The Washington times., 1894-05-27
JAUNT OF WOMEN WRITERS
Story of the Trip of the VI. N. p. A.
Across the Continent.
TOLD 81 ONE OF THE MEMBERS
vita Enthuziastic American Women.
Passing Glimpse OF General Frye's Camp.
Musings Of the Unemployed.

i
and return was planned and successfully ex-
ecuted by the Vomans National Press Asso-
citation at Washington, D. G. By starting on
the 14th OF April we were able TO avail our
selves of the cut rates, which had oscillated to
the minimum and were about to take an up
ward bound. Making the Chesapeake and
Ohio the initial road, we started in the char
tered Pullman car "Demarara" from the Bal
timore and Potomac depot at O'Clock on
that date with the blessings Of many friends
gathered to bid God-speed.
Alexandria. and even the historic plains OF
Manassas and Culpeper failed to call the
attention OF the party, absorbed In thoughts
of parting words and beautiful flowers still
held in the hands US If 10th to give up the
sweet reminders. until last call for dinner
in the dining car warned US OF duty undone.
The dining car is, indeed. 'modern imp.
in the best sense 'Tis thing OF beauty and
Joy forever TO u hungry Traveller, but to
press women (who never eat), fresh from
home, with well equipped lunch basket and
well appointed buffet within the car "Dema-
rara.' there was a sort of independence
much enjoyed, SO far as the commissary de-
partment was concerned.
With but glance at mountains and valleys
y
light. with peeps only at some OF the far
famed mineral springs of Virginia in the
shadows OF the night, we sought the little
berths which were to be cur individual
homes or rooms for thirty days and nights.
We had been escorted a part of the way with
the care of starting usl by the ever-faithful
Mr.. Bond. general passenger agent OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio, and had the guidance
of Mr.. Greegor, OF the same road. to Cincin-
natl, with the company OF Mr.. Mccain, the
eastern passenger agent for the Iron Noun
tain railroad.
On the summit of the Alleghenies is long
tunnel. in the very middle OF which, In the
darkness. had bursted out beautiful spring
soon after the great tunnel was completed.
Its waters divide and run each way east and
west, a part flowing peacefully on its way to
the Atlantic ocean, and another part bolster
ously asserting its sway amid the maddenIng
turbid waters of the treacherous rivers TO the
Gulf. Moral: Such are the ways OF life. Some
Of our party named the spring 1.-The Divide"
some christened it .McGreegor Spring" and
rechristened our escort "McGreegor," for the
women writers would have lost this item had
not our gallant host called attention TO the
fact where not even moonlight aided the sight
Sunday morning found US quietly gliding
over the great Ohio bridge at Cincinnati, and
as the church bells were calling TO early wor-
ship we passed through the lower portion of
the beautiful city, joined by Mr.. Cone, agent
OF the Big Four road, with great box of cut
roses to distribute to the ladies with the COM
pliments OF the superintendent OF the great
Big Four Decorating our gallant escorts
with roses and ribbon badges Of our club, We
set about quiZZing them on the methods OF
ads. etc., when we discovered that a railroad
passenger agent was quite up in every twist
ana literally (what Barnum would have called
n travelling showman) a walking advertise
,ment within himself. What he does not know
in tricks of advertising is not worth knowing.
Standing this test. they were entitled to wear
said badges by unanimous consent.
The quiet of Sunday travel was pleasantly
interspersed with singing. chat, reading, eat
ing, asking questions, and enjoying the view
Of line towns and country-a region familiar
to most of US from trips to and from the
West, but always enjoyable over railroad so
well equipped. AS we neaved the metropolis
OF the Mississippi river est. Louis we saw
men aimlessly lettering about. We sadly
turned our thoughts and conversation to the
solemn problem OF the day-the unemployed.
1t was dark as We passed over the grand
bridge that spans the Father Of Waters here,
and. although it has been erected several
years, is vet a nine-days' wonder 10 all who
know of the treachery OF the tickle banks OF
of the longest river in the world and its ever
changing base of operations in so far as the
river bed is relied upon, and the wise ones
told tales of high water freaks, etc.
At the Union depot, well-appointed
station building for several converging roads,
we found friends awaiting US. Mrs. Richard
son. of Boston, Mass. member Of our club,
had gore ahead a day CT two to join ne here.
Our st. Louis vice president. Mrs Hollen E.
Day. is associate editor OF the ST. Louis Picket
Guard and correspondent OF the st. Louis
Herald. She related amusing stories of the
commonweaers passing through. A detach-
ment OF 500, commanded by Gen. Frye,
passed over the river the night before, the
citizens of South st. Louis raising the funds
TO pay for ferrying them across, particularly
to get rid of them, no doubt. although no
complaint is made of rowdyism in any shape
One thing is learned as a simple fact, that
not veteran of the G. A. r. Is found among
them. Their knowledge of what exposure
meant to them during the war Of the rebel
lion makes them slow to move on such expe-
ditiors. and we doubt if they are much in
sympathy with this movement for the same
neutrality-suspicious.. There is kind Of SYM
pathy coming from the unemployed and phi
lanthropists, who do not stop to reason from
results. The Bohemian unemployed are on
the march TO the nations capital; for what,
they know little aud care less. so long as the
bread is given them: and yet among the
masses there is sort of a kindly regret Of we
NAV call it so) at the methods. hoping it will
come out all right. and Congress will see their
depression and delay, which, of itself, is dam
gerous.
Mr.. McCann, the prince of passenger
agents. furnished the party with tickets by
the yard. inspected the same, to see that
stamps and signatures were correct, that de-
scription of eyes. age and hair was exact.
viz, blue hair and black eyes, red eyes and
gray hair. etc. One lady says: ''Do you fur
nish porter to carry them for us?" Another
suggested pushcart or wheelbarrow. We