Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-07-28
The Modern POrters' Negligence.

"MANITOBA RAIL ROAD
These modern times, are times ofgreat
luxury, comfort and convenience.
and everything that can be
conceived by fertile trains, and in
ventive genius to advance our happiness
and pleasure, are sooner or later
brought to public notice, and put to
practicable use. Where only few
years ago, foated the slow going snail
like sail boats, now floats in majestic
elegance ur''palatial steamers, "cater-
ing to the most asthetic taste. Then
again consider the advance in our over
land travel. Only few years ago the
"pack mule" and 'prairie schooner"
were our only means of reaching dis
tant destinations, and the puff and
roar of the "iron horse' was almost
unknown. But now we are carried
swiftly and smoothly thirty miles an
hour. There Announcements are great
ones, and with them came our greatest
modern convenience the "Sleeping
Car Porter" When Geo. w. Pullman
Esq, put to the disposal of the travel
ing public, his elegent dra wing room
cars, and elegantly equipped sleepers,
he placed in them a fixture called a
"Porter" not stationary fixt ure like
a gas-pipe-nor an inanimate one like
an Egyptian mummy "but, living
object, an indidual, a subject closely
allied with the Darwinian theory,
with white pants, a stripped blouse
and "peacked cap" This servant
was employed to look after the COM
fort and welfare of the patrons of the
coach, and see them provided with all
necessary and available comforts.
But this convenience the Porter has
evidently degenerated in the west, es-
specially when under engagement"
up on the Manitoba road. He con-
siders that blessing "Sleep" as far
more preferable, than carrying water
to the. purched lips of some weary,
fatigued, invalid traveller, or attend
ing to his Legitimate business" and
informing passengers who are depend
ing upon his vigilance, and watchful-
ness, when they reach their destina-
tions. 1t is not, reader, as you are
aware, pleasant situation to. be
placed into, when by the negligence
and carele ssness of some unsophisti-
Gated Porter, we find our self in the
dead of night, carried miles beyond
our home, to some distant station,
perhaps dropped midway between St.
Paul and Morris in some nud-puddle,
to hear the music of the bull-frogs our
only solace until the breaking day:
Yet this thing has been done; and the
writer, and he imagines the people of
our quiet little city, would like to
know how many times it is to be re-
peated, and when dependence can be
placed in these Servants of the travel
ing public" Luxuries that are well
paid for, we generally calculate to en-
joy. 1t is not many months in the
past, since one of our most prominent
citizens, well known for his Enterprise
and ability and social position, was
carried by his home and family to the
town of Herman, by the
sheer negligence of the presiding
The dilemma he was placed
in, was no small one; he could not
afford the time to await the down
train of the next day, so engaging a
team and small boy, he endeavored
very strenuously to get back to Morris
but was finally compelled to adopt
the mode of "legbale" and plod his
weary way home. A provoking stu
alton after paying your honest dollars
to the r. r. Co., for your safe delivery
to Morris. If however this was the
only case, it would be excursable. but
it is only one of dozen. Look at the
predicament an other
accompanied by his young
bride, was placed in shcrt time in
the past. After repeatedly cautioning
the Porter to make no blunder, but
awaken them for Morris, they were by
his carelessness putoffin drenching
rain at Hancock. This situation is