The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-01-09
The Brakeman at Church.

On the road once more, with Leban-
on fading in the distance, the fat pas
senger drumming idly on the window
pane, the cross passenger sound
asleep, and the tall, thin passenger
reading General Grants Tour Around
the World" and wondering why
screens August Flower" should be
printed above the doors of "a Bud
dhist Temple at Benares." To me
comes the brakeman, ard seating him
self on the arm of the seat, says:
81 went to church yesterday"
"Yes?" | said with that interested
infection that asks for more. "And
what church did you attend?'
(which do you guess?" he asked.
"Some union mission church,"
hazarded.
NO." he said, 81 don't like to run on
these branch roads very much. don't
often go to church, and when | dc,
want to run on the main line, where
your run is regular and you so on
schedule time, and don't have to wait
at connections. | don't like to run on
branch. Good enough, but | don't
like it,"
"Episcopal?" guessed.
Limited express" he said, "all val
hCC vars, duu tWo cAtTt IUT u
seat, fast time, and only stop at the
big stations. Nice line, but too ex-
haustive for a brakeman. All train
men in uniform. conductors punch
and lantern silver plated, and no train
boys allowed. The passengers are al
lowed to talk back to the conductor,
and it makes them too free and easy.
No, couldn't stand the palace cars.
Rich road, though. Don't often hear
OF q receiver being appointed for that
line. Some mighty nice people travel
on it, too"
"Univcrsalist?" l suggested.
BROAD gauge" said the brakeman
"does too much complimentary bust
ness. Everybody travels on a pass
Conductor doesn't get fare once in
fifty miles. Stops at all flag stations
and won't run into anything but a
union depot. No smoking-car on the
train. Train orders are rather vague
though, and the trainmen don't get
along well with the passengers. No,
don't go to the Universalist, though
know some awfully good men who run
on that road"
"Presbyterian?" l asked.
Marrow guage, eh?" said the brake
man, pretty track, straight as rule
tunnel right through mountain
rather than go round it; spirit-leye
grade; passengers have to show theil
tickets before they get on the train
Mighty strict, but the cars are little
narrow; have to sit one in seat ant
no room in the aisle to dance. Their
there is no stop-Over tickets allowed
got to go straight through to the sta
tion you're ticketed for, or you cam
get on at all. When the cars full, n,
extra coaches; cars are built at tn,
shops to hold just SO many, and no
body else allowed on. But you dom
often hear of an accident on that road
It's run right up to the rules"
"May-be you Joined the Free-Think
ers?" said.
"Scrub road" said the brakeman
"dirt road-bed and no ballast, no time
card and no train dispatcher. AL
trains run wild, and every enginee
makes his own time, just as he pleases
Smoke il you want to; kind of go-as
you-please road. Too many side tracks
and every switch wide open all tn
time, with the switchman sound asleel
and the target-lamp dead out Get OF
Is you please, and off when you wan
to. Don't have to show y0nr tickets
and the conductor isn't expected to d
anything but amuse the passenger
No, cir, I was offered pass, but