The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-17
THE RAILROADER

Expound: on the Railroad Mans Opportunities
to Study Human Nature
Yes, sir said the old railroad engineer, the
railroad man has fine opportunity to study
human nature
SO does sewing machine agent" interrupted
the s. m, a Il remember onoe--'
OATS nothin' ter de ehanst de hobo has in
terpolated the wanderer "pey's an OIL feller-.-
I'd like TO know whose nature the engineer
has a chance to study volunteered the hired
man
Well" responded the engineer h. has a
chance 20 study his own and his wife s. and his
hremans.'
And what sood does dat do I'M shifted the
wanderer.
Well in the case Of his wife It does HIM
lot Of good He gets 10 know her and can finally
tell exactly how she will act under the stress Of
certain unforeseen circumstances Now my wife
is terribly timid and 1t was this knowledge of her
timidity which enabled me- TO plan my actions
with mathematical accuracy at a time when we
we're both III great peril
4 was running on the Nickel Plate at the
time the affair occurred OF the division between
Conneaut Ohio and Erie, Pennsylvania. Those
Of you who have ever travelled over this division
will remember the high restle which spans the
valley about midway between these two cities
Well had started out to make my run one
terriheally cold night and as my wife was going
to visit her sister IN Erie, | had arranged things
so to crafty an ambition which she had long
entertained 10 ride in an engine cab and we'll
mufhed IN long ulster, | picked her up and
placed her on the seat on my side OF the cab
and glided out of the yards and clickety-
clicked away into the night. We swung around
the curve which leads onto the trestle and then
| almost demented by the sight which met
my gaze! The huge span ahre | turned
on the sand and threw the lever TO reverse
her To my horror it seemed to have absolutely
no effect she slid along the icy rails like a
/ tohoegan Under any other combination OF cir.
eumstanees ! would, of course, have stayed with
my engine but my wife was there and ! con.
| sidered that having done everything possible &c
save the train my next duty was to her We were
nearer the bridge now and / could hear the
crash of its falling timbers and see the flicker
ing red CLEANS shining across the snow. With
out waiting to attempt an explanation graspet
/ the long ulster which my wife had on ripped i
the whole length and despite her struggles
wrapped it about her head so that If, when W.
| jumped, her head came in contact with any HARD
object the ulster would act as protection. Their
I gathered her in my arms and sprang far GU
from the cab Just before the engine rushed ont,
the burning trestle r.
Well 7" asked the 3 nj. a oreathlessy
Well continued the engineer stroking hi
chin reminiseently, then awoke TO find that
had ripped my wife's night dress Up the back
wrapped it around her neck 50 tightly as L
nearly strangle her, and had capped the china,
by jumping out OF bed with her in my arm
and barking her shns against the corner Of til
washstand |"
"Huh !" snorted the hired man, like to know
what that taught you about human nature? :"
1T taught me enough about her nature tina
know enough not TO wear whiskers fer m
I wife 10 grab whenever I show signs that Ir
dreaming"