Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-26
CHERISH THE RAILROAD.
Inspiration an Arriving Train Puts Into
Crowd, and Other Sensations.

(Wythevllle Journal)
Nothing tickles a railroad so much as
a big turnout to greet her passenger
trains at each station and flag-stop along
the line A town that can't keep re-
spectable-sized contingent on daily duty
at the arrival and departure of all her
mail trains deserves to be printed as
fiy-speck on every railroad chart. Think
Of the inspiration IL puts into the engineer
as he pulls in sight OF Abingdon or nttle
Marion, or Rural, or the SARATOGA, or
Pulaski CITY. to see A great swarm OF
the pOpulace lining the sidings In eager
expectancy OF his coming. Watch him
arch his soOty brow with the majestic
mrin of Vulcan as he sweeps MS terrlhc
Titan through the gaping crowd a much
as to say Il speed the winds, make way
for progress"
Now come whisking by the jolly eX-
press mail. and baggage boys. swinging
and bobbing themselves from the side
doors OF their respective coaches, RuyinS
and saluting here and there some quon-
dam friend In vain endeavors 10 attract
the notice OF n terrOr-striCken CoYey Of
crawfsh gazelles who have Just ridd n in
five miles before breakfast on cabbage
schooner to see the "kears."
"Pule-ass-kee! Pulse-ass-ki! Pule-ass-
kumi Passengers for the North alliner
Dee-vision, Mrs. Shades Inn, and New
bern Court change kee-arsr bursts out
from thu calliope lungs of the front
brakeman, which is encOred In softer
tongue by his rear pard (WhO is making
his first rum by the echo Of Same at
this end"
Then the "swee-ee-ee" Of the air-bralSes
admonishes you that the great machine
has stopped.
II is now the conductors turn 10 do the
elegant and show of his great corporation
In its golden COlOrs. There he Is AT his
post of duty, relieving the disconnected
mamma of the sWaddling infant with one
whilst chewing her EiEEPSf. blush
ing daughter with the Other--holding the
impatient crowd at bay by a significant
look of plenty Of time" But if you
want 10 see conductor In all his glory
Just 1T him scent a bridal party on the
20, which he can always do forty rods
ahead OF his train. 1t requires suavtter
in modo, ct fOrtiter In re 10 inspire public
reverence for a railroad official when he
strikes the skittish candidates for ma
trimonial tour. and as he tips the bridal
welcome even the big-hearted engineer is
"obleeged' TO cast few furtive glances
back from his cab to see that tn Cap'n
comes off handsome with his guests.
IL makes no matter friends;
abuse the railroads. there is no
concealing the fact OF our weakness
for even the sight of the trains as they
spin by us loaded with precious. joyous
freight, speeding on, on. up and down
the earth. God knows where. And no one
ever has safe deliverance and bon
voyage at its hands without feeling a
gurgle or pure gratitude in his heart tor
even the pleasure Of thus riding on the
rail.
Go ride on the hears" IL you can
spare the money; II you have no money
go and see your friends embark, and II
you have no friends 90 see the "kears'
come in. and encourage the railroad by
even getting in its way. and make IL
think you thought something besides cuss
words and abuse.