Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-10
The Buffet Car n Failure.
From the Albany Evening Journal.

from the Albany Evening Journal
There Is no mistake about it, said a bufret car
conductor to an Albany Journal reporter. "these
coaches are failure When their Introduction
Was inst announced everybody thought that they
were destined to revoutionize nrst-class travel
The drawing-room and sleeping cars, which were
great improvements In their way were respectively
conceded to be wonderful aids TO comfort In long
distance travelling, and as they were improved from
tlme 10 time, wealthy tourists looked on approx
!ngy ana were always ready to patronize the best
that was afforded There was one feature OF
travel, however, that for years baf11ed Inventive
genius and rendered the tourists experiences not
altogether happy. Everybody is compelled TO
eat, at stated periods, and on a long Journey by
the stops for refreshments presented cons lomer-
ated series OF experiences that would weaken the
str0ngsst neart ana destroy the most healthy
uts for refreshments" and the desperate grasp for
the railing on the rear platform OF the last OF
the receding train was condensed almost as much
suffering as is contained In a long sentence TO so-
tary connnement In prison. need not dwell on
the molten conee, the lndia-rubber sandwich, the
cast-lron pie, the wrought-brasS doughuut, the
worm-eaten cracker and the eXtortionate-r O. ured
check which have caused the railroad restau-
it to sag shss when ~ the the
and satisfactory culinary ana sastro aSai:
some drawlng-room, its ladies' boudoir, ana almost
everything that could be wished for In permanent
home-when the luxury OF its fittings was dwelt
on-lts pler-glasses, tapestries, carpetings and
amaranth,wood trimmings-why all the wealthy
people, who delight in home comforts where, er
they can be secured, were wildly enthusiastic. The
millennium In transit was thought to be at hand.
But" and here the conductor stopped 10 light his
cigar, which had gone out during his entertaining
discourse. But what?" "Well, the railroad res
taurant will still flourish, and the buffet car will be
piled up In a corner with other experiments
ut has, In its very short existence made more
enemies than friends, and Will tell you why Go
Into the basement OF well-ordered residence
You fnd there the kitchen OF the household In the
rear, and sometimes the dining room In the mont
But do you discover any sleeping-apartments? No.
Of course not. The pantry, closets. kitchen, etc,
are not only productive OF Smells but the water
bugs cockroaches, ants and other insects and YER
min, the suppression OF which costs much powder
and eternal vigilance. Well. to cut 1t short,
the elegant buffet car is the breeding.
place for all such things for the same
house is. My lord and my lady who
travel in the buffet car may enjoy the privilege OF
eating without mixing with the rabble OF the depot
dlnlng-rOOm; they may take pleasure In the other
hOme-like features OF the coach: but Inv lord. in
the Silly night is liable to be called out OF bed at
any moment by the shrieks OF my lady, who will
be found TO be sharing her sleeping apartment with
colony OF cockrOacheS or woman's most dread foe
mouse. A railway Car, my dear sir, is too mar
row and confined to transform into residence with
all home comforts and all modern improvements
That Is the whole explanation In a nutshell"