Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-05-02
HANK ON THE WING.

Dear Tslegraph:-''These are grand and
stirring times" said an enthusiastic war
correspondent once on time. So it is now,
when think of how stepped aboard Of
train No. at Ashtabula on Wednesday
last and arriving in this city the next morn
ing at 10 o'clock. By special permission
entered the postal car at Buffalo to see how
the work was done on the Central, as the
train dashed through the country at fast
mail speed. Failing to get the Canada
Southern connection at Buffalo, but little
work was done and an easy run was made
to Syracuse, where new set of clerks came
on. under the charge Of Head Clerk Gurn-
seY, and who, by the way, is one Of the
most skillful men on the route-not stop
ping but two or three times till we reached
Albany. Shortly after leaving Utica, the
work having been disposed of, it was voted
that we all take sleep; was assigned the
best berth, to-wit: long counter nearest
to the stove, the rest wrapped their drap-
cry about them to lie down to pleasant
dreams" over on other counters, and there
they remained in the embrace of Morpheus
till the train reached Albany at daybreak.
From Albany to New York this train does
the local work, and until the train gets into
the city not minutes rest can be had, as
you know that the villages along the Hud-
son are only two or three miles apart for
most Of the way. Four post offices failed
to get their mail off that morning. Mr..
Whitlock, the skillful catcher, said he had
not failed before for three months of catch
ing pouch. Three of these failures were
owing TO the wide express car ahead of us
which knocked the pouches off the crane.
These failures are promptly reported to
Superintendent Jackson on their arrival in
the city, stating cause, &C., in every in
stance. The south bound trains run so
closely to the river that it requires much
skill and practice to know just where and
when to kick out the mail, going at the rate
of forty-five miles an hour. It is done,
however, with much accuracy. Bidding
my companions a good bye at the Grand
Central depot, left for other scenes.
The first thing / did was to call on
Uncle Tilden. He said his time was so
taken up just now that he could not devote
but little while with me, as he had Just
commenced to set up the pins and cOntriv-
ing cipher dispatches for 1880. He was
somewhat anxious to know how his friend
Strong was going to vote then, and wheth-
er thought the Standard would hold out
to give him the benefit of their circulation.
l frankly told him that as to Bro. Strong,
it would be Just as Thurman said about it,
and in regard to the Standard it would de-
pend on the length of farmer Sherman's
e, Ak -
invested cautiously on home papers Of
their own persuasion. The old man madea
note of that remark, and got up and walked
the room. / was sorry for him for knew
he would have to reach down into that bar
rel again just for my dropping that remark.
The scuffle for supremacy of political
power here among the Democrats has just
commenced in good earnest, 1t matters
but very little 10 me which faction wins.
It is safe to predict that Samuel ]. Tilden
is bound to carry his point-if money and
management will do it.
The few pleasant days allotted to me dur
ing my stay here have improved in taking
sc0ots down to Coney Island, Prospect
Park, Greenwood cemetery, &c. After an
absence Of ten years from the former place
could hardly recognize a thing which l
saw then. 1t was then a vast stretch of
sandy beach with row Of bathing houses,
two hotels, or where beer and clam chow
der were sold. Now the Island is given up
largely to elegant hotels, pleasant cottages
and all the conVeniences OF firSt-class
watering place. The crowd will not come
till warm weather, and the gentle mosquito
is heard. It is always safe to start then.
A drive through Greenwood cemetery on
such day as yesterday is charming. l
cannot enter into detail of the many noted
persons which are buried here, the lives Of
whom are enduring as the granite erected
above them. fingered about the tomb of
Greeley as long as my time would allow.
1t is centrally located on top Of one of the
many hillocks found here and is shaded by
two boxwood trees hard by. Ny guide said
that this grave is visited more than any
other, especially by people from the West.
All around the circular eurbing about
the grave the grass is worn off by persons
who still cherish kind remembrance TO-
wards the departed editor and philanthrop-
ist by coming and walking around this
monument. | could dllate at much length
of the costly monuments and vaults in this
city OF the dead, of the numerous artificial
lakes filled with fish and fowl but space
will not admit Of It. IL costs from 800 to
PLsUOO AOI a lOb MiclG biAO wealthy duu Ic-
spectacle people are buried, and 500 to be
placed in vault one year. Over in Pot
tersfeld, where the poor class are buried,
they place two and three persons in the
same grave 50 as to economize the room.
! saw yesterday three, one on top of the
other.
About the rapid transit, then I'm done
On all the principal north and south streets
here have the rapid transit railroad. II
was not till had made three successive
trips in the same car that could be induc-
ed to leave it. This may seem. 20 you like
the country boy who rides the hobby horses
under the tent at the fairs all the afternoon,
but the curiosity Of seeing what Is going on
in the second and third story Of the blocks
by which we pass is great A three and
four mile trip is thus made in 10 or Is min
utes. In fact, Mr. Editor, its not much of
man that goes TO New York without TAX
ing q ride in the rapid transit cars. They
are a great convenience TO the business
man but hrst-class nuisance to residents