Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-06-19

that VIII not ba able to get you
compartment to yourselves The trains
are rather crowded at this season of the
year"
There was ono com partment that was
empty as far as people were concerned,
but in each corner were rugs and port
manteaus that reserved the choice
seats.
''No use going in there" | said.
81 happen to know" replied our con-
ductor, shat all that impedimenta
represents two men who have taken
this method Of frightening people away.
This is your best place. You will have
two seats by the window when they
pick up their traps"
may remark that nowhere does the
selfshuess Of mankind come out so
strongly as when people are travelling.
/, who had just been hoping for whole
compartment for my party, was highly
indignant to find that two other unknown
persons had been actuated by the Same
selfish desire. The rugs, valises and
handbags were bundled into this COM
partment, my folks got in after them
and l stayed on the platform to head
off, If it was possible, anybody else.
Two men, who were on the platform
smoking, looked at this invasion with
undisguised anguish. They consulted
together for moment and then one of
them approached me.
"Do you speak English?" he asked.
This was flattering. There was evil
IDENTIFY nothing in my appearance to de-
note that could speak any thing else,
and so l admitted that generally could
make myself understood in that lam
guage.
as that your party in that compart'
ment?" was the next question.
"Well, pay for them"
'Ah! Well, you see, my friend and
myself have our things in there-and--
you see-we were wondering-you
know-if tho lady would object to our
smoking"
Speaking off-hand should imagine
she would-most decidedly
"Ah! then you are not smoker your
self?"
"It is a vile habit--if you will excuse
me for saying So"
Eyes, suppose it is-still if you will
allow me to make the remark, would
like to say that when man who doesn't
smoke condemns the habit he simply
does not know what he's talking about
Possibly that is So"
His friend, who seemed to think that
he was not taking a sufficiently diplo-
matte tone, at this point hauled him of
and they consulted together again for q
moment The hand Of the clock was
within minute and half Of starting
time. They evidently felt that what
ever was to BIO done had to be done
quickly. The speaker approached
again.
81 suppose you wouldn't mind oul
smoking if you were alone in the car
rage"
ooh, could stand it all right, ex
pect."
"Do you think the lady and children
would object to going into the ladies
compartments"
"You may ask her If you like.
haven't tho courage to mako such re
quest myself. Tho ladies' compartment
is pretty crowded"
The man apparently thought it bes
not to mako the request and Withdrew
again for comfort and consultation will
his friend.
"What does that man want?' asked
, the lady in question as / approached
the compartment door.
, 'He wanted to know if you would oh
ject to going into the ladies' compart
,, ment with the children"
''The ideal So that they could hav,
the compartment to themselves! Well
for downright selfishness that -"
"Oh, not so selfish as that. The,
, want to smoke-that's all"
Then why didn't you tell them to G,
, into the smoking compartment-I sup
/, pose there is one."
Il never thought of that. That's
good idea"
, l approached the two, who were still
debating the matter.
ut has been suggested to me that i
move has to be mcle ="
"Oh, assure YOU" Interrupted tb
previous speaker, gratefully, that
,, is very comfortable in the ladies' CON
partment, and we will move the lug
gage with pleasure.
81 was about to say that il move
.. made, why don't you gentlemen NOV
to the smoking compartments"
The blank look that came into tn
two faces was sight to see.
; "There arc only two places in tn
smoking compartment, and -"
"Well there are only two of you"
t "And they are all smoking vile Frenc
l tobacco"
!. 'Is it worse than English tobacco?"
|. "Worse? Well should say So"
: Then Lord pity the French"
ZEN coitur6. nlessieurs, siro0pldy,
5 shouted the guards, as they began
}, slam the doors shut l turned and &C
; into our compartment. Tho two me
o looked at the clock, then, rushing fC
the compartment picked up their b,
y longings and made break for tn
smoking carriage. We had the con
h partment all to ourselves until we e
o to Lyons that evening. Only once wei
# we in any danger of intruders, but
a was so late then that suppose the
It thought it was not worth while. A
:, one Of the stops the man who did mo-
l. Of the talking to me in the mornin
1t happened to come past our open doc
u He seemed paralyzed as he saw me 81
IS ting there pulling away at a corn-cc
n pipe. When he caught his breath /
70 said:
e English or French tobacco your
7, smoking?"
!, american. Don't you like it?"
70 81 like American tobacco good de
+ better than like American cheek"
10 rather think he had me there.-Lul
-. | + r..