The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-03-12

spicuous by their absence. Ateither end
OF the car were capacious layatories and
relative conveniences--on for ladies, the
other for gentlemen, equipped with soap,
clean towels, brushes, combs, &C., and a
filter with fresh drinking water. From
the time of leaving New York till arrival
at Chicago, no passenger need leave the
cars. Attached to the sleeping car is
dining car, equally sumptuously fitted,
also smoking car, both of which are
specially reserved for those who pay the
extra $40, aud which, therefore, in reality
constitute first class accommodation. In
the dining car, at 81 each, one can havo
three meals daily, from bill of fare that
erred only in its profuse abundance and
variety of well-cooked food. The use of
stimulants seems to be falling into dis
credit among the better class of Ameri-
cans, for neither on this occasion nor
afterwards did any wine, beer, or spirits
appear on the tables, nor did | ever hear
them asked for. Afterwards, those who
felt disposed that way retired to the smok
ing car; but the sleeping car contained n
small, neatly-iitted up cabinet, where
such as sought private conversation over
cigar might resort.
In short, the new first-class American
cars exceed by far in elegance, con-
yenience, and comfort, the rare Pull
mans seen on this line, and | venture to
say no European monarch travels by rails
so sumptuously rs our republican eous-
ms.
AT dawn | saw from my comfortable
bed, in which everything was scrupulous.
ly fresh and clean, that we were gliding,
with scarce any vibration, over the prair-
les of Illinois; and on nearing Chicago l
checked my baggage to the Grand Pacific,
whittier was carried by one of the hotel
omnibuses, and where found il shortly
afterwards. Subsequently, in travelling
through the States of Illinois, Iowa, and
Minnesota, for considerable distance by
team, | had frequent occasions to "eheek"
my heavy baggage by rail to various
points in advance on my route, and never
in single instance did l experience any
| difficulty in procuring delivery of 1t on
the production of my "checks.'
On my return at the end OF November,
and having no use for rugs, &c, and in
the comfortable cars, checked all my
baggage, save dressing bag, from n
station not far from the Manatoba 'front.'
Ter, straight through to New York. On
my arrival there three days afterwards,
instead of checking my baggage to
the hotel where intended to put up,
checked" it to the dock of the steamer
by which | was to sail the following
morning; and there, on driving from the
hotel, | found it awaiting me at the shore
end of the gangway as | was about to
embark-never having once seen or
troubled myself about it since / left
/ tnl.G al
changed cars and lines of road twice-at
st. Paul and Chicago.
| Now, mark the contrast. | arrive at
Liverpool, give up my baggage to the
Northwest Railway Company, without
any voucher or check being interchanged,
aud proceed to Lime street by a subur-
ban railway from the dock gates in evil
smelling carriages which my American
fellow travellers scornfully stigma.ised as
"bunks,' and into which we were locked
like criminals. 1t was n wet, gloomy
day, and after my pleasant American
experiences felt like one who had "come
down in the world On afterwards APP
plying for my baggage at Lime street
station, was not only obliged to produce
my card rs evidence of identity, but |
had to go down into deep dark cellar to
point out the packages; and after all this
unnecessary bother had to pay more
than at New York, where baggage was
carried double tho distance. But the
charge is mere secondary consideration
1t is the restless anxiety and worry our
system-or rather entire want ofsystem-
needessly impose ON you from starting
till arriving at your destination that is Sc
provoking.
But the most remarkable contrast was
reserved for my return to Scotland.
Travelling down by night train, | was
half frozen with cold till arrival at Car
Isle where we were detained an hour and
half for the London train, and where
the fire in the waiting room merely ser.
we'd TO remain one how cold and comfor.
tess the place was. Sleep was out of the
question, and | landed at the Princes
street station stiff and almost numb with
cold, At the hotel close by repaired
my reduced morale with n hot bath
and good Scotch breakfast. But why
should one be thus tortured with cold
and rendered miserable in Difference to an
ancient "use and won't that is now be-
coming obsolete among all civilized peo.
pie? In America, il detained, you do not
warm your toes at the fire, but sit In a
comfortable warmed room, and you finish
q Journey of thousand miles as fresh
and comfortable as when you started.
The climax Of my home experience
was reached at the Waverly station, to
which | drove from the hotel, directing
the cabman to drive as near the Fife train
platform as possible; and the porter who
came up TO take charge of my baggage
was told to take it to the Fife train.
Having no loose change in my pocket,
asked the cabman to wait till | got my
ticket. On my return, about five min
utes afterward, neither cab nor porter
was visible anywhere: and failing to find
the latter on the platform or any sign of
my baggage, one of the officials and my
self explored the station, as far as time
would permit, but without success. liav-
ing written that would be home by that
train, and leaving the cab fair with the
official already referred to, came away
without my baggage, which only reached
me two days afterwards. Had this con-
tretemps occurred when on my way to
embark ut Liverpool for America, it would
not not only have occasioned serious in
convenience and delay, but possibly tho
forfeiture of my passage money.
IL ID qulte unnecessary W uc5ciiuo Iio
American check system, with which all
the travelling world is now familiar.
first became acquainted with itas boy
thirty,live years ago, since when | have
been three times in this country, and
have had on each occasion tho more to
admire this simple and admirable system,
which saves one from the worst worries
Of travelling here.
Americans cannot understand how
we quietly submit to travel in carriages
I in which we are half frozen in winter,
which are very, very stulfy In summer,
and in which murder and other outrages
may be committed with impunity, while
our baggage system they regard as sim.
ply barbaric.
1t is because I agree with my American
friends that have noted down these re-
Elections, in the hope that they may con-
tribute, in however small degree, to rouse
our railway directors to recognition OF
the disgracefully uncomfortable and in.
convenient accommodations afforded by
them to the travelling public. ] am, &c
SCoTUs.