Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-03-16

the L mon Pdclne. AWAY Udch III lAS
'70's shortly after the completion of the
road to Ogden, L. T, the officials of the
western portion of the Overland often
found themselves hard pressed for the
requisite force of skilled men necessary
to man their trains to meet the demands
of the constantly increasing freight traf-
fc. 1t was during the prevalence of
the mining fever throughout Colorado
and neighboring Territories. The dis
ease quickly spread to the train service,
and the earnings of many of the boys
were regularly invested in mining spec
ulations, mostly through grub stakes.
Dame Fortune showered gold with
lavish hand on those whom she wished
to favor, says writer in the st. Louis
Republic, and, at the time of which l
write, it was observed the old girl did
not disguise her preference for the
knights of the rail. Fortunes were ac
quired in day, and instances are cited
of brakeman who one day was polish
ing wheels for $3.50 per day and no over
time, next month might be seen indus
triously acquiring callouses in scissoring
coupons. Frequently occurrences of
the above nature naturally left their i'm
preston on the resources of the officials,
who were often forced to press into ser
vice men who twisted a brake for
the first time on the day of their en-
ployment. But the officials had no 9TH
er recourse. A nabob will not brake on
freight train, at least while he is ma
bobing. On one occasion cowboy was
employed to fill the position of first
mate on a freight train.
The conductor instructed leather
her on the train, while the former pro-
ceeded to the dispatcher's Office, where
he registered his train and also a kick
or two. This done, he engaged the dis
patcher in conversation, in which for a
quarter of an hour he entertained the
latter with an instructive discourse on
the subject of handling trains by tele-
graph. After kindly thanking the con-
ductor for his advice the guardian of
the train meekly intimated that the east
bound freight, which his train had Or
ders to meet at Howell, was there await
ing his arrival. Rushing to the register,
where his pencil nervously recorded his
departure, he yelled out as parting
adieu, "I'm gone at 11:09," and stepped
out into the night. Upon reaching his
train he found her engineless. He was
also short one cowboy. His search for
the "brakey" was quickly rewarded.
The yard engine had just paused to
couple on a string of cars. This was
our newly found brakeman's opportuni-
ty, and he was not slow in taking ad-
vantage of it. When discovered by the
conductor, Mr.. Cowboy was in the act
of throwing his lasso; the next moment
the graceful folds Strengthened out, the
loop fell snugly over the smokestack,
and the switching engine was a cap
tive. The conductor was about to say,
by gum!" when he was interrupted by
the voice Of the brakeman, who, observ-
ing his chief approach, cried out in JOY
fnl ecstacy: Its all right, now, boss,
I've ketched her at last, and will have
her on the train in jiffy. You see,
this deal is kinder new to me, but on
our next drive I'll have her down pat" :"
Will They Be Dolts and Dullards?
London Illustrated News.
Every one, however, who is not a
schoolmaster is aware that a young
Englishman knows almost nothing of
the literature of his own land. and what
little he does know dislikes, because he
had at school to translate it into Latin.
1t is most humiliating to hear an Amer
ican youth discourse upon this matter,
while our own sons sit mum and glum.
Efforts have been made of late to find
out what our boys do read for their own
pleasure, and the result of these in
quiries seems to be that they read the
accounts of prize fights. One head mas
ter tries to prove that this is derived
from the influence of Homer, but it is
much more likely that it comes from
perusal of the sporting newspapers and
the general devotion TO athletics. From
whatever cause it arises, it is certainly
true that while there is no deficiency of
good poetry and good fiction among US,
the rising generation cares for neither.
1t is, indeed, high time that our peda-
gogues should bestir themselves to re-
move this reproach from our sons, lest
from them should arise race of dolts
and dullards. One is sorry to see, how
ever, that English literature is to be in
troduced by English grammar, GER
tain method of rendering it unpopular;
the grammar should be learned through
the literature, and, indeed, in its techni
cal and gerund- grinding sense does not
require to be learned at all. l have
known most of the best writers of
English during the last half century, ,and
not one of them ever so much as held an
English grammar in his hand.
HAVE been great sufferer from
catarrh for over ten years; had it very
bad, could hardly breathe. Some nights
could not sleep and had to walk the
floor. L purchased Ely's Cream Balm
and am using it freely, it is working a
cure surely. l have advised several
friends to use it, and with happy results
in every case. 1t is the medicine above
all others for catarrh, and it is worth its
weight in gold. l thank God L have
found a remedy can use with safety
and that does all that is claimed for it.
1t is curing my deafness.-B. w. Sperry,
Hartford, Conn. 3-9 1t
THE Duke and Duchess of Newcastle
are to start on voyage around the
world about the middle of next month,
and will be away from England for
year. They are going first to America,
and will stay several months in the