The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1884-07-24

One of the "Durncd Folks From Up
North" Wakes a Switchman.

North Wakes Il Switchman.
Time in Virginia has no value what
ever, and as It is the universal practice
there never to do to-day wat cau pc
put off until tomorrow. little incon-
venience arises. The railways are run
on happy-wc-' 'ucly schedule, which is
extremely divcrt:ng to those who have
time in abundance, and the few who
are pressed for minutes, being in
hopeless minority, rather aff'ord occa-
sion for mir;h when they tegin to kick
al Virginia methods. The railway time
tables are in perfection in the rural dis
tricts. Not long ago night train with
party of New Workers on board was
humping along comfortably at a ten-
miles-an-hOur gait through remote
part of Virginia, when all at once, with
a tremendous jerk, it came to stand
still. The natives in the sleeping-car
did not think it worth while to ask the
reason of the sudden stoppage; the
aliens did, though, and when the con-
ductor strolled through the car a roar
of indignant inquiry went up. The
conductor soothingly explained that
they always stopped at switch for
fear it might not be set.
"But, good gracious, exclaimed Al
irate New Yorker, ''where is the switch
man?"
The conductor explained that the
particular switchman they then needed
was probably asleep. Followed by OBJ
jurgation, the conductor got off the
train. went to the station house, and
pounded vigorously, shouting at the
same time:
s4G;t up, Jim; the trains here, and a
passel O. them burned folks from up
North is raisin' breeze cause the
switch amt set.''
Jim called back, I'm a comin',"
and evidently turned over and went to
sleep again. The Virginians on the
train began to chuckle. Their SYM
pathy was entirely with Jim and the
conductor. The latter continued to
urge Jim, who was always comm"
but didn't come. The conductor, at
first apologetic, being goaded by the
New Workers. now became pressing.
s.Do, JIM" he anxiously said, "git
up and set the durn thing SO the train
can go by"
Jim continued obdurate until one of
the New Workers arose from his berth,
and, clad in rage and checked ulster,
got off the car and threatened to set
fire to the station house and make a
burnt offering of Jim if that switch was
not set in ten minutes. Within the
specified time Jim appeared, boiling
with indignation. and threatened to re-
sign if he were again subjected to SINH
lar inconvenience.
1t is the custom along these provin-
cial roads to stop the train at any point
upon being signalled. People can be
taken on and put off anywhere they
like. A fast train-that is, what they
call q twenty-mile-an-hou train-was
going through plantation month or
50 S ago, and the passengers observed
three little girls on the wayside waving
their white aprons frantically at the
conductor. The train, aof course. stop
ped. The tallest of the girls, 10-year
old, with long eyelashes. bashfully re-
marked: won't you please give me
and Katie and Fanny and the doggie a
rider" The conductor promptly con-
sented, and assisted Miss Eyelashes,
her companions and the doggie on
board. They rode on for q mile or
two, and then they announced their
readiness to get off. The train was
stopped, and they jumped down and
scampered off just as the train had
started Miss Eyelashes scampered wild |
" back.
'Oh, mister, if you please, don't go |
away till we get cross the creek. Mann
ma doesn't let us GO over it less some
body's watching Us, ami we have to |
carry the do@gie."
The conductor waited until final |
waving of white aprons on the other
side of the creek signiied that his pas
sensers were safe. Nobody in the
train expressed surprise except the
aliens. Nobody who has ever been
there before rushes to meet train in
Virginia. When the first railway train
went through the ancient town of Will
Jams shurgh in October, 1881, it was ad-
vertised for clock. 1t was the time
of the Yorktown Centennial, and the
town was full of strangers. These rash
y appeared at the station at O'Clock
precisely. The natives meanwhile went
about their business. Toward II O. clock
those of the natives who meant to board
the o'clock train assembled. After
waiting awhile they went off and sat on
the Court house steps, leaving orders
with negro to call them when the
train came. 1t did come some time in
the afternoon, and the negro, running
about the town, informed the passsen-
gers when the train would start.