The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-05
THE TRAIN FEVER.
An EasIi.h Humorist Discusses n Peculis.
Disease.


Disease.
Among the diseases OF modern ~,
and one which DR.. Richardson las
hitherto paid hardly any attention, is
the train fever, an insidious malads
which. if it is not altogether under
mining the British constitution, helps
largely to make life more miserable to
many. Some people escape this disease
altogether, but they are the select few.
The majority suffer from it in one way
or another. frequently without their
knowledge. This fever seizes some
people every day as soon as their eyes
are opened, They have to be at the
station at 9:59, say, and life is a zymotic
ferment till they get there. Every
movement is checked off by the watch;
if the victim is rather late in shaving,
he has to make up time over his hair
dressing; and should there be a debit
balance at the hour of breakfast, it has
to be liquidated over the coffee.
Then comes the race for the train:
there are so many minutes allowed. cal
culated to sach nicely that if the
patient hears the whistle of the APP
preaching train before he gets to the
grocer's shop, Or the elm tree in the
lane, or some other noted mark on his
chart, he knows he must run for it.
And very often he has to run. for some
times it is wet morning. and he can
not Law his hand on his umbrella; or his
wife has some very important con-
mission to give him, and can not pc
member them IF she is hurried 50. >
but will not let him 90 till she does; Or
perhaps ne must 90 back ever 50 many
yards to kiss the baby, who will Cry al
day if it is done ont of this mark OF
respect So by the time he has :each.'I
the station the fever has done its fill
work for the day, has upset his nerl IS
and his digestion, and set him gaSpilg
and painting all the way up town. 20
be sure. he catches his train. OF couP Sc
he might have caught his train qul;e
easily if he had got up in good time
and thought nothing about it; but tie
fever will not allow 4 man to do that.
1t is astonishing how men will 90 ~
day after day, year after year, repeat
ing this sad experience. They can no
more shake off the fever by taking tinic
by the forelock than they can fly. It
would be amusing, were it not grievOis.
to stand outside suburban station AMI
watch the race in for the morning train.
Up come the fever stricken, with a1X-
ious countenanceS. some running ont
right; some, whose dignity will not al.
low them to run, walking double pace
with set teeth and firmly clenched I'm
brellas and bags; all hurrying and fall
ing back half exhausted when they
reach their carriage.
The fever, as it affects some fadia'.
is really too awful to dwell upon.
Many ladies to whom railroad travelling
was youthful wonder, are impelled tc
90 to the station to make personal in
quiricS as to the times of starting. The
day before the intended journey is gen
orally dedicated to this preliminary sat,
isfaction of the fever. But there is nc.
peace either to the patients or to their
households for hours before the time
fixed. The fever always impelS them to
the station full half hour before it i;
necessary, and sometimes actuates
them to hook their umbrellas into
porters' neckclotheS, or to seize guards
as emotionally rs if they were recog-
nizing in them long-lost sons. Upon
other ladies, however, the train fever
has m opposite effect. 1t fills them
with dull despair. They know that
they have always missed the train they
have fixed upon, and always will. Ii
the train they want to 90 BY starts n
nine and the next at 1870, still pursued
by the relentless demon, they will start
for the nine. and, of course miss it, and
will sit in the waiting room for the next
hour and half with lack-luster eye and
wan countenance. 1t is their fate, they
know, and it is useless to struggle
against fate. -LOniOR GLOBE.