The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-22

There he is, old Ed Howe! Hur-
rah!' Looking down into the cheer I
ing crowd. I picked out John W.
Crossley, and his two daughters, Am |
aret and Frances Mrs. Carrie Judd, I
Miss Mabel Harwi (now Mrs. Shedd), |
L. Friend and his daughter Helen, |
and Colonel Day. all formerly of
Atchison and they were carrying on
as wildly as any of them. Most of
them had copies of the Atchison
Globe in their hands, which they
waved instead of handkerchiefs So
did pretty we'll; eight people met me,
and most Of them had waited in the
cold for three hours. I also received
letters and messages. I was SO proud
Of the friends who welcomed me that
introduced them to good many of
my friends of the Baltic after I
reached the dock.
Then all the ships baggage was
sorted into piles. and we went through
packages in the "H'' pile and a Gus
toms officer went through them in the
presence of my formerly Of Atchison
friends. Here's where you see a lot
of dirty clothes" I said to them when
I opened my packages to give the
custom house man a chance to pick
over my effects 1t isn't important
but the American customs officials
were the only customs officials who
made me open my packag yes.
A familiar thing happened at the
/ dock; Colonel Day said: Whats the
matter? Aren't YOU looking a little
thin ?" I had notion to throw some
thing at him He has become about
the latest man I have ever seen.
Then I went to a passenger agent of
the Pennsylvania railroad, and he
checked my trunk through to Atchi-
SON I couldn't help saying to an Eng
l1shman I had known on the ship:
! That's the difference between your
| railroads and ours"
And it is a big difference; abroad
trunk causes you as much trouble as
a woman. And wherever I went on
the other side I found men waiting
around for women who had accom-
panied them to get ready for break
fast. I once said to the princess who
accompanied me: eff YOU will he
ready for breakfast on time lust once
all will be forgiven" But She never
made it; I was always compelled to
wait for her. although we never had
breakfast before nine o'clock.
New York. didn't interest me much
on this trip, although I continually
had occasion to point to it with pride.
IN gong up town on an errand. I used
the underground railway, and it seem
Cd to me to be the most wonderful
thing I had ever seen; four tracks
and trains whizzing by all the time.
arranged to leave New York at
p m, en- the Chicago Limited, and
arrived at the station a half hour
ahead OF time, I was so afraid the
train would go off and leave me And
now good the negro porter looked to
me as he handled nv hand baggage!
/ Passengers are not allowed on board
/ for 20 minutes he said, but I'll see
if I can't arrange it." And he did ar
range it, and I passed through the
/ gates and sat down in luxurious
oil HrT-r
my letters and papers from home. I
+ regretted there wasn't an Englishman
/ around, that I might Give him a dig
When o'clock arrived, the mag
/ nifleent train pulled quietly out Of
/ the station; no ringing Of hand bells
4 or blowing of cows horns And at
/ s o'clock, dinner was ready in the
| dining car; no waiting until p. m.
! asked the waiter cat o'clock
/ sir he replied. Conditions are rap
idly improving: they will be perfect
+ at 9 o'clock Sunday morning when I
/ reach Atchison-
They say Americans brag good
/ deal IF this is true, I rarely catch
! them at it; but II they do forget their
manners occasionally, and say they
/ live in the greatest country on earth,
/ they at least do not tell that which is
4 not true. I have lately ridden on the
/ best trains in Europe. but they were
/ toys compared with the pennsylvania
train on which 7 am now a passen-
ger. And the comparison holds good
! in everything else: in railroads, no
tells. people. buildings. progress. de-
cency, politeness. comfort, Uncle Sam
has his competitors beaten although
I do hope he VIII have new picture
taken: I have never admired either
his clothes or his looks.
And the luxury Of cars properly
heated On the big ship Baltic" one
Of the most famous of the Atlantic
+ liners. there wasn't a comfortable
/ room; all the passengers shivered
and many of them caught cold. I have
come to believe that the English do
not enjoy being cold any more than
we do: they're stingy: that's what's
/ the matter with them. England VIII
never be comfortable in winter until
the people keep fewer fox hounds and
polo ponies and spend more in pro-
+ perly heating their houses.
On the car In which I am a pas
senger, there is not only a black ser
/ want to look after the comfort Of the
men, but also a black woman to look
/ after the comfort of the women
You VIII laugh when tell YOU Of