The morning call., 1893-03-29


never once during the whole journey put
her foot on the ground. The object was to
show the excellence of the accommodations
and the perfection OF the union depot and
transfer systems of American railroads as
compared with European roads.
Miss Mitchell was asked at 10 o'clock at
night TO undertake tine trip, and twelve
hours later was speeding westward on her
journey.
As may be imagined she carries no Sara
toga trunks with her on her journey, her
baggage consisting of valise and small
hand-satchel.
As she sat In the Pullman facing the re-
porter Miss Mitchell looked 10 be about 2j
years of age. Ste is above the medium
hight, of slight build, with dark brown
hair and hazel eyes. Her features are regu-
lar, her mouth being large but well shaped.
She is not strikingly handsome young
woman, but has very expressive face that
lights up wonderfully when she talks upon
subjects in which her interest is concen-
trated. Small hands and small feet, the lat
ter an unusual thing for Chicago girl it is
SAID, and the pen-picture OF the hardy
traveller is complete.
The costume she wears on her trip Is
plain, neat, and decidedly stylish. Tan
shoes with black gaiterettes a wood brown
striped dress trimmed with corded silk, with
very high collar 10 protect the neck from
dust and clnders; a navy-blue Jacket,
double breasted, with large lapels aud i'm
mense sleeves al the shoulders, taperinG to
a elose-itting sleeve at the wrist; Tuscan
braid straw hat, small in size and trimmed
with yiolets, ribbon and single blaekbird; ;
black chamOis gloves, and you have her
costume.
Tie dress Is made with a tight-f;iing
waist. and hooked diagoDally from the left
shoulder to the bottom. The sleeves of
corded silk. are puffed at the shoulders and
finished at the wrist with corded silk braid.
The skirt is walking length and not quite
so full as uitra-iashionable modistes would
say was the correct style, but it is cos
tune that doesn't "muss and crumple up"
nor show dust and dirt. From belt around
her waist, and suspended by dainty but
strong steel chain. Miss Mitchell carries
small morocco satehel with lock attached,
In which she keeps her coin, while in her
hand she carries a pocketbook made to
match the little satchel. the latter being
filed to OVERLOOKING with railroad, sleeping
car and other passes.
The lady has long been engaged in rail-
road, magazine and newspaper work. and
was selected not alone for her ability to see
things and tell about them but as well be-
cause she knows how to take care of herself
under any and ali circumstances and is an
old traveller. A brilliant conversatonalist,
one who has Ideas of her own and expresses
them IN her own way. having a good CON-
mand OF language and most attractive man
ners, more hitting representative for tho
Chicago railway men among the women of
that city would be hard to find.
when it was decided l was to undertake
the present trip under the conditions OF the
wager the Englishmen who are interested
In the matter said: If she does it the rail-
roads will get big al and the girl big
funeral. 1t will kill her.
Il laughed at them then, and am more
amused now when find | am steadily gain
Ing in flesh. | cannot begin to tell you how
kind the people have been to rae everywhere,
From the lima | gtartah IN
route has been strewn with flowers. you
might say. Why, I've received enough
flowers to fill this end of the car If l could
have kept them all. But l suppose the
best, way to tell you my story is to begin at
the beginning.
Leaving Chicago in driving rafnstorm
on the night OF March % nothing occurred
worthy OF note until we got well into Iowa
the next day, when found myself famous.
at every station there were crowds OF peO-
pie to see me, and when possible grstiied
their curiosity by standing on the rear plat
form of the car as the train moved from the
depots. was for time an object of inter-
est to my. fellOw-Dassengers especially on
account OF the numerous kilograms | re-
ceived. and later on because Of my under
taking.
Il had no end of offers in the few short
hours in Chicago after had decided to 90
from firms who wanted me 10 advertise
their goods. There were soap men, per-
fumery men, men with all sorts of toilet
articles and even grocery houses who
wanted me to take their goods for my own
use on the trip and then just mention that
used Peaches soap or Plum's perfumes, ETC.,
to the reporters and lothers who called to
see me. OF course all such offers were re-
fused, but even after | got started On my
journey kept receiving offers by telegram.
Il have kodak with me and on my way
out l amused myself by taking snap shots.
Eve picture Of band OF wolves | saw on
the Laramie plains, another of some deer
up In the Blue Mountains and still another
OF OLD Jim, celebrated Indian, who, with
his wife, called on me as l passed through
Idaho. On our train we had dinlng-car,
SO had no trouble about meals.
AT Portland | made my first transfer,
and, by the way, want to say here that q
decidedly wrong impression prevails gener-
ally about my undertaking. am not run
ming any race with anybody or against time.
What am doing Is proving that so far per-
feet and complete are the railroad arrange
ments in the United States that IL is possible
for girl to travel unattended from one end
of the continent to the other and never get
on the ground in ansferring, getting her
meals, etc.
Now, Miss Day was started from Port
land by firm there that publishes rail-
road guide to travel in an opposite direction
TO me, and somehow the papers have 1t that
we are running race. There is nothing in
It. She is out TO advertise the magazine that
sends her and is not under any conditions
about transferring from one train to- the
other.
Another thing l do not expect to see
President Diaz of Mexico or any ether noted
personages. unless they happen to get on
the same car with me as passengers
We'll. TO return to my story. Arriving
at the depot in Portland, the car we are now
riding inTwas backed down to the car in
which / Travelled from the East, aud l
stepped across the coupling into the section
/ DOW occupy making my first transfer.
fZ1hia morning at Oakland make my sscoud