The Osceola times., 1885-06-20
LOST HIS RAILROAD NEpv-
a Travelling Man Who Ha, Bec,u :.
bidly Fearful Of An Aecia.. Aoi

Travelling Man Who Ha, Bee,m.
bidly Fearful OF an Aeciden, "or-
A rowing theatrical manager a.,
newspaper man were break 'as,in
the Morton House one day last ~
when the former remarked az a.
trying to get control of a house Of m m
own, so that can locate permanena':
In fact. have lost my railroad n.rsan
"Your railroad nerve; what do vo,,
mean?" ''u
Just what l say. I have lost ~.
railroad nerve. Up to about vs,,
ago felt almost as safe on a raiwa'
train as did in hotel, but since ths,
time, for some cause or other. L bara
become morbidly apprehensiye of raI
road accidents. and now, when trayai
ing. | fret and worry all the time
can't rest in sleeper any more. Man
time have lain awake all night ana
even If / do doze, the slightest ont'nt 1
the-way jar will startle and arousa ~.
in the most unpleasant manner II tho
train slackens its speed. dread tha,
we are too close to another. and
sometimes become so agitated that 7
leave my berth and walk the aisle for
an hour at time" |tH
You should conquer your fears ~
said the newspaper man. when
step on train ! consider that nv fate
is in the hands OF others-that WORRY
or fret gill not avail one particle ~
help me in ease of trouble-and sleen
almost as well in Pullman or a Wac.
ner as | do in my own bed"
81 have tried to reason myself out Of
my fears" was the response, "but
can't know have only got to die
once, and that must die some time
Honestly, though am not at all dis.
posed to 20 off the hooks just yet, tho
fear of instant death is not SO much
what haunts me as the dread of acci.
dent that would deprive me of a limb
or otherwise cripple me permanently.
Did you ever see one-armed or one
legged theatrical manager or agent?
We have hard enough times TO get
along with all our limbs and faculties.
To deprive me of q leg or an arm would
be to take away my means of living and
cause me to resort to some other that
would perhaps make me a semi-mendi.
cant. That is what fear, and il il
that which has deprived me of my rail.
road nerve. will make almost any
sacrifice that will enable me to locate
and regain my former buoyancy OF
spirits. Even rs | talk with you now
fret because have to take the train for
Boston to-day, and won't feel easy in
my mind till | get to the end of nv
journey, and not then, for | know I
have to come back again"
"Are your fears shared by many
other managers or actors?"
Indeed they are, but few of them
care TO acknowledge it. know lots Of
drummers. too, who feel Just as | do.
Stand in front of ticket Office before
the departure of through train,
especially at night, and watch the men
buy accident insurance tickets, and you
will be surprised to find how many there
are who, like me, have lost their rail-
road nerve. A year ago hadn t gray
ha r in my head Now there are pleaty
of them. Still, il circumstances compel,
| will be on the road next season. with
only one consoling thought, and that is
that perhaps after all may never get
a scratch. while some one who never
gave the matter thought, or who
would laugh at il if he did. may be
killed by derailment or n collision
within year. 1t is strange though.
considering how much they travel. how
few actors get hurt, and don't believe
one in a thousand ever buys an accident
ticket They are too superstitious, and
feel that if they were t, insure they
would be certain to beat the game and
have to die to do it."-M J. san.