The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-04-28
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THE BRAKEMAN WHO WENT
TO CHURCH..

| TO me comes the brakeman, and
seating himself on the arm Of the
seat, says: i went to church
yesterday
Yes p | said, with that interest,"
ed infection that asks for more.
and what church did yon at
tend p
(which do you guess p he
asked.
Some union mission church p l
hazarded.
Nav be said, I don't like to
run on these branch roads very
much. l don't often 60 to church,
and when l do, | want to run on
the main line, where your run is
regular and you 60 on a schedule
time and don't have to wait on
connections. I don't Ike to run
on a branch. Good enough, but
I don't like it,
'Episcopal?' I guessed.
Limited express he said, all
palace cars and two dollars extra
for q seat; fast timo, and only
stops at the big stations. Nice
line, but loo exhaustive for a
brakeman. All train men in uni
form, conductors punch and lam
tern silver plated, and no train
boys allowed. Then the passen-
gers are allowed to talk back at
the conductor and it makes them
too;trce and easy. No, I couldn't
stand the palace cars. Rich road,
though. Don't often hear Of a
receiver being appointed for that
line. Some mighty nice people
travel on it, too
'Universalist p | guessed.
Broad gauge said the brake
man. docs too much compliment
ary business. Everybody travels
on pass. Conductor doesn't get
fare once in fifty miles. Stops
at ali flag stations, and won't run
into anything but union depot.
| No smoking car on the train.
Train orders are vague: though,
and the trainmen don't get along
we'll with the passengers. No, l
don't go to the Universalist.
though I know some awfully good
men who run on that road
Perhaps you went to the Uni
tarians?'
No, 1 didn't, but | might have
done worse. That is q mighty
good road, we'll ballasted with
reason, though it runs through
a region a little bit cold, and
there is apt to be some ice
and snow on the track, but in case
of accident there is no danger of
upsetting the stoves and being
burnt up; and there's one good
thing about it, the neighbors are
generally ready to come and help
when you do get into trouble.
They like to have things nice and
comfortable in this world, doing
what they think is about right
and taking their chances for the
other. They don't seem to take
much stock in being as miserable
as you can here in the hope that
you will be the happier for it
there. They seem to think that a
mans going to reap the same kind
of crop that he plants, and that
if be puts in selfish, worthless
kind of a life on this earth il amt
a-going to come out a very fine
specimen in heaven. Seems to
me some sense as we'll as poetry
70 that but | was raised an ortho-
dox. and 'twouldn't do for me to,
be seen on that train or might
lose my place on the other line'
as there's a good deal of COM
petition between the two roads, and
our folks are getting afraid of
losing travel
Presbyterian p | asked.
Marrow gauge, eh p said the
brakeman, pretty track, straight
as a rule; tunnel right through a
mountain rather than 60 around
it; spirit-level grade; passengers
have to show their tickets before
they get on the train. Mighty
strict road, but the cars are q lit
tie narrow ; have to sit one in
seat and no room in the aisle to
dance. Then there's no stop-o7er
tickets allowed got to 60 straight
through to the station you're
ticketed for, or you can't get on
at all. When the cars full, no ex-
ira coaches; cars built at. the
| i