The daily gazette., 1881-11-17
English sleeping.Car

The following from the London DdiM
NeDs shows conclusiveIy that not only
In emlgrant ships but in railway car
riages the English women require much
more protection against shocks TO mod
esty than American women, for IL is
pretty certain that not one man in ten
who has travelled in Amer can sleeping
cars ever noticed an indelicate action on
the part Of fellow. w.passenger:
"a new route has been established
this year TO Switzerland. Leaving Lon.
don at 10 a. m. you find yourself In the
afternoon at Calais; there you take a
train direct to Basle. 1 had invested
the sum Of Is shilliDgs in q ticket for
the sleeping car. This car consists of
compartments contain ming either two or
four couches. The couch to which my
ticket gave me right was, found, in
one OF the compartments licensed to
carry four. Three ladies already we're
there when entered it. To say that
was received cordially would be an ex-
aggeration. The ladies felt that | was
an intruder, and, TO say the truth, being
myself somewhat bashful man, l felt
so too. took my seat. The ladies
whispered to each other and eyed me as
did the nymphs by the streams of Hellas
when shepherd broke in upon their
natatoiy exercises. l essayed remark
or two about the weather and other
commonplaces. The responses were
monosyllabic. In the daytime these
compartments have only two couches
facing each other. At night two others
were arranged overhead like berths in
ship. We had passed Amlens when the
attendant entered with a number of
sheets In bis hand. The ladies looked
agbast; so did l. One-an elderly
splnster-supposed that / was not going
to remain and thus prevent her and her
companion from taking the rest for
which they had paid. A blush suffused
my cheek, but ] plucked up sufficient
courage TO hint that 1 too had parted
with coin of the realm IN order TO enjoy
little repose. After chorus of well,
l never" it was tiually agreed that l
should retire into the passage until the
ladies had got into their beds aud drawn
the curtains before each of their bowers.
10 this assented, and, having paced
the passage for about half an hour, re-
turned. All the curtains were drawn.
Il hope you are not undresslng?' pro-
ceeded from behind the curtain OF the
elderly spinster. lie won't have the
impudence to do anything of the kind,'
ioated through the air from behind
another curtain. Ladies' said, sleep
in maiden meditation behind your cur
tains. | am clothed from head to foot.
propose TO dIyest myself of my coat
and my boots; l shall then climb up into
my berth, draw my curtain, and you
will see nothing more of me until to-
morrow morning. Mind, sir; only your
coat and boots,' said the elderly spinster,
and, with this parting warning, turned
In. The train was timed to reach Basle
at 9 q. m. An hour before that time my
rest was disturbed by shrill cries from
behind the curtains. l was sternly Or
dered to get up and 90 at once into the
corridor IN ordei that the nymphs might
also rise. mo, ladies' answered, Il
mean to remain In bed until we arrive.
Get up without fear, and trust to the
innate chivalIy of the humble male who
now addresses you. He pledges bis
word Of honor not 70 peep through the
parting in his curtain So they got up,
and did not look. Ny experiences OF
this night led me to suggest that in
sleeping-c cars the sexes should be placed
apart, and that there should be q separ
ate compartment for men and another
for women, instead of the present
eclectic arrangement"