Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-04-09
William Wallace Chandler.

William Wallace Chandler.
A likeness Of this gentleman, accom-
panied by bright and amusing articl
from his pen, regarding his first trip West
appeared In the last issue OF the Vermont
or, which also gave the following shor
biographical sketch:
William Wallace Chandler Is one OF tn,
veteran railroad officials OF the Unitef
States. For over forty years he has beer
employed In some capacity In the interes
OF the Pennsylvania railroad. For many
years he was the general agent Of the Stal
Union Line OF this company In Chicago
He invented and designed the original re
frigerator car, and caused thirty cars to bt
constructed and put into service. Mr.
Chandler is a native OF Randolph, having
been born there in 1921. When fifteen
years old he taught class in penmanshiE
and became expert in making quill pens
He had remarkable success In teaching
penmanship in the Orange County Gram.
mar school and elsewh here. He afterwards
attended Norwich University. Subse-
quently Mr.. Chandler went West to grow
up With the country. He left Vermont in
1S45 and travelled extensively as advertis-
ing agent for concert companies. Finally,
In 1853, be entered the employ Of the Cleve-
land, Pittsburgh and Wheeling railroad
as clerk at Cleveland, Ohio. He was grad
ually promoted until he was made gener-
al passenger agent, at Chicago, of the Star
Union Line, retiring in 1893 on full pay,
on account OF illness.
Mr.. Chandeliers article on "The First
Travels Of Vefdant Vermont Boy" is
rather too long to copy in its entirety, but
some extracts from 1t may serve to give
an idea OF the quiet humor OF its style.
fNearly forty years ago, while living In
Vermont, outside the narrow limits OF
which | had never strayed, except to in
wade the state OF New Hampshire by cross
ing the bridge over the great Connecticut
river between Norwich and Hanover, |
frequently heard people talk OF a r-off
country which they Ndenominated "Out
West" and longed to behold 1t with
my own eyes.
Occasionally, persons whom knew or
had heard OF. left my native state to find a
home Out West until finally 1 came to
believe that there must be good many
people out there, and was strongly ap-
prehensive that quite number OF them
had never enjoyed the pleasure OF my ac-
quaintance, and without much difficulty
worked myself into the belief that a
large majority OF the Inhabitants out
West were really quite anxious to see me,
and that my advent would create pretty
general sensation.
Every thing being in readiness for my
journey, my trunk packed-a few needles,
some skeins OF thread, a few buttons and
/ general assortment OF medicines being
very carefully slowed away therein-I
look leave OF my anxious parents, broth
srs and sisters, as we'll as sundry other be-
reaved friends and afflicted relatives, my
heart swelling to an enormous size as l
altered the final goodbye
Arrived at q hotel In Troy, the clerk
handed me quill pen with the remark,
Register your name, sir; please Now be
t understood that up to that time had
heard the word register had
used the word myself, but l
lever had the slightest idea that II APP
,lied to anything else In the wide world
han Walton's Vermont Register, an an
lual publication with which some Of my
eaders may be familiar; so, OF course
vas dumbfonnded, but summoned cour-
ge to say, what do you expect me to do,
ir?' He replied somewhat snappishly, |
9 thought, Write your name II you can,
nd IL you can't I'll write 1t Tor you Now
% it known that for some years previous.
= had regarded 1t as entirely unconsti-
ational to allow any boy Of my age to
rite his name better than wrote mine,
ence / was considerably nettled by his
emark; hut as my father had cautioned
10 to be very careful as to how, when and
here / furnished my autograph, still
fearing that my signature might
ind me to some agreement that 1t would
Q inconvenient for me to fulfill. Finally,
owever, wrote my name with dash,
'ithout raising my pen between the first
nd last letter, and was gratified to note
be change that crept over the manner OF
nat clerk.
/ was overwhelmed at the magnitude OF
lDany, and later found myself ABOARD
le first railroad train / had ever seen.
ne conductor walked around each car
inside on footboard and transacted his
usiness with the passengers through the
indows. The speed of the train, prob
3ly a dozen miles an hour, astonished
10. At 'early candle-light' reached Syr.
,use, and upon entering the Syracuse
ouse, with multitude OF other people,
got to the register as soon as possible
nd deposited my autographs / thought,
excellent style. Presently / heard
ost unearthiy sound-different from
lything ! had ever heard lin all my born
,ys.' the people all rushed In one di-
ction and / decided to follow them. !
as sure the roof had fallen in, and that
,ery looking glass and all the dishes in
10 house had gone to eternal smash.
When I left Syracuse GU packet boat
! the Raging Erie Kan-awl,' some forty.
ght hours later, had so far perfected
y education that / knew the difference
'tween first'class earthquake and a
linese gong"