The Somerset reporter., 1885-06-10
Selected.
TALKING 4 SLEEPER.
Unru1ied Conductor aud Ed0er
Passengers.
TIE SERENE MAN AID MS LOWER penrn


Did You EYER ponder on the fact that a
city fifty or seventy life miles AVA =
harder To get al in fhc matter Of comlort
than n city 200 o. 800 miits away The
Invention Of the 'Isiecperf j. the c3u,e Of
this anon ~. Il j. not worth whlle pct
ting into Il sleeper Tor Il Ito uliie run feu
either hayr to start too late or get up too
eafiy, or boih. But on the long route you
get to bed in time aud before you know IL
you are there No time lost-nO mouote-
nous rail way journey. The Chicago sleep
er train must be ID tine sight a II PUSHES Oh
through the night, with the moonlight
shining n it. The sleeper l. larger aud
more splendid Than the ordinary day car,
aud each sleeper has d fiue sounding pane
as if it were steamship. The name alone
would make an imposing proceS lion.
There is Tue Kirkwood," "Tbe Bucking-
ham Palace" car. the "Mattawassai oss la
wantime," "Kinny bunk, ''The Scagerack-
torbunk," and 50 on. Anything with
"bunk" in is considered especially apple
able to sleepers. The computes have a
standing contract with the State of Maine,
from which place most of the names are
taken from the stump, polished up at the
shops and applied 10 sleeper.
As the man with his yalise passes the
ticket inspector at the Michigan Central
station, he sees what would be considered
a wonderful sight if it were not SO COM
mon. There is long line OF sleepers
glistenng in the electric light, gilded,
pain ed, plate-glass and silvered-gprgeo on,
but strong. AWAY at the further end IN
the darkness stands the Kissing and i'm
patient engine, throwing rudy light
around as the fireman opens the furnace
doors Mountains Of baggage trundle past
ptopel ed by men at the mountain bases, al
most hid from sighr. The man Who has
secured his ''lower center berth and has
deposited his belongings thereon, aud
hanging his tall hat on the polished brass,
upright rod above the berth, walks serene
ly up and down the platform with silk
travelling cap on his head, smoking an az
ter-supper cigar.
Around the sleeper conductor stand
biealhless, eager men with small valsc in
hand or sung with strap from the should
er. The conversation is about as follows:
"Say, conductor, any lowers left?
"Have you got my name there any
where?'
Cant you do better than thatT
Upper berth? No, sir Got to give me
lower perth or I'll sue the company"
"rhat ones too near the door,.
THAT the best you can do!s
The conductor slauUs eaiG anl .lrut,ied,
He goes rough Il hurricane of such qner-
les every uigl and he minds them no more
than the idle wind, which he regards not.
In his hand are cards with tie plans the
sleepers Hung from his elbow is his gilt
tering silver and glass lantern.
.Whut name, please? JonesT | can give
YOU lower I in 'The Sansantitus, Mr..
Jones'"
He crosses out the lower with his pen-
Gil on he diagram.
"No, haven't a DIVER lefs on The Vel
lowstopicon.' Give you upper 4? Wei, if
you take the Kirkwoud can let you have
lower 10"
Lower 10 is marked off
Suddenly the long line of cars gives a
shudder and subdued sound OF bump
hnmn-hump Comes down along the line.
The train backs II few inches aod stands
still again. The engine has hitched on.
On the great white disc of the tower
clock, behind which quivc's the internlt
tent arc light OF electricity, the black
hands point at one minute to g. The last
load OF baggage has struggled Oh to the
'front.' Belated travellers are hurlylng
through tho cato. Tho anxiety now il not
whether they get lower bunk, but wheth-
err they catch the tram.
The hands now stand AT y lie roar oil
escaping steam from the ehger engine
browns all sounds. Everybody is on board
and the porters have picked up the iittle
foot-stools with carpet-covered tops that
stood at the car steps. The swarthy face
of The engineer CLEANS in the white light
MS he leans out of the cab window and
waits for the uplfted hand Of the conduct
or The man has his hand on the gate end
the gate is half way closed. An unseen
electric bell rings out its sharp, piercing
signal, and the deep-toned bell ON the en-
CINE answers it. The last man pluneeS
headlong through the closing gate, which
clicks after him. The conductor swings
himself on the last car, and with low,
mu1lled rumble the sleeper train begins tc
move.
The Chicago sleeper has gone Detroit
Free Press.