nightmare that threatened to
unman him. 1T beats me- s.s,.e .
II wouldn't let it." smiling to cheer
his distressed face. 'You're too broad
shouldered to stand that sort of treat
ment from anything" at which he laugh
nh \ ~ C. -