The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-04
HE RODE In A SLEEPER.
rr WAS A SAD DIsAPPoIyTMEST.
After Years of Anticipated Bliss q Times
Man Awakened to a Dream Of Blasted
Hop.-Negroes In the Gar.

counties of the dear Old Dominion "o
used 10 stop setting the type whenever the
mail train went by and go to the door OF
our sanctum and look with eyes that almost
popped with envy at those fortunate NOR
tails who were lounging with such seeming
indifference and comfort in the elegant
sleeping cars.
Oh. how we used TO wonder If we would
ever achieve enough tame and fortune 20
some dav walk proudly ourselt into one Oh
those beautiful conceptions and MAKE our
self comfortable while we scanned tIe
patent outside Of our paper, our pIloe. ~
IN true we had a weekly pass 10 hlcnmono,
but the doors of that haven OF bliss were
closed to us. and on our pass in RED type
was Not good on New \ ork ana florlua
special" 800
Consequently we rode in the smoker and
figured on the prospects OF inducing SOME
of onr unfortunate subscribers 10 pay US
for our naper in cash instead of bringing us
cord wood. apples. potatoes and water
melons. and thereby enabling us 10 lay Dy
enough money 20 pay our fare on the sleeP-
ing car on that trip to Washington. which
We had all planned out.
BUILDING AIR CASTLES.
In these dreams we would build enor;
mons air castles. tiled. walled up and rooted
with pure uldetled bliss.
Well things have changed somewhat
since then. We have sold out our paper
and another sets type in our stead.
We now work for city paper, at least
we have the proprietor under the impression
that we work. Our salary. 1t is true, IS not
large, but il comes mighty regularly every
week, and it IS paid in cash and not IN pro-
uuce.
Il. fafa
taken unto oursef a wife, therefore we are
compelled 20 cOnfine ourself to the editorial
expression. We. We cannot say /; 1t causes
trouble. But. as we were saying. we draw
a salary now, and we have amassed enough
fortune-or we had amassed It; 1t is gone
now-to ride in sleeper. but we did not
have the fame.
Mary Eliza Chats our WIFE and ourseit
took trip. When we got TO the depot we
went TO the last car; we knew that was the
sleeper.
THE AUsTERE POTTER.
There was a negro in uniform with
proud and arrant facial expression standing
by the platform, with one shining boot on
little carpet covered stool. with little slit
in the top of IL.
We had the grip-sack. the lunch basket
and the big valise in our hands. and our
wife carried the umbrella We had bought
q pair of yellow shoes and on outing shirt
with very tall collar. We also wore yell
low belt and a wide brimmed hat.
There must have been something lacking
in our makeup. We walked up to the
platform and started to get on. The porter
had sized us up. Next car, sab. This Is
the sleeper. sab" That voice and that con-
descending look knocked us out. Our dig
nifty began TO ooze ont and we began to
grow smaller in our own estimation.
We told him as humbly as possible that
Ipa ba ClppnQr I
door was open we would like to 90 in.
Got ticket. sah?" We felt in our pocket
aud found the little piece Of red pasteboard.
We also found quarter at the same time
and tlmidly handed 1t to him. Yes, sab.
that ticket is y. n, san. Walk IN sab. Give
me your luggage. sab; Miss. let me have your
umbrella. This way. if you please" AT
last our dream was a reality.
BRwILpERED BY LUXURY.
The luxury on every side bewidered us.
After fixing our cravat and curling our nous
tache before the little PANEL mirror be-
tween the windows. and looking at our
wifes smile of content our dignity began TO
rise again. The rigid porter had left us to
our own reveres. We felt much better.
We began to look around US. The seat was
30 soft. velvety aud comfortable and sup
ported our head 30 nicely. Mary Eliza
looked so happy. We whispered to Mary
Eliza: Say, We wish We were twins and
each Of us had two wives. so we could enjoy
more of these seats Amt they nice?"
We never could understand why our wife
then gave us such whitening look and
said. We'll. If you want two wives you had
better 90 and get them before you forget it:
but you needn't count me as one of EN-.
For my part am mighty glad there amt
but one OF you"
Our bliss dropped little but soon rose
again. We got up and began to walk
around. The newsb0y came through and
we bought cigar. We found several men
sitting in n little apartment smoking. There
were mirrors on four sides and several
large. elegant walnut chairs. We went up
TO one OF the men and said Kindly give
us light
He looked at us and handed us a match.
We often feel grateful to him for his kind
ness. for we did not want to light our cigar
from his; his might not be good.
We sat down, tried TO think as we smoked
but 1t made our head ache so we began to
wish, aud everything was so nice and lovely
that We wished all the men in the room
were our twin brothers so that we might
enjoy it all in the family.
When we had finished smoking and had
washed our face in the pretty little basin
and combed our hair we went back to
Mary.
SIR WAS MAD.
She looked mad and said: If you will
smoke, / wish you would smoke decent
cigars We assured her that it cost a dime
We did not say anything, but kept
looking around. We felt sorry for
the sick man across the way
from us, and thought how wicked it was in
the four men III the other end of the Car to
play cards and We wondered what sort of
head the man behind the newspaper had.
We were interrupted by Mary +. whisper
ing in our ear, Are you blind, or have you
lost all respect for yourself" We assured
her that our eyes were all right, and felt our
moustache to see If 1t had become dis
arranged. When we had found that all
curled. we asked what she meant.
Look at the niegers behind you. We
looked our dream of bliss departed. There
they were in flesh and blood. Two negro
women and negro girl in the very mex.
section 10 the one we occupied.
What should we do. get up and 60 into
the other car? but then the circumstances
might even be worse in there. and besides
we had paid for the sleeper. and had been
planning for years the Joy to be derived
from trip in Pullman.
Where indeed. we thought. were Southern
ideas and customs. Had the old South
passed away aud was there now a new
South. laden with Yankee ideas, Yankee
customs and the promotion of our former
slaves 70 positions of equality We We're
not used 10 this state Of affairs. neither
was our wife. but what could we do? We
had reached the climax of our supposed
bliss and had found that distance only had
caused the brilliant coloring. Our spirits
were indeed at low ebb.