Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-06
DELIGHTS OF CONTINENTAL
TRAVEL.
The Guard Monarch of the Train
How Americans Chafe in Rail
way Cells.

tut OQOll4go VI AeNSA ~ eAASA~o
Americans;
They have the same idiotic little
carriages as in England, comprising
from four to six compartments, each
holding eight people in the first and
second, and ten persons in the third
class compartments. In Bavaria there
are fourth class ears or carriages
These are principally used in time Of
war for the transportation OF troops,
and are plainly marked: To contain
ten horses, or thirty six men, Save
in France the service, such as it is, Is
everywhere equal, if not superior. TO
that in England. One has to person.
ally see his baggage in theluggAge van,
and not only give ''trinkgeet' to have
it labeled, but also to have 1t put
aboard. The guard is the monarch Of
the train, and runs it apparently solely
in the interest of himself. While he
cannot take money for a fare, whether
or no, with unblushing GOODNESS he
would take a bride from anybody for
anything; and even an officer OF the
road thinks it quite the proper thing
to pay tribute to the guard should he
wish to occupy an entire compartment
So far does this guard bribing 60 that,
so | was told by an English gentleman
of standing, a train of thirteen first
and second class carriages moved out
of Cologne last week containing sixty
seven people, when there were
accommodations for over 450 people,
and over 100 persons we're left at the
station who desired to take this
particular train. The guards had sold
the exclusiveness of nearly every
compartment on this train to individ-
ual passengers. In connection with
this universal nuisance / have heard
il seriously stated that the real reason
why the introduction of the American
sleeping car upon continental railway
lines could scarcely be effected, was
the opposition Of these very guards,
who would thus lose . portion OF their
revenue. If you have to travel all
night By slipping a FIVE mark piece
(about 81 %, or very much less, into
the hand Of the guard you will secure
an entire compartment, or, at least,
one side Of one, where you can stretch
at full length, whatever may be the
discomforts Of other passengers, too
Door or too ignorant to employ the
same system. A berth in the dirty
little sleeping cars that have crept
into the service. and which contain
about four compartments of four
berths each, costs three times as much,
and is not half as comfortable, as
these sleepers have no sccommoda-
tons WhateVeF-the conductor, usually
q vile fellow, who continually insists
upon your purchasing his bad wines,
refusing to blacken your boots, brush
you or do up your berth in the morn
ms, although he is conductor and pOr-
ter in one.
AT STATIONS,
the same as in England, there is the
greatest hubbub imaginable. As the
little jails you are riding in have no
provision whatever for retiring rooms,
the first scramble is always for the
ladies' and g~entlemen's water closets,
conspicuously marked Fur Herren"
and Fur Dsmen," alongside each
other; and throughout all Europe as
much a part of a depot IS the ticket
sellers room OF the waiting rooms.
This first grand scramble over, one
inquiries hastily Of one Of the myriad
Of uniformed officials how long q wait
will be had. II he says fifteen min
utes, as he is likely to, as no one
knows anything about it, the train has
pulled out in three. If he tells you
five, it is more likely to be hal! an
hour. If you are assured by the
great Horned Spoon that you are to
have half an hour at such and such a
station for a meal, and you get seated
at a table your money taken for that
is the first thing-you have possibly
got the least bit Of gulp stored away
when a uniformed lunatic rushes in
with the hysteric announcement that
Jour train is just pulling out. Back
somersaults are turned, the wrong
compartment is found, you are locked
in, and directly you will witness nearly
every one Of this train load quietly
retracing their steps TO the dining
room. Again, you will see a tempt
ing lunch spread in a little stall
not ten feet from your nose and the
carriage window. You essay TO get
out of yonr compartment, but are in
formed the train is just moving. You
sink back in your seat 10 despair, and
sit for an sgonized half hour looking
at that tempting lunch. II you show
the slightest attempt at rebellion, and
signal to the lunch maiden, or lad, to
draw nigh and administer upon you,
that uniformed Nemesis sits down
upon both Of you with absolute feroo-
ity, and your companions frown you
down, Again you must stretch your
legs. The station tyrant in uniform
and gold enough for a field marshal
positively protests. The train is going
instantly-"im augenblicki' You
won't have it, aud, after a great row,
or a small bride, you get upon your
feet. Down along the concrete some.
thing like a prismatic cyclone. -Four.
teen uniformed porters have got an old
dame and her baggage, all of which
could be taken in one hand, but which
is rafting along on three trucks, and
are rushing her like an Iowa hurricane
toward the train; four porters clear
the way with awful words of warning;
two more open the carriage; she is
hurled bag and baggage, as
IRON catapult, into a
compartment; several bells are
rungi one or two people (also uni
formed blow small, shrill horns: and
then the guard aud the eighteen por-
ters, the bell ringers and the horn
blowers, all wiping the perspiration
from their brows, all taking snuff, and
all giving vent TO innumerable "sosl"
retire and drink beer before your
maddened eyes for a full ten minutes.
Then, may be, the train moves quietly
away. The particularly demoniac
thing about all this is that everybody
besides yourself seems TO be perfectly
satisfied. All these are apparently
delighted with the surveillance, with
the hustling, the choking of, with the
protection, God save the mark So
one had best fall in with it patiently.
and with real good nature, for on The
whole continent there is nothing so