Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1880-02-19
Who Describes the Different Tracks Taken
to Heavenly Regions.

Who Describes the Different Tracks Taken
to Heavenly Regions.
In letter to the Burlington Hawk
eye, dated at Lebanon, Ind, Bur
dette says:
There are not many cedars left in
Lebanon now. 1 suppose the news
papers here used them up for pencils. |
Or may be the tornado destroyed
them, for this bright little city had a
matinee few years ago with lorna
do that pulled down all the signs,
tore up nearly all the trees, walked
off with some roofs, kicked In the
west end of the court house and sat
down on the new Presbyterian church,
handsome edifice that has since
been only partially rebuilt. Since the
cedars are all gone, live here under
the protecting arm of Charley Wilson,
of the Patriot, who makes my sojourn
so pleasant that don't want to hur-
ry away. This is also the old home
of II. Y. Dooley, of the Modern
Argo, of Quincy, ,and l have met more
of his friends here than can count.
Major Horne's old army comrade,
Captain Hudson, Of the Seventh Iowa,
. is prominent man of Lebanon, whom
L have also had the pleasure OF meet
ing 1t is Il good city, this Lebanon.
!. and has population OF 5000 people
waiting for the census marshals to
come along. Lebanon Is the capital
OF Boone county, and Boone is the
thirteenth county in the State for ag
riculture, wealth and resources. And
there is one remarkable fact in the
history of the city and country: They
have no debt, either bonded or float
ing. And what is more remarkable,
neither city nor county ever had q
debt. They always pay as they go
and they are consequently rich, con-
tented and prosperous, and if all the
people in Lebanon are like those l
met, they deserve to be rich. There
may be some stupid people in Lsba-
non, but | wasn't introduced to any
Of them.
On the road once more, with Leba-
non fading in the distance, the fat
passenger drumming idly on the win
dow pane, the cross passenger sound
Iy asleep and the tall passenger read
ing General Grants Tour Around
the World,' and wondering why
"Green's August Flower" should be
printed above the doors Of ''Budd.
hist temple at Benares." To mt
comes the brakeman, and seating him
self on the arm of the seat, says:
II went to church Yesterday
Yes | said with that intere,te,
infection that asks for more. ''Wha
church did YOU attend"'
(which do you guess?'
''Some union mission church,
haZaldcd.
Now" he said, 81 don't like t
run on the branch roads very muci
don't often 90 to church, and whe
do, | want to run on the main line
where Your run Is regular, and yo
20 on schedule time, and don't hav
to run on a branch. Good enough
but | don't like It,.
"Episcopal,' | guessed.
''Limitcd Express" ne said, ''a
palace cars and 81 extra for a seat
fast time and only stop at big ST
tions. Nice line, but too exhaust,
for brakeman. All train men
uniform, conductors punch and la'
tern silver-plated, anu no train DO,
allowed. Then the passengers allo,
it makes them SO free and easy. n
co!uln't stand the palace car
Rich road enough. Don't hear of
receiver being appointed for th
line. Some mighty nice people ira
e! on it, too.
"Universalist? l suggested.
BROAD guage," said the brak
man, docs too much compliments
business. Everybody travels on
pass. Conductor doesn't get a fs
once in fifty miles. Stops at all Il
stations. and won't run into anythi
but union depot. No smoking C:
on the train. Train orders are vag
though, and the tralnmen don't s
along well with the passengers. \
don't 90 to the Universalist, thou
know some mighty good men W
run on that road. -
"presbyterian 7" | added.
Marrow guage, eh?" said
brakeman, ''pretty track, straight 9
rule tunnel right through a MOI
tain ra' her than go around it; sp
level grade passengers have to sL
their tickets before they get on
rain. Mighty strict road but
.ars are little narrow. Have to
me in a seat and no room in the a
dance, then there's no stop-O
ickets allowed; got to go ri
traigilt through to the station you
icketed for, or you can't get on
Il. Then the cars pull no e,
caches; cars built at the shops
lold just so many and nobody
llowed on. But you don't o1
rear of an accident on that road.
uns right square up to the rules.
''Maybe you joined the Freeth
.rs,'' | said.
''Scrub road said the braken
"dirt road bed and no ballast;
. time-card and no train dispatcl
All trains run wild, and every en-
eer makes his own time inst as
plcases. Smoke you want to
lene of go-as-you-please road. Too II
side tracks, and every switch '
y. open all the time, with the switch
erry, sound asleep, and the target |
dead out. Get on as you please
Ma get off when you want to. ID
lave to show your tickets, and
conductor isn't t expected to do
AL. hing but amuse the passengers.
and ar, was offered a pass but l d
Ike to travel on road that has
lness terminus. Do you know, sir, /
eda division superintendent y"
ind it that road run to, and he said be b
come to die if he knew. l asked hil
have the general superintendent could
me, and he said he didn't be
they had general superintent
DO and il they had, he didn't know