The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-03-29
HEAD TOWARD THE ENGINE.

A Wtdeawake Porter Tells How Old
Travellers Sleep on the Cars.
'How will you have your feet?" the
porter asked in a Wagner car coming
from Buffalo.
Feet to the engine" said the New
York Sun man.
IF you travel much you'll have your
head put next to the engine" said the
colored man.
NO. said the passenger II am
afraid there might be collision and
then I'd be thrown with all my weight
against my head" the porter chuckled.
Il beg pardon boss,' said he, '.but
notice dat all de railroad men has their
heads put toward de engine-and all the
commercial travellers also. The biggest
arguments is in favor of doing that
way. In the first place there isn't many
head-on collisions. There's more dan
ger of a rear-end collision. The reason
is that every passenger train has it's
own right of way, and runs regularly
every night, and is looked out for by all
the trains that's running ahead of it.
Therefore the most danger is from
something behind which don't know
when we have stopped or broken some
thing, and which runs into us unex-
pectedly. There amt anyone looking
out for any kind of collisions, cause
when they come it matters mighty lit
tie which end you are putting forward
your head or your feet-but if YOU in
sist on looking out for 'em from behind
I'm a-telling you
ANY more argumentS?'
"Got plenty more arguments, boss
You don't want to sleep with your feet
toward the engine, because if you do
the draft through the car blows right
agin your head, and when it gets cold
at night your head and chest are ex-
posed. Put your head toward the en-
CINE and you feel cool without Citing
in no draught. It's just the same way
in summer. If you sleep with your feet
toward the engine you can't have your
windows open, with the in 'em,
without getting the wind and fine dust
right in your face, whereas if you sleep
with your head to the engine you get
the cool air and no draught and dust"
''Is that all you know?''
'No, boss; hain't told you the big
gest argument yet why you should have
your head made up towards the locomo-
tive. The most serious thing Of all is
the circulation Of the blood in your
body. You been having your feet made
up toward the engine, Ell? Well, I reck-
on you don't never sleep very we'll in
the cars, do you? Your nights res is
usually broken, amt it? Well, sir, lem
me make up your head to the engine an
you'll sleep like you was q baby. OATS
because the motion of the train is so
strong and steady that it sends all your
blood towart the end that's furtherest
from the engine. Put your feet to the
engine and all your blood rushes
straight to your head and gives you
restless night. Put your head to the
engine and the blood goes away from
your head, leaving it cool and easy so
as you can res like child
81 "Put my head toward the engine and
stop talking, will your
Yes, sir; all right. sir; anything you
say, sir. You won't grudge me dat
quarter in the morning, I'm a tellin'
YOU -D.s
"Soloman! Diogenes porter! Any ar
as to what part of train is
the safest?' e..~ 1922
There aren't no use of arguments
bout dat, sir. The safest place on a
train is the middle of the middle car
on the side furthest from the other
track" E.