River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-06-14
LETTER FROM GERMANY.
IenNrINrEn i

- Iii ittuIH gLttiWhW Is
lc0NTTNUED.
TWAS getting dark and the rain fair
ly poured down upon some of the un-
protected people. Our own little
party was right well pleased to feel
again the exhilerating motion of a
railroad train. and looked forward
with quiet satisfaction to a peaceful
slumber upon a firm bed. not rocked
IN the "cradle of the deep" While
thus pleasantly slowed away in coy
little compartment. speeding away at
the rate of 10 or so miles an hour be-
hind the great. painting "iron horse,
/ will take the opportunity TO CON-
pare English trains and cars with our
own. An English car seems to be
built for the express benefit of small
parties. The single mans comfort is
not taken so much into consideration.
If one desires to travel i'm company
with a small party of half dozen indi.
vidu3is, the English arrangement is in
some respects preferable to our own.
Such a party would be accommodated
with compartment limited to its own
use. during at least the greater pOr.
ton, if not all the journey. Its en-
i0yment would not he interferfd with
by the intrusion Of stranger. On
the other hand if one wishes to travel
alone or in the company of a smaller
party. our own Pullman cars are most
decidedly to be preferred. Again, if
high speed of travel is desired, it is
more likely to he secured ON an Eng.
lsh train. In fact the English passen-
ger train is the fastest in the world.
The Manchester express and the Fly
ing Dutchman both have the reputa.
ton of travelling during portions of
their respective trips at the rate of
from 30 10 so miles an hour. Ii |
have been correctly informed, all Eng
lish passenger trains move faster than
our own. If, however. it be a Ques-
tion of travelling in the winter time,
in my opinion country barn is more
comfortable than an English passen-
ger car. In the former one might keep
warm 10y walking about, whereas on
board the latter, the only way for an
American to keep comfortably warm
is to stir the fires of wrath and indig-
nation, for there are no others to stir.
When it gets cold enough to freeze an
3Al14tAtlrttAs 1 ttA4 LAtAA NDAilE EAlOt -
are made to introduce little heat
into the compartments by means of
tin pans full of hot water, placed be-
meath the feet of the passengers, and
renewed from station TO station or
whenever deemed necessary. How
ever, when the temperature gets up to
90 OF 65 degrees Fahrenheit an Eng
lishman becomes uncOmfortably warm
without even wearing an oYercOat.
Very few Americans are accustomed
TO sit still in lower temperature
than 81 degrees without feeling I'M
comfortably cold, especially In moist
atmosphere. With reference to other
accommodations such as we have on
all American trains. as for instance
the possibility of securing fruit, news
papers, books, or even water or the
use of a toilet room. such are alto
gether wanting on an English train.
Furthermore, there is no communities
ton between the various departments,
making it impossible for a traveller to
search for a friend or acquaintance.
The passenger has the choice of two
seats if one of them be not already
occupied. These two seats face each
other Tall people should be careful
not to sit opposite each other ii they
wish to avoid confusion as to owner
ship Of knees. feet, and lower extremi-
ties in general. A tall man should not
wear plug hat, FOR if he arises to his
feet, it is sure TO have a .'shindy'
with the roof of the car and may dis.
turb his good nature. An English
car seems to be provided with doors in
Of forte fhnva
orally from eight to twelve to every
car, from four to six on each side.
The arrangement is the same in all
the classes, first, second, or third.
The real difference between the three
classes is simply matter of complete
less in style and finish of cushions,
upholstering, ETC., and there is little
more room for the passenger in the
first class than in the third-elass COM
partment, whereas the cost of first.
class ticket is four times as much as
third-class one.
This much for the personal comfort
of the passenger. now just word
concerning the baggage. OF luggage,
as the English people call it. The sys-
tenn in respect to this, | am told. is
very unjustly condemned by Ameri-
cans. In referring to the subject we
are told to bear in mind that the
English are an honest people and if
one does not get check for his bag
gage, that should offer no occasion for
anxiety or concern. 1t is sure to be
dumped at the station to which it has
been sent, and if the owner is not on
hand to claim it. he may be sure to
find it somewhere about the depot.
either within or without. unless some
porter has carried it off by mistake.
All train officials. however, advise the
! traveller to be on hand to claim his
| baggage when the train stops. If he
/ exercises good judgment. he follows
the advice ana crowds around the
baggage car with several hundred
other persons, men. women and chill.
dren, every one trying to be first.
| When he secures a desired point of
| observation. he keeps his eyes open
very widely. both to avoid being
knocked down by a flying trunk, and
/ to get a view of his own darling trunk
as it comes forth with a handspring
and double somersault, dropping a
| hinge or a handle on the way. just by
way of relieving itself of unnecessary
details, and peacefully settles down up
on the platform. like Doctors patient
with the mumps on both sides of his
| face. But then we are told, Ameri-
| cans are trunk smasheTs too, and so
/ they are. If however, by accident
| one 5 trunk should take notion to
| leak ana should seed down several dis
| tricts with hountiful variety of linen,
| boots, hats, and underwear. there is
some chance in America to get the
] loss made good. Not so in England
/ A trunk is carried at the owners risk
unless it has been especially insured.
/ But now. methinks. hear some one
/ say umsteigen;" that means the
/ train Las finally reached Glasgow.
Here our little party stopped at the
/ hntAl in ST. Ennrh's station. q very