The Portland daily press., 1884-02-25
Queer Virginia Customs.
stepping Train 20 Give n Little Girl 9
Rids-A sleepy switehmRn.
IN. Y. SUM-

Time in Virginia has no value whatever,
and, as 1t is the universal practice there new
er to do to-day what can be put on until to-
morrow. little Inconvenience arises. The
railways are run on happy-go-lucky sched-
uie, which Is extremely dlverting to those
who have time In abundance, and the few
who are pressed for minutes, being In .
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 a party of New York
els on board was dumping along comforta-
bly, at ten -miles-an-houi gait through re-
aote part of Virginia, when all at once,
with tremendous JERK, 1t came to stand
still. The natives In the sleeping car did
not think 1t worth while to ask the reason
of tie sudden stoppage; the aliens did,
lhough, aud when the conductor strolled
through the car roar Of indignant inquiry
went up. The conductor soothingly ex-
Dlained that they alw-ys stopped At switch
for fear 1t might not be set.
''But good gracious" exclaimed an irats
new IOTkcI, Wu6Tc 8 lkio oNICutuAnf
The conductor explained that the particu-
lar switchman they then needed was proba-
bly, asleep. Follnwed by objurgstlons, the
conductor got off the train, went TO the sta
lion house and pounded vigorously, shout
ing at the same time:
"Git up, Jun; the trains here, and pas
sci o. them burned folks from 10 North 10
rasin' breeze cause he switch amt set."
Jim called back. Pm . comm" aud eyi--
H..s, los asrrx n ar md urap n
The Virginians on the train began to chuckle.
Their sympathy was entirely with jim and
the conductor. The latter continued 70
urge Jim, who was always "comin'," but
iidn't come. The conductor, at first apollo
geiic, being goaded by the New Yorksrs,
now became pressing.
"Do, J.m.' he anxiously said, ''git mp
and set the durn thing 80 the tram can 90
by"
Jim continued obdurate until one Of the
New YOrkers arose from bis berth and, clad
in rage and checked ulster, got off the car
and threatened to set fire TO the station
house and make burnt Offering Of Jim il
that switch was not set in ten minutes.
Within the specified time Jim appeared,
boiling with indignation and threatening to
resign Il he were again subjected to similar
Inconvenience. .
II is the custom along these provincial
being sigpalled. People can be taken on
and put of anywhere they like. A fast
train--that is, what they call twenty-miles-
an-hour train-was going through plaRta-
ton mouth or so ago, and the passengers
observed three little girls on the wayslde
waving their white aprons frantically at the
conductor. The train of course stopped.
The tallest of the girls, a ten-year old. with
long eyelashes, bashfuily remarked: Won't
.1la nj nd Rxfi nd
and the doggie a ride?'' The conductor
promptly consented, and assisted Miss Eye
lashes, her companions, and the doggie on
board. They rode on for mile or two, and
then they announced their readiness TO get
of The train was stopped, and they
jumped down and scsmped off. Just as the
train had started Miss Eyelashes rushed
wildly back.
''Oh, mister, if you please. don't go away
ill we get cross the cree. Mamma doesn't
let us go over IL less somebody's watching
us, and We have to carry the dogeie.'
The conductor waited until final waving
of white aprons on the other side of the
creek sigDi6ed that his passengers were safe.
Nobody In the train expressed surprise ex-
cept the aliens. Nobody who has ever been
there before fushes to meet train 10 Vir-
gipia. When the first railway train went
through the ancient town of Williamsburg
IN OCODer, 1oo1s II was advertised Tor
O'Clock. " was The time of The Yorktown
centennial and the town was full of strang-
ers. These rashly appeared at the station
at 8 o'clock precisely. The natives mean.
while went about their business. Toward
II O'clock those Of the natives who meant
10 board the 8 o'clock traiE assembled. At
ter Visiting while they went off and sat on
the Court House Steps. leaving orders with
Aid M fi.,,a efta--ce,,-.l
the nsgrc, running about the town, Informed
the passengers when 1t would start.