St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-07-20
LITTLE TRAVELLERS,


road Men for Long Journeys.
mo children shipped without par
ents." This is the rule that railroad
companies are thinking Of adopting to
put stop to the apparently increasing
practice Of consigning children to the
mercies OF train conductors to be car
ried perhaps half way across the con-
tinent and turned over to friends at
the destination. Once the conditions
Of railroad travel were such that to
send child In this fashion by rail was
to lose the child in nine cases out OF
ten. But railroad methods have de-
vel0ped. and with this development
parents and friends have thought it
safe to put tag on their little ones
and send them OF upon their lonely
travels. On railroad and by steamship
these travellers 60. and it was only the
other day that three tots arrived at
Castle Garden, way-billed to Texas.
but with not q soul with them to offer
protecting arm.
The Pennsylvania railroad dis
courages this practice" said Assistant
Passenger Agent Pile. ''The care and
responsibilities are too great But
Notwithstanding the obstacles thrown
in the way. consignments Of children
still come TO US. and. Of course. we do
our best to look out for them. 1t is
not uncommon for Door people to come
to US with children that they want de.
livered in the far West along our lines
or on line with which We connect
Sometimes they are old enough to be
intrusted with tickets and such money
as they may need on the way. but this
Is not always the case.
When the youngsters are very small
tho practice is for friends to pay down
to US the entire expense connected
with carrying their precious freight
We then start the child on his way. and
telegraph to our agents along the line
to pay over such and such an amount to
the child wanderer. as it may be needed.
The conductor looks out for the trav-
eler's meals. and so the journey is
made comfortably and safely. But as
] say. this is a tedious business, and
We don't like to undertake 1t. It was
once popular practice to turn over
children bound on long journeys to the
Pullman Palace Car Company. but now
1t also fights shy Of tho business"
Said an Official connected with tho
department Of the Philadel-
phia & Reading railroad: Our con-
ductors are quite frequently asked to
look after children that travel without
parents or friends. But 1t is generally
only . short trip. The instances in
which we turn over these minors to .
line are very rare. indeed"
The most potable cases Of long jour-
neys for friendless little ones are met
With In the immigrant homea Poverty
will drive parents to run great risks.
and they will send over from the old
country their children to travel across
vater and land to friends in the new
country Of the West Perhaps for
months they will not hear OF the haps
md mishaps of the journey. trusting
o interest Of strangers and the faith.
ulness Of railroad oficials TO speed the
rip. Only . tag fastened about the
leck or to the button-hole shows the
Stranger. be kind to this ere pup
And always keep him right side up.
These were tho epigrammatic direc-
Ions that carried q poor cur to the end
I his journey not long ago. But when
imilar tactics are tried with human
reight. the railroads are inclined to d,
esist and rebel against fulfilling the
nice OF . travelling nurse.-Philadel.
hia Record.