San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-07-22
Over an English Railway.
Jorrespondence of The FnrE Pnxss.

Correspondence of the FREE PExss.)
Early in the morning of June 4tl
we walked down the gang plank and
stood once more upon dry land. The
custom house officers were there tc
meet us and rs soon as our wheels
and baggage were handed mp from
the hold of the ship we presented
ourselves for examination. They
were kind and gentlemanly in per
forming their duty and were soon as
sured that we carried no tobacco,
liquor or jewelry. We were then
ready to move toward the interior.
We visited "Sewiss," great mer-
chant of Liverpool, who has recently
rented the steamship Great Eastern
for eight thousand pounds for SIX
months and was using her as an ad-
vertisement for his business. She was
lying a short distance from the main
landing, beautifully decorated, and
filed with all manner of attractions
One shilling admitted person upon
small vessel which conveyed him
to the great ships side, to q concert
and other entertainments upon board
and landed him. We admired his
great store but concluded we had no
admiration for ships. We were soon
escorted to the railroad station where
we found our wheels and baggage.
They told us that the peculiar string
of vehicles we saw on the track was
our train. Being of an inquiring dis
position, as Yankees usually are, we
asked them if they called those cars9
NO" they replied, "they are carri-
ages" There were now eight i'll our
party for the wives of our friends had
Joined us at the hotel. We approach
ed one of these carriages and opened
a door, which was at the side instead
of at the end. We counted out our
crowd and sized up the seating ca
pacity, and was fearful that we would
have to be divided but found that the
carriage would accommodate us.
Some of the boys inquired if we
were all that could be carried in our
coach. With some astonishment they
informed us that therewere two other
departments similar to ours, second
and third class, that would hold eight
or ten apiece. Our wheels and bag
gage were lifted in the van (baggage
carr We were now ready to ride
over an English railway. Bump,
bump, goes the cars and we stick
our heads out of the window to learn
the trouble. Something they call ar
engine has taken hold of us and
away we go like the wind through
tunnels, over rivers, winding through
the country, beautiful with the yer
dure of spring Yes, to us it was at
tractive, so odd, 50 strange. But
what do yon do for fire in the win
ter time? ono of us inquired. We
were informed thrt water was heated
in long pans at various stations along
the road, and pushed in at the door
when needed, used in the same manner
as we use slabs for feet warming.
We, of course, couldn't help but com
pare our beautiful coaches so com.
Portable and convenient. But we
were with Britishers and were re-
that we must adapt ourselves
to their ways Hence we concluded
that English cars ran just as fast and
faster on short runs. and
that they rode MS easy, but could
not persuade ourselves that they
would answer for our country, and
quite likely ours would not do for
them.
We have had several pleasant
rides upon our wheels, but two of
our number are waiting 10 purchase
At Birmingham. The roads to an
American are grand but they tell us
just 10 wait until we get started to-
ward London. / believe that / am
the most attractive man in all Eng
and that rides a wheel-for a star,
it being the peculiar machine that /
is a wonder to all Where
ever 1 stop they swarm around Ike
bees to see it run, and / endeavor TO
The best Of my ability 10 show it mp
md many funny remarks arc passed,
Dut they are forced at last TO at least
ldmirc American genius. We arrive
n Birmingham at ~ m June IL and
Fend Our way up the busy streets 10
i hotel that has been recommended
We intend to remain here and in the
icinity until after the Whitsuntde
so,idays are over which oocur next
week J. ". V