The morning call., 1892-04-10

pete with Stephenson's Rocket, 1929.
nc, especially In summer, all companies
issue tourist tickets either to one place or
number at rates very much reduced A
days excursion to scores OF places of inter-
est may often be lad for n fifth or sixth of
the usual charge. Some of these journeys
may extend over sea to Ireland. the Isle Of
Man, Holland, Belgium, or France. The
cheap tripper has indeed become an institu-
ton detested by lovers of quiet and the
picturesque and Stunned by dreamers Of the
kuskin type. but courted and accommodated
by the railways and the hotels.
In the English carriages there are no
through aisleS of passage as In the
American car The passengers enter their
compartments by side doors. one on each
OF space between them.
lhe baggage system in England Is truly
dete5table Checking in the strict sense is
unknown. Going to the Continent or to a.
number OF large cities method of numbers
ing Is In vogue. but the usual plan is to tosv
the passengers baggage indiscrimina tel .
into van. and at the end of the Journey t
trundle 1t out Unfortunately and leave the
passenger to pick il cut for himself Tho
porters who handle it expect to be tipped ;
IN fact everybody who touches it looks upon
the owner as a person well-to-do
and generous. But any sum from
twopenee to sixpence will suffice. Tipping
IS universal. Every servant In a hotel is a
tlp-huuter-the chambermaid, the boots,
the waiter, The porter; and the pro-
urietOr himself charges for servants in
the bill. and keeps the money to himself
1t Is impalite TO grumble; You only get
scowled at. 1t Is still more impolite to
refuse to do as others do; You are
scurviiy treated and your evil report is
passed ahead to insure that you are frowned
upon and treated with bare civiity In new
quarters. A supply Of coprers in the
pocket Is therefore great sweetener of the
WAYS II travel in conservative England.
One regularity of the English railways
must impress Americans. All the stations,
even tie great termini, are freely open to
Trm. Dick and Harry. There are no Off
Gals 10 stop the saunterer who is not a
traveller. Scores or hundreds OF people may
be on the platforms walking up and down
just 10 observe the busy scene. and nobody
lnterieTeS with them in the indulgence of
their curiosity. The manner on the Continent
Is TO admit nobody until a train has drawn
mp. and then only to pass ticket-holders
hat Is the plan In America also, both on
steamer piers and at railway stations. At
most OF the English stations there are COM
Portable waitiDg-r00ms and a possibility of
good observation-disclosures, but in general
the refreshments procurable on a Jour
ney are heavy, iudigestible, unappetiz-
ing and Disappointing in the exorbj-
lance of price The beer Is bad.
and often putrid and evil smelling, the
whisky much diluted. and the vine thin if
light, and fiery if not A bun, homely and
musty possibly, is the safest and cheapest
staple comestibie to venture upon. The
refreshments are usually served by
barmaids. good looking and amiable and
very fond OF chatting. They are
not paid high salaries, and their dawdliDg
attention to the clamorous. time-rushed
passenger perhaps only means that soon
they hope to be In sphere where only one
man can do the hectoring or beseeching.
The conductor OF American trains is re-
placed by the guard In England. He has
nothing to do with tickets. He only pays
attention to the working of the train, and
in that capacity he finds seats for passen-
gers and studies their In Ierest very politely
possibly with the hope, on long Journeys,
that they may study his. A guard
Is most obliging fellow when tipped
with shilling at the commencement of a
journey. He will notify you OF all the i'm
poTtaHt hats on nights run, and will
keep out of your compartment the objection
able mopgrel characters who would Jar
upon your feelings or disturb your sleep
LII there be party In the compartment
anxious to play 'nap'-a most seductive
game be the stakes moderate or heavy-the
guard knows better than put clergyman or
Salvation Army banner man in the corner
seat As guards are always good-natured
men, they have many friends on familiar
routes, and II prudent they are able to lay
past little competence for the inevitable
to remind them of life on the road.
Of late the English companies have had
to submit TO revision of their rates by
Parliament and the new schedules are SUM-
posed to afford relief to trade. Arbitrary
preferences are checkmated pretty sharply
by the Railway Commissioners, who are a
quasi-judIcial authority, having jurisdiction
between the railways and the public.
and they are often appealed to. AS
these men are not subject to arbitrary re-
moval they are independent In their action
and position. No one would dream of saw
ing Of them that they are under the thumb
OF any railway company. With the large
powers possessed by the Board of Trade
English railways are in no danger of figur-
ing as oppressive mOnOpolies, but they do
exercise legitimate influence each In its
own district Most towns Fave the adyan-
tage Of active competition between
trunk lines, aud traders are under little ap-
/ prehension of not enjoying rea sonable
facilities. Another check upon comp anies
lies In the requirements to publish their
half-yearly accounts in one specified form,
so that the investor has an opportunity of
comparing the working of the differ
ent railways accurately. The cooking of
accounts with an independent audit is now
a difficult matter. 1t was the occurrence
OF cooking that led to the adoption of the
system OF uniformity in accounts. Lastly.
there Is the great security that the half
yearly meetings OF the companies are open
to the press. and the proceedings are re-
ported very fully. Hole-and-corner man
agement is effectually checkmated.