The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-07-12
WHY TRAINS
ARE WRECKED
Domestic InfeliCity the
Cause Of Many Accidents
GILBERT HUBBARD SAYS THE
HAPPY MAN Is THE SAFE
MAN. ISN'T HE RIGHT?

Elbert Hubbard has this to say
about THE Happy Man Is the Safe
Man" in the New York American:
On the platform at Ashtabula the
other day, as we were waiting, a di-
vision superintendent in the employ
of the Lake Shore asked me:
'Do you know the cause of most
of the railway accidents?"
"Why, disobedience of ORDERS" l
answered.
''No, it is domestic infelicity. You
say 'disobedience of orders.,' and this
is partly right, but the cause lies
deeper. Why should a railway en-
ploye disobey orders? Why should
an engineer run past the station
where he is ordered to stop? 1t is
his own life he endangers most.
Why should a train dispatcher send
the same time on one track? Or
why does a train tender throw a
switch in front of a fast express?
people call these things acci-
dents, but that is not the word; they
are the result of mental conditions.
And it is for the general manager to
be on the lookout for these condi-
tions, and a very good railroad man
ager now is. DO you remember
when two passenger trains met, head
on, out in Indiana last year? The
pinnpr n Of thncn inc II Cd
in his pocket an order to take the
sidetrack at certain station. He
ran by that station at the rate of
fifty miles an hour, and in five minu-
tes there was a crash that snuffed
out fifty-four lives and two hundred
thousand dollars worth of property.
Il knew the engineer. Let US call
him Hank Bristol, for that wasn't
his name. He was married to a
smashing, dashing, beautiful Great
ure, and they boarded at hotel;
had no children. l boarded there,
too, and we all made eyes at Hank
handsome wife. She used to play
the piano and sing little, and re-
cite. The love of one plain, honest
man was not enough for her. She
craved the admiration of the clever.
She wasn't a bad woman-just an
idle one who spent every spare cent
Hank made on finery and herself, to
be admired. Hank was proud of her,
too. One evening he kissed the dear
woman goodbye and started out to
make a night run. He went out to
the round house and at the last mo-
ment the or Man decided to call
Hank back and let him take out a
special carrying the president and
directors of the road in the morning,
Hank was tickled-it was great
compliment to him. He went home
to tell his wife; he used to tell her
everything. But when he got home
she wasn't there-she had gone to
the theatre with a boot and shoe
drummer from Chicago.
''Hank went away and walked the
streets till morning. His wife never
knew, and l believe she doesn't yet.
He walked the streets all night and
ran out the special in the morning
But after that he was never the same
He used to confide in me-he just
had to tell some one to keep his
heart from bursting with suppressed
grief. He grew absent-minded, lost
flesh, appetite was gone, was nerv-
ouS-the doctor said he should quit
coffee and cut out half the tobacco.
Hank didn't work on our road, or
I'd never have let him touch a throt-
tie; no, not even if he had been my
brother. l knew it would come. He
was found under his engine, the or
der that he had disobeyed in his
pocket, and a picture in his watch
of the woman who had caused the
disaster. No, it probably has never
dawned upon this woman that she
caused the wreck. She wore deep
mourning and the cutest black bon
net with a white ruche. She was
the most fetching widow you ever
saw-and she knew it without being
told.
Yes, that is what | said-marital
infelicity is responsible for the rail-
road wrecks, and causes most of the
others, too The only safe man is
the one whose heart is at rest-who
has home and a wife who stays
there and minds her business, looks
after the babies, has no secrets and
does not make eyes at other men
that's the kind. ! know every man
who works for me. and l know a
disturbed, distressed and Jealous
man train length away. My heart
bleeds for 'em, but l serve the pub
lie, and none such can run an engine
for me-"