The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-05

A Picture OF Lelsurely Moving Life In
AndaluHln.


From Rarper's Monthly MaOGSine.
II was noon. In the railway yard a group
Of yardmen were making up a train. They
were pushing cars about. one by one. swing
ing them around on turntables and ignoring
the efOrts OF q solitary shifting engine which
every now and then would steam busily back
and forth with piercing whistles and dazzling
puifs Of steam. A blue bIoused switchman
ran up and down the tracks, throwing levers.
blowing sharp blasts upon his horn. Since
the train Of the early morning there had been
no sound within the station. The ticket win
dows had been drawn down. the throng Of
porters had vanished, the platforms had been
left deserted. In the waiting room a group
Of dusty peasants had lain asleep. stretched
out on the benches, their heads pillowed on
their striped blankets. Long lines Of cars
had waited m~otionless on the tracks within
the shadow Of the shed or stretched beyond
into the yard and the glare OF a midday
Two o'clock. It was the hour OF departure
OF tne aIternoon train. and life again aMak-
From my corner In the carriage ! could see
the platforms illed again with people; pas
ssngsTs hurrytnS up and down, peertng
anxiously for seats; station porters in patched
ana bagging cOrduTOys. struggling with
officials: civil guards. stif and straight beneath
their triangular leather hats. watched the
train guard with amusement as he hurried
crowdinG third class passengers roughly into
their seats. ignoring those travelling second.
bowling and obseuuious to holders of first class
tickets. and calamity escortInR a bevy OF
senoTitas.. painted and bepowdered. to the
bsrhnd which had been reserved for them.
MY compartment filled up rapidly. The racks
beneath the sents. The air was soon full Of
the smoke 81 cigarettes. In the dim light
within the car the p~assengers appeared large
and vague and indistinct. All at once there
came ehe sound Of n switchmanis horn. IL
was followed by a whistle. and leaning out
the window / could see the engine coming
slowly down upon the line Of crowded cars.
was little and Rrotesuue, sitting low upon
stack, and trimmings ~ shining brass. I
thought Of the locomotive Of America. "A
mighty mass Of iron. huge. black. irresistible.
painting beneath the vast dome N the ter
minal. Here In Spain the engineer looked
absnrdly, big and out ~ place as he stood
beside his levers, As the switchman lifted
the coupling chain the station gong changed
loudly. The last trunk was tossed on board.
Late passengers came, rushing up and scram-
bied into the already crowded carriages
Again the gOng-the slnmming NJ many doors.
the click OF many locks: "a mining whistle from
the guard: a shriek from the locomotive; the
Cre1k NJ ayleS and the hiss ~ steam. and the
train pulled slowly ont into the open.
Andalusta, bleak. rugged. barren. I'm ris-
ing AGAINST Hill. their SUBMITS dark and Jagged
against the sky. White towns phrchPd upOn
che cltfs. Ragged clouds mounting from the
west; and, through the riffs glimpses into
uPFlblF Ol piNF.
We were creeping IN n winding raadhed
between ewO cactus hedges, the little cnrtne
putting. the cars lOlttnR over the rough Joints
Of the rails. The windows were alive with
heads. The passengers were leaning nrt.
blowing whins Of smoke from their cigarettes
and testing with the guard as he worked his
way along the running board collecting tick
cts, He was n sallow. narrow chestsd man.
with a ragged coat that blew loosely about
him as he climbed IN and out ~ the carria ges.
A brass number plate cleaned uDon HE cap.
He moved slowly down the line Of cnrs. OPEN
ing and shutting doors. hanging to tho rail-
inRs rs the train would win around n Curve.
stepping nimbly from One car to another. and
finally disappeared Into his box at the end
Of the train.
As ! settled back into nv corner 7 suddenly
became aware OF the passenger sitting OpDO-
site 10 mean elderly Spanish gentleman
ira velling with his son. We wore mn immense
pair Of round gold trimmed glasses which were
constantly dropping on His little waved
needle points. lie seemed aVitatPd about
something, and kent hdgptinp about. tanning
the floor nervouslv with his stick. and Looking
every minute or two nj lis watch. All Of n
sudden he jumped mp and pulled violently nj
the lever Of the danger signal. The train
stopped with n terrific Jerk. Doors and win
dOwE were Hung omen, passengers poured out
on the tack. aud tn" railway Officials ran
about excitedly inuuirinR for the nerson who
had stopped the train. The Spanish GENTLE
man WIS now unite calm. He stood ~ tho
door with his watch IN his hand. adiustinr his
glasses. Nothing has happened to alarm
anybody he said smiinRlv. as the guard
came rushing nm. 1T IL now 4 O'Clock. and
my son has lust become ten ye1rs old. A
had taken only q half ticket for him. I stopped
the train to paw the other hnlf. - that 7 may
not get into trouble when arriving nj Seville"
At the next station, amid 4 ieeTiug crowd,
the sCrupulous Spanish gentleman was ps-
COrted between two civil guards to tho Office
of the Jefe he EstaciOn to receive the reward
of bis cOnscipntiOuSnCss.