Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-11-07
FOREIGN RAILWAYS.
Some Striking Points in which They DIFF
fer From Ours.


fer From Ours.
After the freedom of an American rail-
way train, telscOped SO as to be one
long, magnificent corridor, the English
train, which persistently reminds one OF
row of little coops set on wheelA,
strikes the traveller as being primitive
and preposterous.
1t is probably true that American
travellers make practice of poking fun
at the English railway trains, for as
soon as the conversation with an Eng
lishman gets around to the subject Of
railways he hastens to say that the
trains in the states are doubtless hand
somer, but that the British system Is
best adapted to the needs of English
travel
1t is familiar saying in England that
'only fools and Americans travel first
class"
First-class is high and the compart-
ment Is more comfortable than that OF
the second-class. Third-class Is counted
good enough by nine out Of every ten
travellers, even when there are women
In the party. The third-class compart-
ment is of the same size as the other,
but is more plainly furnished.
On the continent second-class accom-
modations are good enough except In
Italy, where even in first-class compart-
mentS are not always attractive.
A circular ticket" such as a travel
er usually buys, is small book, each
side being represented by coupon.
These circular tickets are exceedingly
convenient for any one who has mapped
out definite line of travel. He can
stop almost anywhere along the route
and resume his journey when he sees
fit. The circular ticket is cheaper than
thE a fai l
purchased at tourist agency it is print
ed in English as well as in the language
of the country in which it is to be used.
Nearly all travellers in Europe use
either the Cook or Gaye tickets. Only
the most experienced travellers or those
totally inexperienced disdain the assist
ance furnished by the tourist agencies.
The circular ticket for Italy was OF
an unusual kind. 1t was little folder
containing map Of Italy.
The lines of railroad on which the tic
ket would be accepted were printed In
heavy black. Beside the map was a
list of cities at which stop-overs would
be allowed.
There were no coupons, but there was
one blank page to be stamped at differ
ent stations. At the italian frontier the
agent wrote "Milano'' on the blank page
and the ticket became available to MI
Ian. At Milan the agent wnte I've
nesia." and so on. By the time the jour-
ney in Italy was ended the ticket was
covered with dates and inscriptions. At
the Swiss frontier it was taken up.
Some tickets, on the other hand, are
models of simplicity and brevity.
The Northwestern railway, controlling
great lines of travel throughout the Brit
! ish Isles, sold small bit of pasteboard
which read: "E'rom London to Queens
| town."
This ticket, which carried no explana-
tory notes, carried one by rail to Holy
head, thence by steamer to Dublin,
thence by rail to Cork, and thence by
accommodation train to Queenstown.
In the United States ticket providing
for these different lines and permitting
| half-doZen or more stop-overs would
have been at least a foot long.
Everywhere in Europe the tamrcar
and railway signals are given by the
footing of horn. The conductor has a
horn, every switchman has one and
some of the superfiuous men in uniform,
who do heavy standing about at the sta
tions, carry them. Just before train
starts up there Is enough squawking
and footing to suggest an election night
or football victory.
| After the blowing Of horns the engine
| emits a weak but shrill whistle and the
wheels turn.
If an American locomotive under full
steam should ever roll into one of those
Italians towns and let out just one blast
from its monster whistle, it is certain
that all the sleepy men on the platform
would be panic-stricken and attempt to
climb over the station.
The European railway men are the
most subdued lot imaginable.
A Wabash brakeman would not own
them as brethren.
The railway employees appear to have
the servant instinct If there were ever
a strike the passengers might pacify II
by chipping in small coin all around
Chicago Record.