The Republican journal., 1902-05-01
A TRIP TO THE HOT SPRINGS.

transformation which has taken place
in the Western country since he last
visited it, some 45 years ago. Chicago
was not on our route this year, but in
1857 it was village compared with what
it is to-day. At that time change of
grade was going on. Streets were raised
a number of feet, and buildings follow
ed. 1t was mud and chaos everywhere.
The Illinois Central railway was then in
its infancy, and the trains went over the
crude road bed on the prairies much as
a coach goes over a corduroy road. The
only railroad west of the Mississippi was
one from st. Louis to Kansas City, and
there were no railroads south of Cairo,
then The terminus of the Illinois Cen
tral. The travel south was by the float
ing palaces of those days, the MissiS-
sippi river boats and very delightful
mode of travel it was. The writer made
several trips up and down the Missis-
sippi, OH the Ohio, Missouri, Red and
Alabama rivers, and enjoyed the ex-
periences of being 'snagged' and sunk
and of participating in an explosion in
which twenty-six lives were lost. This
was in the days when Mark Twain was
a cub-pilot on the Mississippi, when
slavery prevailed, and when the rich
planter and the gambler were very
much in evidence on the passenger
boats of the big Muddy" and its trib-
utaries This was the era of ruffied
shirts, fine linen and broadcloth, dia-
monds and Bowie knives. There have
been great changes since those days.
not only in the growth and development
of the Western country but in the
modes of travel. Thus, as a member
of the New England delegation to the
National Editorial Association, l was
enabled to step on board the Pullman
palace ear ''Pandora' at Boston, at 6.19
p. NJ. Saturday, April 18th, and go
through to the Hot Springs without
change. This was through the courtesy
of the Boston and Maine, West Shore
and Wabash railway companies. Dining
and cafe cars We're added to the train en-
route, so that the inner man was well
provided for,
Saturday was a bright and beautiful
day in Boston; the first break, we were
told, in a long spell of cold. rainy
weather. 1t rained that night and all
day sunday, but that did not interfere
with our comfort as we sped across the
country III our palace car. AS most of
the journey was made by night our op-
portunities for observation were limit
ed, but after leaving New England the
route has little to offer in the way OF
scenic attractions. We went over the
Fitchburg division Of the Boston and
Maine, passing through the Hoosac tun-
nell, and from Buffalo to St Louis via
Detroit. The railroad map shows almost
bee line, and it is no doubt the most
direct route from Boston.
We arrived at St. Louis Monday morn
Ing and breakfasted at the Terminal
Hotel, which adjoins the station. As
the roommate ell route of Hon. Joseph
b. Maccabe of Boston had the pleasure
OF breakfasting with Governor White
OF West Virginia, a former newspaper
man and past president Of the Ma
tional Editorial Association We had a
n 7 10,
the Planters Hotel about 1890 A. NJ,
accompanied by Lieut.. Governor Lee of
Missouri. we We're guests for the day of
Mr.. Colin NJ. Selph, editor and manager
of the Worlds Fair Bulletin. We first
visited the city building, where the
ladies manifested much interest in the
bureau for issuing marriage licenses,
and some of the gentlemen wanted to
know if there was a divorce depart
ment. Then we went to the police
headquarters, were introduced to the
chief and other officials, and shown the
rogues gallery and other things of in
terest. Two special officers were then
detailed to accompany the party, with
orders not to lose sight of us until we
boarded our car for departure This
action of the police authorities is open
to two interpretations 1t may have
been to safeguard the persons and prop
erty of the New England editors; or
for the protection of the people of st.
Louis, Which? The situation reminds
me of story The man of the house
was telling his wife at the supper table
of street fight he had witnessed, in
terspersing his recital with comment
and giving an idea of what he himself
would do if involved in like encoun-
ter. His young son followed the story
with breathless interest, and then inter
Jected the remark: "Couldn't knock any
brains out of you, could they, father"
The old man was daZed, and made no
reply, but the remark gave him food for
thought for many day. But, to return
to the bodyguard furnished us by the st.
Louis police department, it should be
said that these officers rendered us good
service
From police headquarters, following
the usual procedure we went to the