The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-02-14
TILE BRAKEMAN AT CHURCH.


fading away in the distance, the fat passen-
ger drumming idly on the window pane,
the cross passenger sound asleep and the tall
thin passenger reading Gen. Grants Tour
Around the World, and wondering why
Green's August Flower should be printed
above the doors of"A Buddhist Temple at
Benares." To me comes the brakeman and
seating himself on the arm of seat says:
81 went to church yesterday"
"Yes?" l said, with that interested infec-
ton that asks for more. "And what church
did you attend ?"
(Which do you guess?" he asked.
"Some union mission church ?" I hazard
ed.
"Now," he said, 81 don't like to run on
these branch roads very much. l don't
often 60 to church, and when do want
to run on the main line, where your run is
regular and you go on schedule time and
don't haye to wait on connections. l don't
like to run on branch. Good enough, but
don't like it,"
"Episcopal? ?" guessed.
"Limited express" he said, "all palace
cars and two dollars extra for a seat, fast
time and only stop at the big stations. Nice
line, but too exhaustive for brakeman.
All train men in uniform, conductors punch
and lantern silver plated, and no train boys
allowed. Then the passengers are allowed
to talk back to the conductor, and it makes
them too free and easy. No, couldn't
stand the palace cars. Rich road, though.
Don't often hear of receiver being APP
pointed on that line. Some mighty rich
people travel on it, too"
"Universalist? ~ suggested.
"Broad guage," said the brakeman; "doe:
too much complimentary bushes. Every.
body travels on a pass. Conductor doesn't
get fare once in fifty years. Stops at all
flag stations and won't run into anything
but union depot. No smoking car on thi.
train. Train orders are rather vague
though, and the train men don't get along
well with the passengers. No, don't g
to the Universalist, though know some
awfully good men who run on that road"
presbyterian % l asked
marrow guage, ELI ?" said the brakeman
"pretty track, straight as a rule, tunnel
right through n mountain rather than e
around it, spirit level grade, passenger
have to show their tickets before they ge
on the train. Mighty strict road, but the
cars are little narrow, have to sit one in G
seat and no room in the aisle to dance. Their
there is no stopover tickets allowed; got t
go straight through to1the station you're
ticketed for, or you can't get on at all
When the cars full no extra coaches; car
built at the shops just to hold so many anC
nobody else allowed on. But you don't of
ten hear Of an accident on that road. IT.
run right up to the rules"
"May be you joined the Free Thinkers p
I said.
"Scrub road" said the brakeman, "dir
road bed and no ballast, no time card anC
no dispatcher. All trains run wild anC
every engineer makes his own time, just a
he pleases. Smoke if you want to, kinC
of go as you please road. Too many sid'
tracks, and every switch wide open all tn,
time, with the switchman sound asleep snC
the target lamp dead out. Get on as yol
please and off when you want to. Dom
have 10 show your ticket, and the conduc
tor isn't expected to do any thing but anus
the passengers. No, sir, was offered pass
but don't like the line. l don't like Il
travel on a road that has no terminus. D,
you know, sir, asked division superin
tendent where that road run TO, and hl
hoped to die if he knew. asked him
the general superintendent could tell me
and he said he didn't believe they had {
J general superintendent, and if they had h
didn't know anything more about the roac
, than the passengers. | asked him who h
reported to and he said nobody. I askeC
a conductor who he got his orders from ,anC
he said he didn't take orders from any liy
ing man or dead ghost. And when aske'
the engineer who he got his orders from, b
said he'd like to see anybody give him or
ders; he'd run that train to suit himself o
he'd run her in the ditch. Now you see, sil
I'm railroad man, and don't care to rul
on railroad that has no time, or makes n
connections, runs nowhere and has no su
{ perintendent. 1t may be all right, but Nv
] railroaded too long TO understand it."
"May be you went to the Congregations
church ?" asked.
"Populsr road, p aid the brakeman, "ai