Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
CLARA BELLIES CHAT.
A Lady's Novel Experience While
Travelling on a Railroad Car
WARNED BY COLD STEAM PIPES.
Miraculous Stories of Passengers Over
taken by Blizzard.
WOMEN WHO WEAR FURs IN SUMNER
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE p1spATcH.I

or mountain GOODNESS toward which they are
journeying. 1t mar make feminine traE-
elers more patient if assure them that, not
withstanding the dust and heat OF summer
railroading, winter is a worse time to travel.
The one mad idea of the train men is to keep
the car hot. There is an awful stove at each
end, and it is kept door high with coal all
the time. A variation on the stove idea is
steam pipes, running under the seats and
along the floor. The only way to escape
cooking is to hang by the straps along the
center of the aisle. Every crevice through
which the fresh air of heaven might enter is
corked up. There should be a law about it.
Here is story on the other side of the
question, however.
I got into car once for short ride from
Chicago to a suburbs station. It was Bit
ter cold outside. I was glad enough of the
little grated shelf over the steam pipe along
the side of the car toward the floor, and
crowded both feet on it. If there is love
ly sensation it is that of gentle warmth
stealing through a cold, benumbed member.
The glow crept through the thick soles of
my heavy shoes and soothed the aching cold
that made each particular toe an infIction.
When one foot got too warm, I took it off
the grating to give the other foot chance.
Just then gentleman seated himself
across the aisle. He seemed dissatisfied
about the grating on his side and kicked
and twisted, and think he swore under his
breath, that it was shame
THE CAR WASN'T HEATED
in such cold weather. A guilty suspicion
crept through me. 1t was odd that one side
of the car should be heated and the other
not. I bent down stealthily and touched
with my hand the grating upon which my
foot rested. 1t was cold, stone cold. I just
sat and thought about it all the way to my
town. I never had believed much in imagi-
nation anyhow, but I had sort of put my
foot in my theories that time, hadn't I?
Well, some time after I boarded an ex-
press train for two hours run. had
seat at the end. Passengers were complain
ing of cold. The bench on which sat had
seemed to me pretty warm, but made up
nv mind it wasn't, and went right on sit
ting there. The hotter it got the more I re-
membered that cold grating, and though the
drops Of halt-cooked torture stood out on
my brow, would not move. knew that
the seat was cold, and wasn't going to
have my imagination play any more mon
car, I found hole burned in my fur cloak
Just where had sat on it. Said I to myself
that if ever I went to the hot place I won-
dered if I would have sense enough to
know didn't need chest protector or fur
boots.
We all remember last years blizzard,
dom t we2 Well, was on the rail during
the picnic. There was q party of US. We
were coming from the West into Philadel-
phia. We had started from Chicago in
great style. There were three or four swell
luncheons among us, and had gorgeous
basket of fruit, which an admirer had sent
to the train at the last moment. We dubbed
together and had a fine supper on the train,
feasted splendidly the next day, gave all the
debris to the porter, and retired to be called
at 6 the next morning, the train being due
att. When we were awakened objected
to rising. always do object to rising be-
fore 10.
SUFFERING FROM COLD AND HUNGER,
The snow was driving fast outside and
there seemed to be some wind. Toward
O'Clock we slowed up, and the men who had
business appointments in Philadelphia be-
gan to growl against tue railroad company.
At we stopped entirely and one Of the men
declared that he intended to sue the COM
pany. About 7:30, fearing TO try my luck
further, I arose and dressed, and, being hun
gry, got some coffee for the lot of us from the
buffet. I only obtained it BY base wheed-
ling and lucre, for since the Philadelphia
stop was expected the buffet had no pro-
visions in stock.
The train stood on little hill. The wind
blew so hard that the cars were urged lit
tie off the brow of the elevation. Then the
wheels froze promptly to the rails, and the
snow began to pile up on one side Of us,
while 1t was swept clean at the other side.
We went right on growing at the company.
To the left of US was a ditch and small de-
cline, from the foot of which stretched
dreary field all white with unbroken snow.
At the farther side of the field was q slight
rise, and lonely farm house with shrouded
windows. To the right, over the fast-rising
bank Of snow, q strip Of level white and
then o bleak bit Of woods. The car still
rocked little with the wind, but we didn't
think mnch of it, being so taken UP with
abusing the conductor every time he came
through.
About IL o'clock I felt that even the
proper regard fate had always had for me
required no further delay, and expressed
my dissatisfaction loud and deep, and
brought down upon my head the RESPONSE
bility for the entire happening. Then we
began to get hungry. We didn't like to ask
the porter Tor return of the debris. At
this crisis rather modest member Of our
party confessed to an unpretentious package
of sandwiches, which, in face of all the
swell baskets, he had concealed the night
we left Chicago. This was hailed with
rapture, and the modest member advanced
to q position Of bowling popularity.
MEAGER BILL OF FARE.
There were four ordinary sandwiches
Each was cut across twice, like hot cross
bun, and we made 16 portions. There were
15 in the party. did the cutting and got
the extra piece. Everybody told everybody
else that we would be in Philadelphia in an
hour or so, and everybody told everybody
else how much better it would be to save our
appetite for q good dinner there than to
spoil it by gorging on the car.
Three o'clock, and with one accord we
lifted up our voices and yelled that we must
have something to eat, or eat the porter.
We demanded from him the expensive and
extensive debris donated the night before.
But the porter, foreseeing the catastrophe,
had swallowed everything except pot of
blackberry jam, which he was saving to put
on his hair. Two halfiull TASKS of whisky
were found among the men. We all ate
blackberry jam and whisky and prayed.
Four o'clock, while I was doing the
''Mabel, little Mabel, with her face against
the pane" act on the left side of the car, and
thinking how ! would have roast beef,
chicken, pork and beans, lobster salad,
sweetbreads and, and-heayensi the door of
the deserted farmhouse opened and two men,