Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-09
Travelling OF. the Mixed Train.

From the Travellers MAGAZINE.
On some of the western roads they attach a
passenger car to freight train and cali it
''mixed.' 1t isn't in the order of things that
such trains should travel very rapidly, and some
times there is considerable growing among the
traffic
care we most there. conductOr?' asked a
nervous man. for the hundredth time "Kemem-
Der my wife is sick and I'm anxious
''We'lI get there on time,' replied the conduc-
tor. stolidy
Half an hour later the nervous man approached
him again.
Il guess she's dead now" said he. mournfully.
''but I'd give you little something extra if you
could manage to catch up with the funeral
May be she won't be SO decOmposed but what
could recognize her.
The conductor grOWied at him and the man
subsidized.
Conductor" said he. after an hours silence
Conductor, if the wind isn't dead ahead wish
you would put on some steam. I'd like to see
where my wife is buried before the tombstone
crumbes to pieces! Put yourself in my place
for mOment!'
The conductor shook him off. and the man
relapsed into profound melancholy
81 say, conductor" said he, after a long pause.
I've got a note coming due I'm three months,
Can't you fix it SO as to rattle along a little?'
IF you come near me again I'll knock you
down, snOrted the conductor savagely.
The nervous man regarded him sadly and went
to his seat. Two hours later the conductor saw
him chatting gayly and laughing heartily with a
brother victim. and approached him.
Don't feel SO badly about your wifes death?'
"Time heals all wounds" sighed the nervous
man.
''And you are not so particular about the
nOte?" sneered the conductor.
''NOt now. That's all right. Don't worry
I've been figuring up, and find that the note
has outlawed since | spoke to you last!'
The Distribution Of Pictures at Home.
From the Art Amateur for September.
The manner in which pictures may be distrib-
utcd in the home to the best advantage is
worthy of consideration. although we cannot
approve of the "hard and FAST rules which
some writer's on the subject would lay down.
The following suggestion, however. we think,
by reason of the commOn-sense views they en-
body, will generally commend themselves to
the average reader: ''In dinng-roOms. subjects
of a cheerful, festive. and bacchanalan char
acter becoming animating accessories, and the
portraits of eminent, exalted persons, famous
for their achievements in arms or their dis
tinctOn In the arts, sciences, or literature
looking as it were out of their frames upon
the company, may impart something agreeable
by "reminiscences of their great requirements
and good actions. Perhaps it would not be a
great stretch of imagination to fancy them our
companions participating in the hospitality of
the table, AffectiOnate feelings will always de-
termine that the portraits of dear relations. to
be cOnsOnant to our reverence and esteem,
should be placed where the mind is free from
the trammels of ordinary life and its coarse real
tiles. where reflection is undisturbed and where
the most pure and exalted sentiments of human
nature can be INDUCED; In other words, the
study and the library are the fittest shrines to
contain their portraits In The drawing-room
OF course all works Of art should
tons in s pur so1 Pc
ures of human cOrpses, or bodily Affections,
martyrdoms, dying and suffering saints, ANYTHING
decorating the feelings and Occasioning painful
emotions should be strictly avoided here. They
only adapted to the public galleries as eluci-
dating the triumph of the artist either in express
sion, composition, or some other of the theOret-
ical requirements of high art. All impure nudi-
ties are equally improper for the drawing room.
In the same category must be included some of
the Dutch pictures existent from their repulsive
called an ornament to the drawing-room which
a parent cannot contemplate in company with his
daughters. Water-cOlOr drawings may be re-
served for the boudOiro or an inner drawing room,
and also framed prints for sleeping apartments. !"
AS a rule, no room in the house is so shabbily
treated in the distribution of pictures as the
bedroom. The refuse is considered good
enough for this apartment. This Is q mistake.
II we have pictures there at all. they should be
excellent, as works of art, and the subject Of
the most agreeable character. For our own
part, We think the fewer objects there are in
the bedroom to arrest the attention Of the oc-
cupant. the better it Is for his repose and COM
fort. Who of us at times has not experienced
the wearying effects of lying awake and being
unable to take his eyes from the wall by reason
OF the fascination OF some irritating picture or
the aggressiveness in design of the wallpaper?
But some of us perchance are never Ill and
never sleepless. For such, pictures In the bed
room are as desirable as In any other apart
ment; but it should be remembered that the
true lover Of art viii not put his best paintings