Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1880-02-26
BOB BURDETTE.

Ina letter to the burlington Hawk
eye, dated at Lebanon, Ind, Burdette
says:
There are not many cedars left in
Lebanon now. Isuppose the news
paper men used them up for lead pen
ellis. Or may be the tornado destroyed
them, for this bright little city had q
matinee few years ago with tar.
nado.
On the road once more, with Leb.
anon fading away in the distance the
fat passenger drumming idly on the
window pane, the cross passenger:
sound asleep, and the tall, thin pas.
senger reading General Grants Toul
Around the World" and wondering
why Green's August Flower should
be painted above the doors of Bud,
dhist temple at Benares.' To me
comes the brakeman, and seating
himself on the arm of the seat says
Il went to church yesterday
"Yes? | said, with that interested
infection that asks for more. "AnG
what church did you attend?'
(Which do you guess?' he asked.
Some union mission church?' !
hazarded.
"Naw," he. said; Il don't like to run
on these branch roads very much. !
don't often go to church, and, when
do, | want to run on the main line
where yonr rum is regular and you &C
on schedule time and don't have tc
wait on connections. ] don't like tc
run on a branch, Good enough, but
l don't like it,
"Episcopal?" guessed.
Limited express he said, al
palace cars and 81 extra for seat
fast time, and only stop at the big
stations. Nice line, but too exhaus.
tive for u brakeman. All train men
i'll uniform, conductors punch an(
lantern silver-plated, and no train
boys allowed. Then. the passenger.
are not allowed to talk back to the
conductor; and it makes them toC
free and easy. Rich road, though
Don't often hear Of a receiver being
appointed for that line. Some mighty
nice people travel on it. too"
""Uuiversaiist?'' | suggested.
"Broad-guage,' said the brakeman
docs too much complimentary busi'
ness. Every body travels on a pass
Conductors doesn't get a fare once in
fifty miles. Stops at all tlag-stations
and Ion.srun into anything but ;
union depot. 10 smollng-car on Tic
train. Train oAers are vague though
andAe trainmen don't get along
well with the passengers. No, | dom
90 to the Universalist, though | know
s3le awfully good men that run OF
that road
"Presbyterian?' ! asked
"Namow-guage, eh?" said thc
brakeman; pretty track, strait as {
rule; tunnelright through a mountain
rather than go around it; spirit-leye
grade; passengers have to show then
tickets before they get on the train
Mighty strict road, but the cars are ;
little narrow; have to sit one in tn,
seat and no room in the aisle to dance
Then there's no stop-over tickets al.
lowed; got to go strait through to the
station you're tickcted for, or you
can't get on ut all. When the car,
full, no extra coaches; cars built at
the shops to hold just so many and
nobody else allowed on. But you
don't often hear of an accident on
that road. It's run right up to the
rules"
May be you joined The FREE Think
ers?" ! said.
Scrub road" said the brakeman
"dirt-road bed and no ballast; no tim,
and no train dispatcher. All trains
run wild and every engineer make,
his own time, just as he pleases.-
Smoke if you want to; kind of 90 a,
you please road. Too many side track,
and every switch wide open all the
time, with the switchman sound asleer
and the target lamp dead out, Gel
on as YOU please and get off when you
want to. Don't have to show ycul
tickets, and the conductor isn't ex-
pected to do anything but amuse the
No, Sir; | was offered a
pass, but | don't like the line, don't
like to travel on road that has nc
terminus. Do you know sir, | asked
a division superintendent where that
road run to, and he said he hoped tc
die il he knew, asked him if the
general superintendent could tell me
He said he didn't believe they had a
general superintendent, and il they
had he di INT know any more about
the road than the passengers. ] asked
who he reported to, and lie said no.
body | asked u conductor who he
got his orders from, and he said he
didn't take orders from any living
man or dead ghost. Aud when
asked the engineer who he got his
orders from, he said he'd like to sec
give him orders; he'd run
that train to suit himself, or he'd run
it into a ditch. Now, you see sir Tn
a railroad man, and l don't care tc
run on a road that has no time, makes
no connections, runs nowhere, and
has no superintendent. II may be all
right, but I've railroaded too look tc
understand it,"
Did you try the Methodist?'
said.
"Now you're shouting he said
with some enthusiasm. mice road
eh? Fast time and plenty of passcn.