Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
ITALIAN RAILWAYS.
THEIR OIscoMEoRTs AS COMPARED
WITH THE AMERICAN ROADS.

WITH THE AMERICAN ROADS.
A Ride in Europe Becomes Penance In
stead Of PIeasurs-scene at IL station
In Itaiy-Three Sorts of CoDveyances.
Conductor and Engineer.
The United States SURPRISES the world in
railroad travelling. A trip there can be made
with comfort. In Europe il becomes pen
ance. A vast field Of operations is open to
the professional corporation wreckers OF
America If they would only transfer their
genius TO this quarter Of the globe. The
travelling public ON this side Of the Atlantic,
at least would be glad Of their appearance,
because in their manipulations some comforts,
at least would be instituted. As bad as it is
in England, steam journeying in this quarter
Of the globe falls below even that standard
In the winter season fellow, if not care
full, will have his toes iced in his boots or
contract pneumonia There are no stoves in
the carriages, as they are termed, and the
only means of heat Is supplied at the prin-
cipal stations by sheet iron TASKS, shaped like
big army canteens, filed with hot water, that
are showed into each compartment. Before
thirty minutes elapse their surfaces are
chilled; for let it be remembered, all the sem
timentalites concerning the balmy dir OF
pie. Snow covers the ground, and the cold
is biting, especially so if you sit in it as you
have to do when making any excursion
CONDUCTOR AND ENGINEER
Along the route an opportunity to protest
Is never offered, because there is not a con
ductor with the train except on rare occa-
sions, and then that functiOnary cannot
reach you while the wheels are whirling
along, since the carriages have no contlnu-
Gus platform communication, the doors be-
ing ON the side. 1t is exactly like riding In
hacks fastened to gondolas, with only this
exception: that there are six seats in each
compartment three on each side The engi-
neer is the monarch of the train, only be-
tween station and station, however, which
distance he covers as best he can. As soon
he steams up to depot government OIL
Ger blows a brass horn, whereupon he is
compelled to choke Off the motive power at
once, for the government runs the railroads.
An ugly fist it makes of it. The profits are
enormous, nevertheless, inasmuch as the eX
penses of employees are comparatively small.
At tho stations carriage doors are jerked
open and tickets inspected that will not be
collected before the traveller alights at his
destination. To be able to take meal at n
station, no matter the length of time train
is scheduled to remain, is a novelty. When
or ring a bella la millaman-the engineer
has to SEND the engine on its way immedi-
ately. A station master must have one Sec
ton cleared off before he can order another
on its way. To propose to him to have as
many trains to run as is customary in the
larger depUts of the United States would be
simply to threaten him with spasms
THREE SORTS oS CoNvEYANCEs.
There are three sorts of conveyances, first,
second and third class-all of poor class
To ride in superior carriage means to sit
on IA numbering cushion, with a tidy at your
back and your luggage in rack over your
head. II you are alone you can stretch to an
adjoining seat; your legs, as a consequence
being somewhat higher than your head, be-
cause of padded arm rest between every
pair of seats. intermediate transportation
consists of similar accommodations, in car
riages padded in an inferior manner, while
the third class means roughing it on bare
boards. Your vis-a-vis may not be agree
able, but you have to succumb to the exigen-
cies of the trip. Your fellow travellers often
amuse themselves by commenting on your
makeup, you know by their whispered
conversation and stealthy, smiling glances.
Because, as an American, used to better
treatment, you fail to bring horse blanket
with you, in which to wrap your knees and
feet you are looked upon as an Exquimau.
A pair of rubber shoes are a source of curl
osty, not infrequently of laughter Other
men and women travel in low cut shoes, and
with blue, pnched noses. 1t is all summed
under the head of custom. The American
traveller is amused in his turn by fellow
running along the roofs of the carriages,
red hot poker in his hand, lighting any way
he could the wicks of gasoline lamps that IL
Illuminate the padlocked cells. Nor is the en-
joyIneut diminished at the discovery that the
boosted lightning express trains stop at every
station, big and little. The duties of the con-
ductor of the sleeping cars berth which has
to be secured oftentmes three days in ad-
vance, if even then chance comes to get in
one, are to make the beds of the passengers
and blacken their shoes. The English system
goes beyond this. In a corner of the coach is
heated stove, with a kettle of water on the
top. The conductor makes a cup of tea when
requested. The Italian official carries your
sachel You Sleep that is if you can, cross
wise in q car not any higher than a circus
cage, and in the morning congratulate your
self that the car springs did not punch into
your ribs.-Rome Cor. Baltimore Sun