The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-03-31
An English Traveller in America.
His Praise of the Pennsy yIvanta's New York
and Chicago LimIted.

From y. y. Times. Mdrch IatH. 1883.
The following extract from an Eng
lish gentleman's letters to a friend in
London, shows him to be a keen OBJ
server, and demonstrates his apprecia
ton of American railway methods as he
found their best exempIifcation on the
Pennsylvania Railroad.
Having determined to 20 to the
West, | cast about tor The best means
of reaching that great land. There are
no Bradshaws in America, bu. every
railway company issues in the most pro-
fuse quantities timetable and guide
books to their lines, and the booking
agents, who seem to be ubiquitous as
well as omnipresent, are exceedingly
accommodating in furnishing every de-
tail of Information tourist would need.
bethnught me of conversation | had
had on board the steamer with clever
young American, in which he had
spoken very warmly the praises of the
Pennsylvania Route, and especially of
their very excellent trains between New
York and Chicago. | followed up this
clue, and found that the piece dc re-
SiStance OF their service was the New
York and Chicago Limited, train in
whose description the agent grew elo
quent. The result was that | booked
for it, and am free to confess that |
never did wiser thing. In order to
thoroughly appreciate the usefulness of
this tram you must know that it sup
plies everything one needs to foster en-
joyment and make the time pass
pleasantly. Its carriages are SO won
derfully constructed that they provide
food, lodging, and entertainment. My
train was to leave New York at 9 O'Clock
in the morning, SO arose at s, dressed.
and proceeded to the station At a
few minutes past 9 the wheels began to
revolve, and we were off through the
low lands of New Jersey. The fresh
morning air had given an edge to my
appetite, and in the wake of the attend
ant, whom the Americans, with then
nice sense of the fitness of things, call
porter because he carries your bag
gage upon the slightest encouragement,
| entered the dining car and was
served with breakfast. The designation
dining car is a misnomer. | would
suggest that the Pennsylvania Railroad
people change 1t to 'refectory.' The
main saloon of the carriage is fitted
with tables, ranged ON either side, with
an aisle in the middle. These tables
seat four persons, and are covered with
the snowiest of linen, the brightest
plate, and dainty china. The menu
covered the entire range of American
breakfast dishes, and my selections
were promptly served, beautifully
cooked, and, | can assure you, heartily
relished. The novelty OF the situation
lent an added zest to the meal, anC
when lad concluded my repast and
tipped the sable servitor, he volunteered
the information that we were passing
through Trenton, fifty-seven miles from
New York Flfty-seven miles between
the fruit and the finger bowl was not by
any means a bad start, | reflected.
"Aftcr breakfast wandered INTO the
smoking room, aud here another sur
prise awaited me. Instead of a smok
ing room, found a most pleasantly
fitted lounging apartment. Comfortable
arm chairs, inviting dlvans, and books
newspapers, and periodicals were ready
at hand. lighted my pipe and seated
myself by one of the wide windows tC
read in the intervals between my peep:
out on the rapidly passing scenery. L
was without doubt the pleasantest morn
ing | ever spent on the metals. Beside
the readers of the newspapers and the
books, which the library afforded, some
busy people were writing at the desks
a party were playing cards, and other:
mapping. The touch of an electric bel
brings the inevitable porter to you
chair, and he will fetch you from his
buffet anything you may desire to drink
| called for a pint of Bass and had il
served in a moment. In passing out ol
the smoking room | observed an apart
ment which had previously escaped my
observation, and upon entering found {
barber shaving passenger with tht
utmost ease, though the train was rush
ing on at rate Of at least fifty miles al
hour. In another part of the room
there was bath-tub, well supplied witt
water from a reservoir above. | made
a mental note of these novelties an(
determined to enjoy the new experience
they suggested. When | reached tn,
drawing room, where my berth wa
located, | found the carriage well fillet
with people-gentlemen, ladies, ant
children. They were all comlortabl,
disposed, the ladies reading or chatting
and the children romping around il
gleeful happiness. The train, | he
elected to mention, is composed o
'vestioule cars This is most ingen
ious arrangement. The entrance tt
American railway carriages Is mad
from the ends, and the platform, which
extends out beyond the body of th'
car, is inClosed and fitted SO closely t
that Of the preceding car that on
passes through the 'vestibule' almos
without knowing it. The aggregation
OF CHS making up the train is, TO a
practical purposes, one long carriage
divided INTO compartmets. 1t is a mos
+ excellent device, and not only add