The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1906-10-19
RAILROAD RUMBLINGS
BH RUBE
How long, oh Lord, how long?

was his passage OF the Alps in the face
of countless hordes OF barbarians who
harrassed him on every side Fierce
storms, roads which were simply fright
full, Tor no roads at alb were encoun.
tered and overcome.
1t was justly considered one OF the
greatest feats OF generalship for all
time. Then in our modern times, that
little fve-foot man, who terrorized all
Europe and at one period had the big
gest share of the civilized world in his
grasp. II fell to his lot to attempt and
perform this terrible passage. Thou
sands of his finest soldiers and horses
perished and lots OF his artillery were
lost, but he brayely pushed on and
appeared suddenly in Austrian terrific
ry when they expected him elsewhere
Now, | don't want TO make light of
these heroes, but I'll bet five dollars
against a Leavenworth doughnut that
neither one of them, if he had the
choice, would cross the yard tracks
right here in Leavenworth in prefer
ence to the A ps. | know that |, for
one, would change places with either
one OF them. For as long as the race of
men endures will their names and fame
go down to posterity. But who ever
hears of the 500 or 900 heroes and hero
ines who daily essay the dangerous and
difficult yard crossing?
| watched a woman try it the other
day. you notice | say try" because
that's all she did. She did Mt cross,
but it wasn't her fault.) Well, she was
coming along in a terrible rush. The
switch engine had just coupled on to
some cars and started to pull them out,
which it did, and then stopped with
string of cars half mile long, thus
shutting off all hopes Of the woman
getting past. She stood with hope
less, tired look on her face and patiently
waited. What difference did it make
that her little ones were at home with
the matches, coal oil, carbolic and prus-
sic acids, etc., all within easy reach!
Or that her poor tired husband would
soon be home for his supper? What
did Jim Hills hired men care? What
does Jim Hill himself care? 1t costs
money to make crossings and what dill
ference does it make to him if we walk
four or five miles to get across the
tracks, or that we live in daily fear OF
having one of the little ones brought
home mangled by the cars? For 1t costs
money-real hard coin-to make cross
ings and to keep the car wheels NOV
ing, and what's the difference II four
or i've kids get killed? There's lot OF
them. Just that many less for the
parents to feed OF course, its nice TO
have the little tots around; to run and
meet you on your way home from work,
and to prattle and tell you OF their joys
and sorrows-of course it is nice. But
then let them look out and dodge the
cars and engines. There are only eight
or ten tracks TO cross, with cars ana
engines going in all directions, but let
them watch out and not get in front OF
or unOSr Ln6 cars anu lhOy WIN NV o.
hurt. II they are late for school by be-
ing held up an hour or so, let them
start sooner. And, finally, II they 90
get caught, why that's their own iaull,
not the Great Northel ms. For it costs
money to make crossings and Jim Hill
needs the money, and we don't need
the little ones. How long, oh Lord,
how longY
The rehearsals for Rip Van Winkle
are going merrily on. There's lot oil
hard work to go thru with yet, but
when the curtain goes down on the last
act. on the l4th of next month. we are
sure the toast of old Rip, Here's your
goot health and your family's goot
health, and may you all live long unit
prosper" will linger long in the hearts
OF the Leayenworth people.