The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-19
FROM HERE TO CALIFORNIA.
TIE IMPRESSIONS OF A NEW YORKER
TO WHOM THE TRIP ~ NEW.

Tie start In the ve.tibuis Trn,n-ouiek and
Luxurious RniiroRdinr-A shave On
Beard and . Hath if Yen ~ It-Nam-
moth Chicago Toweis-we stern stat ment
Great omahH-A Halt At Denver.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7.-When II comes to
long-distanco railroading, runs OF 1900 miles
and upward, the roads Of tho for West beat the
world; but for shorter distances, say a thou
sand miles, the two great roads OF the East OK
eel. To ride over tho Pennsylvania Chicago
limited from New York to Chicago Is to take
tho cream OF American r%ailroading. aud that
means the very best In the world. The New
York Central runs Just such another train. but
happen to live nearer tho Pennsylvania and
so l came by that road.
Tho train. as 1t stands In the station ut Jer-
soy City, is evidently something that the road
IA proud OF. The engine Is big. The engineer
Is that kind OF IN engineer who starts n train
Is gently as n mother rocks a cradle. but who,
rs you will discover when YOU get there. takcs
you through the country on tho schedule time.
When tho conductor says tho AL aboardl' the
porters at tho car entrances say "All of that's
going as the officer at the gang plank Of an
ocean steamer says All ashore that's going
just before the steamer starts. Those who
have come to see friends of look at them
through the broad windows as the train glidcs
out OF the station. and quiet, but none the less
s~rdently admiring railroad men. look below ut
every truck and wheel and journal box, not be-
cause 1t is necessary, for the train has already
been inspected. but they like to look at tho
train and to be sure again that the blossomed
pink OF the road is in perfect trim for another
1000 miles run in twenty-four hours.
Outside the cars are gorgeous; inside they
are beautiful and luxurious. You may meet
on any big road In any part OF the country cars
Is beautiful and perhaps quite as comfortable.
but here is a whole train Of luxury. The vesti-
bules between the cars are 80 deftly Joined that
you cannot discover under foot where the
platforms come together. and the carpoted way
ts lighted by a centre light overhead. In the
smoking room arc big. comfortably upholstered
wicker chairs, with broad. easy backs and rest
full arms. Books II you want to read. Cabinets
OF bric-a-brac, not too profuse. Rooms In
which you may play cards; electric bells that
will call a porter. who will fetch Apollinaris
water. or may be stronger waters in emergency.
Electric lights everywhere. had neglected to
get shaved. but the barber shop on the
train afforded comfortable opportunity. 1t
takes a pretty fair sort OF O mar to
shave another on q railroad train at forty or
fifty or more miles an hour. but he can do 1t,
though it Is not quito so easy rs to shave a a
on q steamer. However good the road and the
rolling stock may be, cars will sway; but tho
barber establishes a gentle but firm union OF
himself. the chair, and the patient. so that all
move together. and tho thing Is done. You may
take a bath on the train II you wish to do 30.
but I didn't. In the dining car the linen is fine.
the food is satisfactory. and the flowers in the
of the tables are fragrant and beautiful. and
when you get to Chicago you wonder what has
become Of the twenty.four hours.
you reach the railroad station. TIT city has
recently annexed some territory on the south,
Of almost any size. and It is a pretty sizeable
sort of a place, now. In, fact: Chicago is q
hustling giant that doesn't, ask any odds of
1t looks Jagged In spots. as though they hadn't
got i quite finished yet, but It is full Of people
nnce. Many Of the new business buildings are
mountains in size and solidity, and. SON Of
them are magnificent and beautiful as we'll.
would erect q structure OF violently contrast
Ing f iRsf "a and in non none Of the biE new build.
Immense building harmony is Carried Iiteraiiy
buildingi is of red brick with terra Gotta courses.
me brick: Tho door and window frames mes in H color
match all the rest, and tho skyliEht france IN
. tse s'S sessa 10 Ss %a ssf f the 5uiiGi nse Painted rhss us is
bright metals freely for top rails around gal
leTleb. On lul6TlOr courts anu openings Tor light
and for other purposes, and they are Kept
i You i've in the East and strike Chicago on
UPON the street on a Monday morning. Il tie
aay should stHam bs sh DAMP nYo and ,,Gpw low you see sm9 9ke
y,lstas at half a milo or a mile. or course. you
knoW they burn more soft coal p hard coal
the effect seems new to you. In bright clear
weather the effect is much less marked. but 1t
didn't strike me as unpleasant any. way; Seen
seemed like u great hive. in which every man
was working, vigorously and resolutely.
immense ofiees or rotundas. much larger than
any in New York. In the house ! stopped at
f iIisi great iL space pa, vas brilliantly Lighted by el &C.
light. and You are Just as likely to ind mean
ass sngwh iisa's si ia a HsSoss Of dn ,Y S}Ss d 5p ,Sls sneas
once or rotunda. and about half way up from
f ! ioor :, to tho lofty ceiling. is a sor, Of bridge.
the men below. who arc talking. walking.
ses oIn nb losnC q and y / suppose' fancy they
sss oa adj eiahs u its @q rotun ntis, a twas Wash sn room ho ier
guests. l didn't count the bowls. but
II never roo saw SO or many wash bowls
you: Instead Of supplying at convenient points
there were on two sides OF the lofty room rows
81 roller towels that were, simply stupend0us.
Idhey were each at least thirty feet long, The
nrst impression OF these monster towels was
that, they must become soiled. and that they
you'd soon be linen cliffs Of unsightliness: but
I am bound to say that they were so constantly
re 4 that they wore always fresh, and clean.
the hy n,s bolt Of a aooihorse power engine
fSs S, Is the barber shop Which is by long odds
evsrywhere, and incnndescent lights by tho
score. i didn't count tho chairs. l asked
wv oi, the men in. the shop. and they
gave figures that did not agree. Even
In Chicago you strike the foothills OF the West
mote, East, might call mendacity. but which l
should rather term a certain degree OF buoy
ancy OF expression, especially whom applied to
facts and figures. This buoyancy sometimes
almost yerges on exagGeration. as. for ex-
ample. In the prompt and polite reply thRt you
get to your inquiry about the population OF n
town; but between Chicago and the Rocky
Mountains there is yet room for almost any
form OF expression In this great and growing
country. and am not certain that the Western
man Is any more oDen to charges on this ground
his Eastern brother. Regions vary in
their natural features, but In their bedrock
the world.
:. Permitting. this big hotel the indulgence OF
!these TWO weird attachments, the gigantic bar
Der shop. where you look at yourself in a bey-
elled glass mirror in the ceiling. and the end