The Winslow mail., 1898-04-23
RAILROAD CHAPERONS.
Women Employed to Travel with
Tourists.
One of Them Gives an Insight of the
Duties Which They Perform
An Entirely New
Occupation.

by this road. Miss Beatty, when asked
about her duties as a ehaperon, laughed
and said: "Oh, they are only nominal;
at least that is what l have been told
by persons who hear Of my frequent
trips over the country and the number
of agreeable people 1 meet. But per-
sonaIly / would say my duties are in
describable, first because they are in
Vulnerable, and secondly, because in
great measure they depend on what
turns up l think you will readily IN
derstand that the duties on one trip
are seldom if ever duplicated. Of course
we never make two trips with the same
persons under the same conditions.
''At the beginning ofthe trip l always
go through the formality of introduc-
ing myself to every woman in the party,
explain my position, and let her clear
ly understand that it is my pleasure as
well as my duty to have her call on me
for any information or assistance dur
ing the trip. Where there are ladies
travelling alone, or several together un-
accompanied by a man, l make myself
especially nice, SO they may feel no
hesitancy in calling On me about the
most trivial occurrence. Of course, l
often have the same persons go with me
on different trips. l say go with me,
because they really make their ar
rangements that they may go on the
trip where I am to be the chaperon.
This happens, am sure, as often, if not
oftener, to both of the other chaperons,
f,sa 49,
quite well.
''On the train I see that the ladies
have every possible comfort. If l no
tice persons who give evidence of hav-
ing travelled little before, try to give
them all the information desired, and
make them feel, as far as possible, at
home with their surroundings. When
we arrive at our destinations, or at
stop, see that every one of my charges
understands where she is to be quar-
tered, for how long, and at what ex-
pense. OF course, this includes the
transferring of their baggage, though
personally that is superintended by the
man who accompanies each tour, the
man chaperon,' we may call him.
'Why couldn't a tour be conducted
entirely by this man chaperon?' Well,
l suppose it could, but not with as much
comfort, certainly to some ladies, as
when they have a woman to call on.
Then, too, the girls. You have no idea
of the numbers of young girls, fresh
from school, often still in school, whom
l have chaperoned on my numerous
trips. Why, sometimes one would i'm
agine me the head of a large female
seminary. OF course, these girls are
serious charges and have to be looked
after very carefully-at least, l might
say, continually. But as a class they
give no more trouble than the grown-up
travellers and make very charming COM
panions. Our girl travellers nearly al
ways became friends instead of my
duties.
"At the end of a tour--that is, at the
other end-every member OF the party
is informed where 1 can be found dur
ing the entire stay, at what hour | will
conduct them around the place we are
visiting, pointing out objects Of inter
est, and at what hours 1 can be found at
my room in the hotel. Now don't un-
derstand, as many people do, that the
whole party are expected to go out
sightseeing with me, whether they SO
desire or not. for such is not the case.
They are perfectly free from my perse-
cutions, unless they desire to be perse-
! cuted, and need not see me from the
time they leave the train until they
return. Even when on the train, you
know, tourists are not compelled to call
on me. They are to use their own pleas
ure. I am simply convenience, there
to be called on when desired.
"Oh, yes, we have some very amusing
experiences. How could it be otherwise
when l tell you that in the six years :
have acted as chaperon 1 lave been to
Florida at least 25 times, to California
half as often, and, as for Washington
and other short trips, it would be i'm
possible for me to say without consid-
Grafton and much looking backward. l
have certainly seen and known of some
very amusing occurrences, but, of
course it would never do for me to tell
you about them.
$50 the only way to find out would
| OC ~ telINI u VI II Win <AllO L "ClllNl
advise you to select Florida trip.
There you will see the greatest number
of bridal couples. You know we call
ourselves bride and groom protectors,
and on some trips we certainly have
our hands full living up to that title,
but never do we forget our duties in
that direction. Newly-married couples
are sacred, and we see that they are
never annoyed by practical jokes or
otherwise.
"You ask if had any training for the
position. No, certainly not. Like
other women, when the necessity arose
for me to make my own living, took
the first thing that offered. In my
case the first thing happened TO be
librarian in my native town; then this
place was offered. l took it, and here
l am. / have a vacation in the summer,
and travel back and forth over the
country the remainder of the year,
making myself useful to other people.
Or course, l make many charming ac-
quaintances, and, as Il whole, my oc-
cupation is pleasantly. Y. Sun.
rencI Pancakes.
Three ounces flour, three ounces but