Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-05-16
GETTING STARTED.

terranean, running from the capital a
France to tho great southern sea and
along the Mediterranean coast to the
Italian frontier. % 49, s..
A little knowledge il . dangerous
thing, especially il that little happens to
be wrong. Ialways had the idea that
P. L. NJ station was that terminus south
Of tho Luxembourg palace. Idon't know
how this notion fixed itself on me: any
how, whsu the cab driver instead Of cross
ing the Ssdne took the rough stony street
on the north hide Of 1t, thought he had
mistaken my instructions and tried to
tell him where to 60. This attempt to
give Paris cabman information about
his own city evidently amused him very
much, and he proceeded to argue the
point with me-hs talking French while
confined myself to English-but strong,
forcible English.
think woman takes deplorable de-
light In finding her husband in the wrong.
Anyhow, this remark WAS made.
"Thsre is Just one chance in a million
knows where he il going"
Knows? He doesn't know anything"
and to show that was in the right was
indiscreet enough to pull out map Of
Paris. I tried to fold it up again as
quickly Is possible. but was not soon
enough.
Exactly. The man was right after
all. It's miles away and on this side of
the river"
go on" l shouted to the driver,
what are you stopping for3 Drive on
and hurry up"
Now, this idiotic cochier seemed to
think every time tried to get him to
move on that wanted to reopen the ar
gument about the position of the P. L.
NJ. station. He would pull up his horse
and turn half round in his seat towards
me and vehemently expound his side Of
the controversy. realized that if this
sort Of thing was kept on we would miss
the train, and was just debating
whether it would be better to murder
the man outright and take the reins my
self, or merely stun him and try to get
to the station before he revived, when
there came along pedestrian who
looked as if he were an Engiishman.
II beg your pardon" said. but do
you speak English
Il have been accustomed to speak it,
he answered, coming to a standstill.
from my youth up. What can do for
your"
Nothing. unless you cap also speak
French"
"Ah. there you touch my weak point;
still know enough Of the language to
get cheated"
well, wish you would ask the driv-
Or what he is arguing with me about
politics or religion
There was an animated confab be-
tween the two for minute, then the
stranger turned to me-
The driver says that you seem little
wabbly in your mind a. to what partic-
ular station you want to go to. He says
he doesn't mind driving to any one sta
ton, but he declines to experiment with
all the termini in Paris unless you hire
him by the hour"
Twill you kindly tell him that want
the P. l.. NJ. station and that want it
bad. Ask him to hurry and hint at ex-
ira compensation.
When this was done the stranger was
good enough to give me some hints that
might prove useful.
IF he doesn't move fast enough don't
say go it or hurry up;' he'll think you
want to enter into conversation with
him. Shout 'Pressay,' and if that doesn't
do, punch him with your cane They
understand that in every language. Don't
hit him with the cane. He will take
that as challenge and hit back with tho
whip, but punch him gently and yell
'Pressay' Good-by. Oh, don't mention
it. No trouble at all"
Now. you villain" cried, ''Pressay
or perish"
He gave that peculiar "Youep" which
French drivers 20 frequently address to
their horses, hit the animal an under cut
with the whip, then worked off fusil-
ade Of sharp whip cracks that sounded
like succession Of pistol shots and the
horse broke into detected gallop, which
finally worried US to the foot Of the stone
hill that leads to the station. The big
clock showed that it was still five min
utes to train time. This. on most lines
in France or Italy, would be equivalent
to missing the train, but the p L. NJ.
people run a modern railway, and so,
with the aid Of . good angel, who, in
stead Of having wings, had the words
Thomas Cook & Son" in gilt letter. on
his cap, we got the train. The tickets,
which had been bought in London. were
now stamped by the railway au.horitaas,
and then the trunk8 were Registered
The system Is not quite 80 good a. the
American plan Of checking, but it il in
fnitely better than the English way Of
trusting to luck and personal supervis-
ion A ticket with the number Of the
package and the word Lyons" was
pasted on the trunk, . similar ticket was
given to me. Ths cost Of the service
was one penny.
I'm afraid" sAid Cooks man, after he
had seen to all these preliminarics, that
will not be able to. get You n conpEt-
ment to yourselves. The trains are
rather crowded at this season Of the
year"
AASAS " as JIG COMPARTMENT tQ8t was
empty - far as people were concerned,
but in each corner were rugs and port
manteaus that reserved the choice seat,.
mo use going in there, said.
81 happen to know" replied our con-
ductor, that all that impedimenta rsp-
resents two men who have taken thie
method Of frightening people away. Tds
y your best place. You win have two
ssats BY the window when they pick m
their traps"
may remark that nowhere does ths
ssldshneas Of mankind come out 30 strong
y = when people are travelling. l, who
bad just been hoping for . whole COM
partmsnt for my party, was highly in
dsnant to find that two other unknown
p1sous bad been sctuated by the sams
esan1h desire. The rugs, valises and
handbass were bundled into this COM
Partment, my folks got In after them and
stayed on the platform to head OF, II
n va possible. anybody elsa.
Two man, who were On the platform
@ohng. looked 1t this invasion with
undalguised anSuiah- They consulted
eogSeAsr Tor moment, and then one a
th4n approached me.
DO you speak Enetishr be asked.
This was hattering. There was evident
\! noehing IN my appearance to denote |