Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-06-16
PERII.s OF SLEEPING CARS.

There is good deal Of interest mani
Testing these days on the part Of the
American people relative to the matter
of separate sleeping cars for the two
sexes. It is a move in the right direc-
ton, and we hope it will win. As it il
now, no gentleman travelling alone ~
SAFE
Several months ago, entirely alone,
we travelled from Laramie to Chicago
and back, making the round trip with
no escort whatever. Our wife was de-
tanned at home, and that entire journey
was made with no one to whom we could,
look for protection.
When we returned our hair had turned
our hair perfectly white with the horror
of those dreadful nights.
There was one woman from Philadel-
phia, whose name we will not mention
and who rode all the way between
Omaha and Chicago in one car. Almost
at Omaha she began to make advances
toward us by asking us if we would not
hold her lunch basket while she went
after drink.
| She also asked us for our knife topeeI
an orange.
|
These things look small and ins,gnif-
cant, but in the light Of latter develop
ments they are Of vital importance.
That evening we saw with horror that
the woman's section was adjoining our
own.
We asked the conductor if this could
not be changed; but he laughed colby
and told us to soak our head, or some
such unfeeling remark.
That is one bad feature Of the present
system. A man travelling alone gets no
sympathy or assistance from the conduc-
tor.
1t would be impossible to describe the
horror and appreciation of that awful
night. All through it's vigils we suf-
fered on till near morning, when tired
nature yielded, and we fell into from
bled sleep.
There we lay, fair and beautiful, in
the soft gray Of approaching day, thou
sands of miles from our home, and, less
than ten feet away, great horrid woman
, from Pennsylvania, to whom we hadnot
even been introduced.
How we could have slept so soundly
: under the circumstances we are yet an
able to tell, but after perhaps twenty
minutes of slumber we saw, above the
, footboard of our berth and peering over
at ms, the face Of that woman. With .
wild bound we were on our feet in the
> aisle of the car. The other berths had
. all disappeared but ours
+ The other passengers were sitting
q quietly in the seats, and it was halfpast
!. nine O'Clock. The woman from Pennsyl-
4 vania was in the day coach.
g It was only horrid dream.
8 But supposing it had been a reality
And any man that travels along is liable
to be insulted at any time. We do not
care for luxury in travelling. All We
want is the assurance that we are safe.
. The experience which we have aarrat
ed above Is only one ola thousand. Did
a you note the care-worn look of the man
who is travelling alones The wild,
n haunted expression on the countenance
. and the horrible apprehension that is do.
~ picted there!
,f You may talk about the various causes
. that are leading men downward to early
4 graves, but the nervous strain inducet
by the fear that while they are taking
:. ont their false teeth or buttoning thei'
t suspenders, prying eyes are looking ove1
70 the oot-board Of their berths, is con
structing more new-made graves THAI
n consumption or the Ute war.