Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-25
JOHN QUILL
Sees and Hears Strange Things
On a Railroad Train.
Lady Who Did Not Fear When Near
Non-Conductor.
The Sleeping Clergyman Also Furnish.
lF7b es Some Amusement.

To the student who wishes to see ard
study human nature in it's various
phases the ordinary railroad coach is
one of the best schools in the world.
Here one finds life off it's guard, its
humorous and its sad side 1t is a case
of laugh and the world laughs with
you; weep and you weep alone"
| 1 was going into Portland the other
day on No. 222. We We're bowling along
at average speed. The day had been
almost perfect with now and then
cloud; just enough to remind one that
this is sort of an off summer. We had
| left Brunswick behind us when it COM
menced to pucker up for a shower in
good earnest. The sky darkened and
| now and then few drops of rain fell,
while way over in the west one could
hear the distant rumble of thunder.
Very soon it got nearer and things
commenced to come our way, and to
one who enjoys an electrical storm the
| effect was magnificent. One could see
| the lightning skipping along as it light
| ed up the heavens and the shower
broke over US in all its fury. l watched
| it from the car windows for some little
| time. as it had no terrors for me, but
| I noticed some of the passengers
| nerves We're not as good as mine and
they rather cringed at the heavy rum
| BILE of the thunder and the sharp flashes
of the lightning.
One elderly lady in particular was
not enjoying the day fireworks, not a
| little bit. She had pulled the shade
| down and covered her face with her
wrap, to shut out the blazing glare.
| Her companion was trying to talk her
| out of the notion of being frightened
and was meeting with rather poor sue
I cess, when along came the brakeman,
| who grasped the situation instantly.
| Now, Maine Central brakeman is
different from the ordinary public SER
want. He is courtesy itself. He meets
all classes of people in his daily run
from the old lady with her arms full of
bundles whom he assists upon the
train to the slick looking New Workers
with his spandey new suit case and his
metropolitan airs. He has a cordial
greeting and a dignified exterior for
them all. and when he saw the elderly
party whose nerves were somewhat
shattered he very politely DOTTED his
cap and said:
|
shower is over In fact it is tightening
up a little in the east. But then you
need not be a bit afraid of the light
ming, for you are perfectly safe where
| am
| The lady looked up and wondered
what wonderful charm there was about
this man to keep lightning away and
said:
why do you consider that am any
safer in your presence than else
| where?"
Why" said the brakeman with
merry smile, 81 am a non-conductor."
Considering that this brakeman has
been in the employ of the road for
number Of years striving for the brake
mans goal, conductorship. and has
not as yet attained it, the passengers
appreciated the joke and laughed
! heartily. The lady forgot all her
troubles and joined with the rest. She
is now thoroughly convinced that the
Maine Central Railroad employs none
but gentlemen upon the road, men who
ought to be in the diplomatic corps.
Over near the door at the forward
end of the car sat an old gentleman.
His black frock coat and white clerical
tie attracted my attention. He seemed
to be at peace with all mankind and
well satisfied that this wicked world
was good enough for him to live in.
He had been reading until his eyes had
become tired and laying his magazine
one side he put in some little time
watching the fleeing scenery and like
myself had been studying his fellow
passengers. He had made the rounds
of the car with his eyes and had fig
ured out to his mental satisfaction just
who and what everybody was. Finally
wearied with this he had folded his
hands placidly over the front of his
DonderouS waistcoat and had dropped
asleep. He was still sleeping when the
train left Morril's Corner.
Very soon the brakeman came in to
announce the next station. He, the
brakeman, informed us in no uncer-
tain tones that the next station was
Portland. Union station next, change
for the Mountain Division, Quebec and
Montreal. for the Western Division for
Old Orchard. Dover, Exeter and Law
renee. this train for Boston over the
Eastern Division, etc" He ran on for
some little time giving the various