The Opelousas courier., 1892-12-24
Ry LUKE SHARP.

ated disc, showed that the hour for
leaving was past, but the officials were
still packing people into the already
overcrowded train. The only problem
that troubles the mind of an European
railway official is how to get a quart into
a pint measure. The traveller in Europe
is still treated as a criminal, deserving
no mitigation of punishment, and a long
railroad journey is made as crowded and
uncomfortable as possible.
The night express to Bale, during the
height of Swiss travel, is usually sent
off in two sections. The first had gone
and the second was now about to leave.
The last passenger was jammed in, the
doors were slammed shut, the usual non.
sensical footing of horns, blowing Of
shrill whistles and ringing of bells were
accomplished, and finally the Bale ex-
press pulled out, passing first the tall
buildings on each side of the deep trench
containing the rails, then the more scat
tered villas of the suburbs, and at last,
with increasing speed, it ratified into the
dark, open country.
Hope springs eternal in the human
breast, and a few deluded mortals1 IN the
train, thinking they might get some
sleep, pulled down the green semi circles
of cloth that cover the lamps in the roof
of every clrriage. thus darkening the
compartment. just as each one had
settled himself in the small amount OF
space allowed HIM the doors of the first
compartment swung suddenly open and
guard. with a dim lantern at his belt,
stepped in, bringing with him a gust Of
wind and the roa of the train, which
suddenly deadened again as he closed
the door. This mythical entrance of the
guard with the train flying through the
darkness always startles a passenger M
accustomed to the methods Of continental
railways.
Tickets, gentleman, if you please"
Each man fumbled for his ticket. The
guard handed back some of the tickets
without looking at them; others be put
in his pocket.
Here, said a passenger, protestingly,
ttgive mi back my ticket. It is fol
Bale"
.You will not be asked for it again.
answered the guard grufly.
"But it is exactly the same as the
ticket my friend there has. You gave
bis back
81 tell you you will not need your
ticket. Permit me TO understand my
own business
The passenger, being a Frenchman and
therefore, accustomed totyranny, whether
that Of o republic or a monarchy, sub.
sided into silence and The impolite guard
swung whirling night. The next batch
Of passengers was not SO complaisaut.
An Englishman refused to give up his
bunch of coupons which was to take him
through Switzerland into Itaiy. The
guard paid no attention to him until he
had examined all the other tickets, re-
tanning some and returning others, to the
bewilderment of the victims.
"Aliow me to examine your tickets
he said at last to the Englishman.
"Tes: but you must not keep them as
you did the others. | will tear out thu
Bale coupon
'sIf you do It will not be valid.
must tear it out myself
Reluctantly the tickets were given up,
The guard instantly stuffed them all ID
his pouch.
"This Is an outrage cried the pas.
senger, Indignantly. 81 want your mum.
Der and q written receipt for the tickets. y
aTou will receive your tickets at Bale
il you apply for them," answered the
guard as he left the compartment.
The Englishman TUNED and threatened
and cursed the high.hlnded methods a
railways owned By the Government. but
nothing could be done until morning.
He called some Of his fellow-passengers
to witness the manner in which he had
been treated and settled himself back to
sleep, if sleep were possible.
Meanwhile, in the first compartment
the door again swung open and another
guard put in 40 appearance. He was
costumed exactly like the first, but IN
stead Of working ii the darkness be nut
up his hand, snapped apart the artificial
eyelid that covered the lamp and flooded
tbs compartment with light.
Tickets, gentlemen, if you please. I
A howl went up from the passengers.
How often during that wretched night
wAfe fhev ID he asked far finketa9 Was