Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-01
FRENCH lsAuLwAY TRAVEL.

Paris Letter IN the raafug Post.
PARIS, May 1S.-To a New Yorker who
makes his exact calculation of the time
required to walk from mis- Office to the
nearest station on the elevated railway so
that he may arrive at the Grand Central
station at the precise moment Of the de-
parture OF the train, or five minutes ear
lier if he has luggage to be checked, this
notice at the French "Gares" will seem
TO Indicate willtul robbery Of portion
of his life upon earth-"N0 tickets issued
alter five minutes, and no luggage receiy-
ed after fifteen minutes before the depart
ure of the train" Nevertheless the rule
Is rigidly enforced, and saves great deal
of trouble and many mistakes likely to
arise from the confusion Of the last mo-
ment. Everything here being done de-
Gently and in order, no one has right
10 complain if by his own fault he is left
behind.
Our countrymen are apt to complain Of
the Inconvenience of European railway
carriages, as Europeans are likewise
ready 10 find fault with American cars.
If all were suited they would all be de-
prived 0fthe inestimable right 10 grumble.
1t Is broad question, and there rs a great
deal TO be SAID upon both sides. In
America we have what were ordinarily
considered tirst-class cars, but which,
since the Introduction of Pullman's inven-
lions, are really second class, and have
since that time actually deteriorated.
Then we have what are called secOnd-class
and emlgrant cars, which are more com
Portable than they formerly We're. All Of
them are arranged on the tOre-and-aft
principle, so that a person may travel
from one end of the train TO another with
out any other Inconvenience than that Of
the liability to fall of and break his neck.
This is, OF course, his own affair; but in
France people are not always permitted
to have affairs Of their own. The railway
company, made responsible for the loss Of
life, reduces the risk TO a minimum by
securing the passengers IN close cOmpart-
ments. THIS process involves not only
the loss of individual liberty to live or to
die as one pleases, but it is often pun
fshment worse than that of solitary con-
hnement, when the enforced companions
ship Of disagreeabe or perhaps dangerous
persons Is tue result. On the other hand,
the American car is overheated at both
ends, and cold, according to the distance
from the stoves, in winter. a current of air
streaming through as the doors are open
ed at stations. The European railway
compartment IS moderately heated when
il Is desirable 10y movable hOt-water pipes,
and side windows may be opened or
CLOSED by common consent.
1t is an Old adage that ''0nlv princes,
fools and Americans travel in first-class
carriages" ! am one OF those Americans,
and for the sake Of personal comfort am
willing TO be called fool. A first-class
French railway carriage, especially a
coupe, and more especially c0tpe-in,
leaves nothing to be desired for travel by
day or by night. Your position is semi
TeCumbeut in the cOUpe-iH, entirely so if
f.ianGA 81, . 10, al
is pure and fresh, when it cannot be by
any possibility in an American sleeping
car. Inc cOUpe-Ht is simply arranged for
two persons instead of for four, and ten
pillows are provided, It being expected
that the occupants Will bring their own
rugs. A curious cOntriyance called
Ded-WagOn has been lately introduced
upon some of the longer routes. The bed
wagon resembles series of dog kennels.
a narrow passage way runs along the
side, and the animals are smut up in cribs
winch run athwartships. They don't
breathe the atm sphere of other people,
but they have little air of their own. As
an American or a fool l would prefer a
third-class car to one Ofthese bed-wagOns.
Ihey are even great deal worse than one
OF our ordinary 'sleepers." 1t may he
said in Justice to the travelling public
that they are not very generally used.
Their discomfort and high charges forbid
much patronage. The bed-wagon COM
pany pays to the railway COMPANY one
half the fare collected. Consequently the
passenger pays two fares instead Of one,
and TINS sort OF thing is not in accordance
with French IDEAS Of economy. The only
luxury Of the bed-wagOn, in addition to
the pillow provided for the c0upe-ltt, is
rug or blanket for each bed. There were
no sheets or pillOw-cases in those upon
Our train. low, while clean pillOw-cases
are thu Indispensable accompamments Of
decency, | think that whatever the mo-
nNes ol lhe French bpd-wGgOn company
may be- in tue omission Of sheets, it is ius-
tliIa0e o M sanitary point OF view. and
II would b" well for the Pullman company
10 initiate the example. Few people in
our "seepcrs" actually undress them
selves when they turn in, SO that they have
no need for sheets.
In summing up our comparison of the
french aud the American railway sys-
tens OF providing for the comfort OF pas
sengers, one important consideration in
favor OF The former must not be omitted
IL Is the absence OF the candy fiend. What
acontrast to him is the pretty country
girl VINO here comes TO your window when
the train stops al a way station, and tim
IDLY asks you To buy her flowers and fruit.
ana lastly, what OF the cOnductOrR The
conductor il AN American institution. He
realizes his Importance. He has made
hilhseil necessity. The question arises,
why IS he not a necessity in Franceg Why
are there not doors at the ends OF the cars
here, so that he can be perpetually rush
ing through with his rough commands TO
SHOW your Tickets" never allowing you
70 dream yourselfintO Oblivion OF his ON
nipresenceg Count, II you have fingers
enough on both Of your hands, the number
81 MS inquisitorial yisitatiOns between
New York and Boston, and remember at
the same time that YOU can escape him
y you travel by night in sleeper"
Then why can he not keep out OF sight In
the daytimeg In France DO you see moth
ing Of BIN by night or by day. Why, on
entering our compartment Ut AK, does
polite official touch his cap and say.
"Mesdames et mcsseurs, yos billets, s'il
Nous plat" and when we hand them 10
him, why do we see him no oreg Posi-
bly, there may De among your readers
some who can answer these questions.
but for myself, although Of an inquirng
mind, have never been able 10 solve
them.
Whatever estimate NAV be taken Of this
somewhat elaborate comparison Of the
conNenlences for railway travelling in
France and in the United States, there is
one custom here which SO much affects
The ueaeo of mind ard tho ,npEpf ~ fha