Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-17
The slowest Railroads Going.

Wakfng up Switchmen to Let Trains
 Pass-stoppIng to Give Little Girls a
 RTde-Incidents of Travel in Virginia.
 Washington Letter in New York Sun
 Time in Virginia has no value whatever. and, as it is the universal practice there nev. CT to do to-day what can be put of until to- morrow, little inconvenience arises. The railways are run on a happy go-lucky sched- ule, which is extremely diverting to those who have time in abundance, and the few who are pressed for minutes, being in a hopeless minority, rather afford occasion for mirth when they begin to kick at Virginia methods. The railway time tables are in perfection in the rural districts. Not long ago night train with party of New York CTS on board was humming along comforts. ply at ten-miles- -an-hour gait through 8 re. mote part of Virginia, when all at once, with tremendous jerk, it came to standstill The natives in the sleeping car did net think it worth while to ask the reason of the sud- den stoppage; the aliens did, though, and when the conductor strolled through the car roll of indignant inquiry went up. The conductor soothingly explained that they al- ways stopped at 8 switch for fear it might not be set.
 "But, good gracious, " exclaimed an irate New Yorker, ''where is the switchman ?"
 The conductor explained that the particu- lar sWitchman they then needed was probably asleep. Followed by objurgations, the con dcctor got off the train, went to the station house and pounded vigorously, shouting at the same time:
 Git up, Jim; the train's here, and a passel O them durned folks from up North is raisin' breeze cause the switch ain't set !"
 Jim called back, ''Pm a comin,'' and evidently turned over and went to sleep again. The Virginians on the train began to chuckle. Their sympathy was entirely with Jim and the conductor. The latter continued to urge Jim, who was always ''comin'," but didn't come. The conductor, at first apolo- getic, being goaded by the New Workers, now became pressing.
 Do, Jim," he anxiously said, ''get 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 8 burnt offering of Jim if that switch was not set in ten minutes Within the specified time Jim appeared. boiling with indignation and threatening to resign if he were again subjected to similar inconvenience.
 It is the custom along these provincial roads to stop the train at any point upon being signalled. People can be taken on and put of anywhere they like. fast train that is what they call twenty -miles-an-hour train-Was going through plantation a month or so ago and the passengers observed three little girls on the wayside waving their aprons frantically at the conductor. The train, of course, stopped. Ire tallest of the girls, g ten-years-old, with long eyelashes, bashfully remarked: "Won't you please give me and Katie and Fanny and the doggie : ride 9'' The conductor promptly consented and assisted Miss Eyelashes, her companions and the doggie on board. They rode on for readiness to get of. The train was stopped and they jumped down and scampered of Just as the train had started Miss Eyelashes rushed wildly back.
 "Oh. mister, if you please, don't go away till we get cross the creek. Mamma doesn't us and we have to carry the doggie."
 The conductor waited until final waving of white aprons on the other side of the creek signifed that his passengers were safe. Nobody on the train expressed surprise ex- cept the aliens Nobody who has ever been there before rushes to meet train in Vir- ginia. When the first railway train went through the ancient town of Williamsburg in October, 1881, it was advertised for o'clock. It was the time of the Yorktown centennial, and the town was full of strangers. These rashly appeared at the station at o'clock precisely. The natives meanwhile went about their business Toward 12 o'clock those of the natives who meant to board the 9 o'clock train assembled After waiting awhile they went of and sat on the COT rt house steps, leaving orders with negro to call them when the train came It did come some time in the afternoon, and the negro, running about the town, informed the pas sengers when the train would start.
 The present Norfolk and Western road was once the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio | Then Senator Mahone gobbled it up. The | Senator refers to Mrs. Malone always as '-Otelis. and she is popuIarly supposed tc | own more than her dover in all the senator 1 has. One day as train of freight cart marked "A. NJ. and O. was backing into tho | freight yard in Norfolk. pessimistio gentle man, remarked dolefully ''Yes. there it is A. M and O. That means All Mahone's ant | Otelia's"