The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-28
PULLMAN CAR GOSSIP.

conditions there ls no place like Pullman
car to study the various phases Of human
nature. l. moments reflection will inn
press this view on one who never enioyed
the luxuries of this modern vehicle. A
train finishing in two or more Pullmans
leaves st. Paul each afternoon for the Pa
ci6c coast. For three whole DAYS and
nights it whiris over the boundless plains
through long tunnels, up and down wooded
mountains before the turquoise waters of
the Puget Sound mark the journeys end.
In its fight to the occident this train car
ries, perhaps, thirty frst-class pas
sengers. They are of both sexes, differ
ent nationalities and of many creeds,
To the majority every turn of the road
brings something new to view, for they are,
for the most part, strangers in a strange
land. Some are on their way to new
homes, and others are travelling for pleas
ure. Everyone knows the ease with which
travelling acquaintances are made, but all
do not appreciate the extent to which this
may grow in three days of constant COM
partnership. A Pullman car conductor told
me the other day of two passengers he once
carried out of st. Paul. One was a travel
ing man of perhaps % years, and the other
was q bright and pretty O-year-old girl.
They were strangers when the train started.
At Bismarck they were very well acquitted;
at Miles City the time of each was devoted
to the other; at Helena they were in love;
at Spokane they were engaged, and within
An hour after the train reached
Portland they we're married, and the con-
ductor was best man.
~
I never heard of similar growth of
affection on three days Pullman, but as
observed it is astonishing how rapidly
people come to know each other in q flight
through the northwest. The other after
noon in brief trip from an eastern Mon
tana town had an opportunity of observ-
ing this very common feature of travel. In
the smoking room were four gentlemen
from eastern cities on the way to Seattle.
and as afterward learned they had never
met until the train had started from St.
Paul. Some one referred to the opportun-
tiles of the west for success in business and
then the fact developed that all we're going
to Seattle with a view of locating. This
placed all members of the party on familiar
terms and then the exchange of condolences
began. One was a real estate man from
New York who saw visions of fortune in a
field where the best eastern talent was
scarce. Another was an eastern physician
who thought the climate of the coast would
be better suited to his wife's health. The
third was lawyer who made speciality of
land cases, and the fourth was small cap
italist who was on his way west with view
of going into the retail grocery business.
***
| Within an hour each of these men knew
the others personal history, his business
affairs, his politics, Ills financial situation
and almost everything to be thought of in
that connection. This very likely would
not occur under other conditions in so brief
a length of time. The secret of the matter
is that man travelling alone in this great
northwest almost feels himself lost. Time
hangs heavy and he gladly welcomes the OPP
portunity to converse with some one. Then
with the novelty always incident to a new
acquaintanceship he talks with far more
freedom than he would to friends of years
standing. In this instance common pur-
pose brought the travellers closer together
and thus their divulgence of private affairs
which otherwise would not have been re-
vealed.
Nv
The ignorance of eastern people on the
geography, resources and conditions of the
northwest is always amusing to a western
man. This usually crops out when trav-
elers express their views on the country OF
which they know almost nothing. My foul
travelling companions were fairly well
posted on the condition of affairs in Seat
tie and Washington because they expected
to live there, but Montana was apparently
very new to them. The knowledge of one
was confined to the fact that this was the
state where the big election row occurred
Another said there was nothing in Montans
but gold and silver, though he changed his
mind when the train went through the
wheat fields of the Gallatin valley. All
that another man knew was told him by &
friend who had seen men killed every fv,
minutes in a mining town called Butte
When he asked the porter il the trai1
would 20 through Precinct "a the lattel
said he had never heard of it. After din
ner some one said the next stop would b,
Helena. The mention of the Queen cit,
aroused considerable curiosity and one o.
the men thought he would like to stay ovel
one train. "Well.' said his friend, $,
guess you wouldn't see much. These min
ing camps are pretty tough. There are nj
} hotels and travelling man has to get alonf
the best he cam" When suggested tha
Helena had the two finest hotels in tn.
northwest all four looked at me in an III
credulous way. The additional informa
ton that the city had everything in thu
way of conveniences and Injuries known il
> the east produced absolute astonishment
This triflinG incident impressed me Will
the wisdom of advertising Helena in tn,
: east.
: -.
I Amusing and sometimes pathetic Incl
4 dents occur in Pullman cars. shall neve
: forget the quiet but effective manner il
Q which party Of fellows were once callet
1 down. was one of party of nine in
Pullman on long winter journey from
Chattanooga to Washington, ride of abou
thirty-six hours. There were three YER
loud commercial travellers, man witt
: three children. the youngest year old in
: FAINT, and pleasant gentleman of pe:hap
SO years, whom I afterwards knew yer
y we'll. The drummers spent the day playing
Q cards. in the smoking room and within
r away the hours in a very agreeable m annel
4 The poor man in the meantime was full Q
| y ~hs