The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-17
ITALIAN RAILWAYS.
THEIR DISC oMFoRTs AS COMPARED
WITH THE AMERICAN ROADS.


Ride in Europe Becomes a Penance In
stead of - Pleasure-scene at a Station
in ltaly-Three Sorts of Conveyances.
Conductor and Engineer.
The United States surpasses the world in
railroad travelling. A trip there can be made
with comfort. In Europe it becomes q pen
ance. A vast field of operations is open to
the professional corporation wreckers of
America it 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 he instituted As bad as it is
Id England, steam journeying in this quarter
OF the globe falls below even that standard.
In the winter season fellow, if not care
ful, 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-
clpa stations by sheet iron TASKS, shaped like
big army canteens, filled with hot water, that
are showed into each compartments. Before
thirty minutes elapse their surfaces are
chilled; for let it be remembered, all the sen,
timentalities concerning the ballny air of
Italy in winter. are nonsense, pure and SIM
pie. Snow covers the ground, and the cold
is biting, especially SO if you sit IN it as you
nave 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-
slons, and then that functionary cannot
reach you while the wheels are whirling
along, since the carriages have no continu-
| 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
as he steams up to depot a government Off
Ger blows brass horn, whereupon be 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 the 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 a meal at a
station, no matter the length of time train
is scheduled to remain, is novelty When
it is time for the dispatcher to toot his horn
or ring a bella Ia milkman-the engineer
has to send the engine on it's 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 depots of the United States would be
simply to threaten him with spasms.
THREE SORTS OF 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 numbering cushion, with tidy at your
back and your luggage in rack over your
head. 1t you are alone you can stretch to an
adjoining seat; your legs, as a consequence,
being somewhat higher than your head be-
cause of a 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, as you know by their whispered
conversation and stealthy, smiling chances.
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 source of curl
osity, not infrequently of laughter. Other
men and women travel in low cut shoes, and
with blue, pinched 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, a
red hot poker in his hand, lighting any way
be could the wicks of gasoline lamps that IL
Illuminate the padlocked cells. Nor is the ell
/ joyment diminished at the discovery that the
! boasted 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 oftentimes three days in adj
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 corner of the coach is
heated stove, with kettle of water on the
top. The conductor makes cup of tea when
REQUESTED The Italian official carries YOU
sacheL You sleep, that Is II you can, cross
wise in car not any higher than circus
Gags, and in the morning congratulate your
self that the car springs did not punch into
your ribs.-Rome Cor. Baltimore Sun.