Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-05-03
BREAKFAST IN THE SOUTH.
Pleasant Surprise for . Northern
Railroad Traveller ut q Little
Refreshment Station.

Inc tTaln was SO late tnaC Dreak1ast
was out of the question at the station
where that meal was usually served.
Passengers going further south and
having to change cars had only time
enough to step across the station to
the waiting train.
The new train started. The dust
poured through the cracks of the win
dows; the door swung open half the
time and the black, adhesive smoke OF
the soft coal pulled into the car.
Breakfast was to be served at station
two hours BEYOND the point at which it
was customary. The conductor took
the names of the hungry passengers
who, with great expectations, resign
edly said they would eat when the
junction was reached. Then they set
tied down to another hour of smoke
and dust, relates the New York Sun.
Twenty minutes for breakfast"
shouted the conductor after awhile.
A dinner bell in the hands of stall
wart mulatto youth rang stimulating
obligato to this announcement. The
passengers bundled out of the cars.
The appearance Of the little station
called Branchville, because trains
started from it in several directions,
did not reassure the solitary northern
traveller who alighted from the train.
But he followed his companions into
the dining-room. The air was so soft
and balmy that the windows of the
dining-room stood open and there was
faint smell Of the pungent pine
brought from the thickness Of the
belt only few miles away.
The linen on the table was worn and
in many places carefully mended. But
it was clean. So were the glass and
china. 1t was the breakfast itself that
proved the greatest surprise.
There were on the table ample plates
of stewed chicken, tender and tasteful;
plates of broiled bacon and ham of the
kind that is better in the south than
anywhere else, chiefly because it is
properly cooked in that region; hot
beaten biscuits and corn bread, thin
strips of well-done liver and light ONE
let's. these were the dishes that made
up an unexpectedly good meal.
The northern traveller never remem-
bered to have Jared so we'll anywhere
on his extensive journeys through the
country. But more astonishing to him
than the excellence of the food was the
politeness of his fellow guests.
He knew none of them. He had
never seen any of them until they were
seated about the table. He was ac-
customed to the rough and ready ways
II other regions. So it surprised him
when the man on the right, before
helping himself, asked politely if he
wouldn't like some chicken.
Take piece of the white meat"
MS neighbor added. you'll find it
very good"
From the other side came similar in
itations, all delivered as if his neigh.
'ors took personal interest in see
ng that he was we'll cared for. The
walters were just as attentive.
'Don't take that biscuit, sir" said
me of them. "Let me get you hot
me-" And he dashed off to dol
All this politeness combined with
he unusual excellence of the food,
made an unusual impression on the
tranger, who had never before been
n that region; and he was convinced
hat the breakfast was better than
ny of the average railroad restau-
ant could supply. while the manners
4 his fellow travellers were certainly
uperior. They were indeed revela-
ion to him. Just as they are to all
trangers making their first visit to