The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-13
Incidents of a Journey
to the Sunny South.
A Prominent Professional MAN of Scran-
tom Narrates Some Features OF Vacation
Trip to Florida.

Special Correspondence of The Tribune.
Arlington, Fla, March 6.-On Thurs
day we spent the day on the Florida
Special on the coast line from WASH
ington to Jacksonville. We left Phil
adelphia on Wednesday evening at
seven o'clock and should have left
Washington the same evening but on
account of the passing" of Grover
CleNe Gland the next day there were so
many trains going into Washington
that we We're DELAYED and did not get
out of the capital until after midnight.
We came very nearly missing our train
in Philadelphia owing to the stupidity
Of one of the Pennsylvania railroad
employees. our ticktes read for the
Florida special which was to leave at
Z O'Clock. We passed through the gates
and showed our tickets to an employe
whose business il was to direct passen-
gers to the right train. He said: The
sleepers ON the right at the end of this
platform" SO to the other end we
went; and the other end meant the
dist lnce that eight Pullman sleepers oc-
cupy.
We then learned that the Florida
special was on the other side Of the de-
pot half Il dozen tracks away and we
had Just two minutes to walk back the
entire length Of the platform, cross
over and SO on down to our train. we
started on the run. The writer led the
procession with his wife flying after
We succeeded in making the turn
around the train bullihead i'm safety
but moment afterWard we heard a
crash and turning saw that the wife
had caught her foot and was at that
moment measuring her length on the
platform, with band box, satchel ana
birdcage all rolling to different points
of the compass. We did not stop, now
ever, but rushed frantiCally forward
in order to hold the train a minute if
necessary. Just as our better halt
climbed on board together with her
collected bundles and a large supply or
Pennsylvania railroad black grease
which carefully concealed the original
color of her best gown, the train
started and we We're off for the sunny
South. We did not hear the good wife
swear but from the looks which from
time to time she cast on that gown, |
should hate to state that she did not
do so inaudibly.
Our train and service We're perfect.
II was a solid vestibule train of SIN
cars-the first a combination baggage
and smoking car; the next dining
car: then three sleeperS and at the enu
an observation car. During the even
ing We fell into conversation with
gentleman next us. Upon our remark
ing that we thought Grover Cleveland
would be glad to leave the presidency
If for no other reason than that the
New York Sun would be apt to "let up
on him" this gentleman remarked
quite feelingly that he could readily
believe that as he had had some eN-
perience with the New York Sun when
he was running as the Democratic can
didate for mayor of Yonkers. From
this statement we at once recognized
the gentleman as Mr. John Kendrick
Bangs, the author and humorist. Mr..
Bangs we found to be as entertaining
as a conversationalist as he is in the
character of author.
A STORY ON DEPEW.
He told us a little story on Chauncey
Depew which we have not seen in print
and even if it has been published we
think it will bear repetition. Mr.. Bangs
was attending a banquet in New York
where Chauncey was to be one of the
speakers. Chauncey is in such demand
for such entertainments that he usually
comes late and then starts his speech
by explaining why he was detained.
There We're only twenty-five or thirty
present at this dinner and some one
suggested that they "get one" on
Chauncey by not laughing at any of
his jokes. AS usual, Chauncey came
late and was the last speaker. After
explaining his lateness he started to
tell side-spitting stories but did not get
smile in return. The colder the au-
dience the more he exerted himself to
be witty but everything fell fiat. Final
ly he stopped in disgust and as he sat
down inquired from his neighbor al
table what the trouble was.
Why" replied the neighbor, 'yor
came late and did not hear the other
speeches, Every story you told had al
ready been told by them" The above
proves that great jokers occasionally
have to take little of their own medi.
cine.
The ride from Washington to Jack
sonVille is continual repetition of the
ride from Baltimore to Washington
There are but three things to see, sand
pine trees and negroes of every hue
Having left Washington over an houl
late we had to run very fast to make
up our time and arrive in Jacksonville
as per the schedule. This, however
we did and arrived at siX-thirty Thurs