Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-03-04

Years of Age, and are Parents at Ten and
Twelve Women Work as Hod carriers and
at Other Exactins Occupations-The High
Mountains.
BY FRANK NJ. KENNEY.
Although there was sufficient water
in the rive for us to 20 right up to
the city of Calcutta, the channel is
winding and some Of the turns 50
short a long ship, like the Clevc-
land, could not be safely handled, 50 We
anchored at Diamond flarhOr, forty
miles from the Iioogly river. and took
tenders from there. Owing to the
fact there was an otf-tidc and the
wind blowing seaward, before we re
turned to the ship they had moved
forty miles farther down the river, as
coming up there was but little water
under her on one bar, and they did
not want to risk being hung up, for
if the wind was blowing strong off
shore it would lessen the depth Of the
water.
Although We were supposed to land
at Diamond IIarbor. and take the
train from there to Calcutta. this
part of the progress could not be car
ricd out and rs we had strong cur
rent to buck, it WAS evening before
we arrived in the city. Considerable
manufacturing is done in that city,
and the atmosphere was very smoky
Those who have seen PittSburg say
the two cities are much alike in that
respect.
Immediately after our arrival we
were driven to the depot, to COM
mcnce our journey TO Dariccrling
The cars were of the compartment
kind. divided into two sections, each
holding about seven day-passengcrS
or four with sleeping accommoda-
tions. Each section has its own wash
room and toilet. In India, each per-
son carries his own bedding. but Cf
course, this was attended to for us.
After a ride of about four hours, we
reached the GangcS river. Here we
had to dctrain and take the boat for
little distance on the river and
again entrain here. At the last
mentioned place. we got into the cars
which were to be our home for that
evening. 1t was then about 1l:30,
and all were tired and ready to 90 to
bed. | was not lucky this time and
drew an upper berth. | do not mind
uppers in the United States, for
while | prefer a lower still an upper
will do, but | hope never again tC
to have an upper like this one. If
was just like a cushion hinged on one
side, and which when not being used
as a means of torture, was closed M
along the side of the car. Ropes
were fastened to the outer edge o.
this berth, and in this manner il was
suspended. The ropes were about
equi-distant from the ends. The
shelf-it was nothing more-was
about two feet wide, and the distanc,
from the roof at the highest point ex
actly two feet. and as the car-roo
Sloped it was less at the inner side
1t is hard TO imagine the job it wa.
to get into it. If the ropes had beer
at the ends, matters would have beer
greatly simplified, but as they wer,
not, person had to climb in par
way and then pull or slide his body
along until he was all or the shelf
A fellow who is subject to the night
mare, should never take an upper
berth on the Bengal State Railway
for if he is restless he he is apt tt
have an involuntary tumble and ;
rude awakening To cap it all, no
a spring was there in the upper, ant
as If to add insult to injury, the low
ers had fine ones, just the opposit,
of the way they are in the United
States. Iwould say to all travellers
shun the uppers on this railway, for i
you are fat you cannot get into then
without the aid of a derrick. and i
you are lean the bones may com,
through your skinny frame anC
scratch the cushions. You will hav,
SOre-spOtS the morning after Th,
road is on the metro basic; that is i
it is metro wide. On our train ga,
was the illuminant. No way of indi
vidual turning it out has been pro
vided, but when you wish to retire
you pull a cloth over the light anC
while it does not entirely darken tn,
car, still it does fairly well. | know
it would not be satisfactory in ou
country, where people are accus
toned to having their rooms at time
entirely dark. The cover is in twl
parts, so that one side can be darl
and the other light They certainl,
are very far behind the times in car
lighting. On the roadbed they ar,
all right In some places they hav,
steel ties and in others cast-irol
plate which rests on wooden tie