New-York tribune., 1906-04-08
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH.
Story of the Engine That Tho ght
1t Could.

The Rev. DR.. Charles s. Wing, presiding elder
Of the New York East Conference. told a story
last Sunday evening in which he gained un-
usual amount of realism by the adaptation Of
the sounds of his words to the requirements OF
his description He talking at the time to
a congregation assembled in the Nostrand Ave
nue. Methodist Episcopal Church to the mort
gage burned In describing how the church had
slowly and painfully gained the money that had
freed it from debt after struggle of thirty-nine
years DR.. Wing branched out into the following
little parable:
In a certain railroad yard there stood an ex-
tremeIy heavy train that had to be drawn up an
unusually heavy grade before It could reach its
destination. The superintendent OF the yard was
rot sure what It was best for him TO do so he
went up 20 a large. strong engine and asked:
Can you pull that train over the hill?"
II is 4 very heavy train." responded the en-
He then went to another great engine and
asked:
Can you pull that train over the hIll?"
1T IS a very heavy grade" It replied.
The superintendent was much puzzled but he
turned TO still another engine that was spick
and span new, and he asked it:
Can you pull that train over the hin?"
Il think can" responded the engine.
So the order was circulated. and the engine
with the train. and as It went along the rails it
kept repeating to itself: AZ think can. think
] can. I think can"
The coupling was made and the engine began
its journey. and all along the level, as It rolled
toward the ascent, It kept repeating to itself
II think I can think can. I think can"
Then it reached the grade but its voice could
still be heard: 81 think can. I-think-I-can
-think-I-can"
Higher and higher It climbed. and its voice
grew fainter and its words came slower:
-think-T-can.
II was almost TO the top.
"I-think''-
It was at the top.
It passed over the top of the nil and began
crawling down the opposite slope.
nk-I-can-I thought
-could-I- thought-I-
could thought could. 1 thought could.
thought could"
And singing its triumph, It rushed on down
toward the valley.
Even the men in this borough cannot get far
away from the domestic unpleasantries that
have become so closely associated with the Lares
and Penates in these latter days, and which are
a constant menace to the reign of Vesta, the
presiding deity Of the hearth. At the dinner Of
the Brooklyn League last Monday evening Con-
gresham Calder introduced the servant girl
problem. He explained that one OF his constitu-
ents had written him saying that the subsidiz-
ing OF ships for the transportation OF female
iEo5r from Europe would be expedient at this
time.
The correspondent said that he would be-
greatly Obliged personally IL the Congressman
would introduce measure IN the House OF
Representatives advocating the scheme he pro-
posed. Mr.. Calder told the TO go 10 the
Alderman Of his district and secure the passage
Of ordinance permitting subsidized vessels
with cargoes Of female help TO unburden them
selves ct New York City, and then ne would
60 what he could 10 further the enterprise in
Washington. Mr.. Calder said that he couldn't
promise 10 devote all his time the project
however as he had been asked to get behind
another idea that is painting for immortality.
This idea is TO have the government construct
what might be called STANDARD OIL life saving
plants." The proposition is TO have, at various
places along the seaboards reservoirs filled with
OH. From the reservoirs pipes would run under
the surf and several hundred feet out to sea- At
the seaWard ends Of the pipes would be spig-
cots making Il possible for those shore 10
squirt the unctuOus fluid on the troubled waters
in times OF storm and shpWTeck. The oil sys-
TENS would be supplemented by tunnels through
the surf by which the lifeboats might be safely
driven outside the breakers into the calm be-
yOnd.
Controller Metz, who followed was not salts
6sd that the constituent was really quite aware
az the serious nature Of his conduct in trying 90
Naa1a New York City the landing point for q