The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-06-05
HER F.HsT EXPERIENCE.
New Jersey Womsns Introduction to
the Steam Railway.

the Steam Railway.
He was typical countryman,
whose rough edges had never been
tho least bit smoothed down by con-
tact with tho world. The principal
reason why this process had not been
gone through with was that he had
never como in contact with any stu
alton or person outside of tho mar
row confines of a wild region of
country known as 1.-The swamp" sit
uated III Hunterdon county, not far
from Pennington, N J.
Here he had lived with his wife,
as uncouth as himself, and small
army of yellow haired, unkempt
children. They formed queer cav.
alcsde as they marched upon tho
platform of the Lchigh Valley rail
way station in Pennington not long
since. In the fro1 t Walked the lean,
lanky "swamper, whose big top
boots were spattered with mud,
showing through what kind of roads
they had journeyed. Tugging at each
hand was a youngster, while tho
mother brought up the rear guard
with two moro children-one in arms
| mud the other clutching at her dress
Marching between were three other
little ones, somewhat older than tho
others.
Tho party huddled together as the
platform was reached, as if they
were afraid of the small crowd Of
onlookers who gazed at them with
all eyes. As tho door leading to the
| station was reached a halt was made,
| and the husband and father entered
tho station alone to purchase q tick
ct. The train, consisting of one Car
and an engine, which runs to and
fro between Pennington and the
junction where connection is made
with the main line of the Lehigh
4. Valley railway, stood awaiting the
hour of departure.
| The ticket secured, the husband
and vito entered the Car, while the
children remained on the platform.
Each child had been kissed by the
| mother, and one of tho little ones set
up loud "boo hoo," while the bal.
ance of the brood looked on with
considerable solicitude for the par.
ents' welfare as they assembled the
car steps. The whole performance
had been so out of the ordinary that
followed into the car.
There was an anxious, perplexed
expression on tho mans face as he
sat down in the first scat nearest the
door. This did not seem to suit him,
and he walked to the other end Of
tho car and sat down there. All this
time tho woman stood in the aisle
looking around on what We're, to her,
now surroundings. Presently tie
countryman selected scat exactly
in tho middle of the car. He sort Of
kncaded the cushion with his fists,
! tested the strength Of the seats back,
poked at the window catch and look
ed satisfied. He arose, stepped out
: into tho aisle and allowed his wife tc
take the seat which he had just va
Gated, saying as she sat down,
There, I guess you'll not got bump
cd here
Then, making his way to the plat
form. he made for the first uniform
ed official in sight, who CHANGED tt
be a brakeman, and requested hin
to keep an eye on the "old woman, >
as no expressed it. "You see, it i
this way" said the man. my OLE
woman has never seen Car afort
and is kind of scared like. You don !
think there be very much chance flu
her gettin hurried, do you?" Thu
brakeman explained that he didn'
think there was any danger at all
The countryman seemed relieved a
this and walked away just before tn
train started, with the troop of littl'
ones trotting along at his heels. Tn
whole party turned to wave thei
hands at tho "old woman as th'
train pulled out of the station, ant
for the first time in her life of a
} least 40 years in the state of New
Jersey, covered with perfect net
work of railroads, o woman of tn
present day rode on steam railway
I, New York Herald.