The Raymer enterprise., 1912-06-20

some Of the trains were noble equip
ages, lifted to glide across the whole
map with cargoes Of Lilliputan mil
lionaires and their Lilliputian ladies'.
Others we're humble and shabby
linked-up day-coaches and dingy
smokingcars, packed with workers,
like ants.
Cars are mere vehicles, but locomo-
tives have souls. The express en-
gtnes roll in or stalk out with gram
deur and ease They are like en-.
perors. They seem to look with scorn
at the suburban engines snorting and
grunttng and shaking the arched
roof with their plebeian choo-choo as
they pun from shop to cottage and
back.
The trainmen take their cue from
the behavior Of theil locomotives. Tho
conductor Of q transcontinental mods
to the conductor Of . shuttle-train
with less cordiality than to a brake.
man Of his own. The engineers of
the limiteds look like senators In
overalls. They are fsr-traveled men.
leading q mighty life Of adventure.
They are pilots Of land-ships across
land-oceans. They have . right to .
certain confederation Of manner.
But no one feels or shows 20 much
arrogance a. the sleeping car portera
They cannot pronounce "supercilt
ous." but they can bs 1t. Their dis
dain for the entire crew Of any train
that carries merely day-ooaches OF
haif.baked chair.cars. 10 expressed ~
only . darkey In . uniform can ex
press disdAin for poor white trash.
OF all the naughty porters that ever
curled . lip, the haughtiest BY fai
was the dusky attendant In the San
Francisco sleeper on the Trans-Amer
icsn Limited. His was the train Of
trains in that whole system. His car
the car Of cars. His passengers the
surpassengers Of all.
His train stood now waiting to set
forth upon q voyage Of two thousand
miles, q Journey across seven imperial
states. q journey that should end only
at that marge where the continent
dips and vanishes under the breakers
OF the Pacific ocean.
At the head Of his car, with his IL
tie box.step waiting for the foot Of
the nrst arrival, the porter stood. hii
head swelling under his cap. hii
breast swelling beneath his blue
blouse, with its brass buttons like
reflections Of his own eyes. His name
was Ellsworth Jefferson. but he was
called anything from 'Poarr-turr" to
"Pawtah," and he usually did not
come when he was called.
Tonight he was wondering perhaps
what passengers. with what dispost
tions. would fall to his lot. Perhaps
he was wondering what his Chicago
sweetheart would be doing In the
eight days before his return. Per
haps he was wondering what his San
Francisco sweetheart had been doing
In the five days since he left her, and
how she would pass the three days
that must intervene before be
reached her again.
He had Othello's ebon color. Did
he have Othello's green eye?
Whatever his thoughts. he chatted
gaily enough with his neighbor and
colleague Of the Portland sleeper.
Suddenly he stopped in the midst
Of soaring chuckle.
"Lordy, man. looky what's aeon.
in!"
The Portland porter turned to gaze
Il got my fingers crossed"
Il hope you git him."
II hope l don't"
Hell work you hard and cuss you
out, and he won't give you even
Much Obliged"
That's right. He amt got a usher
to carry his things. And he's got
enough 70 az g van"
The oncomef val plainly Of Eng.
lish origin. It takes all sorts Of peo.
pie to make up the British Empire.
and there Is no sort Neutrality-suspicious.
or pretty, or sour or sweet. But this
was the type Of English globe-trotter
that makes himself as unpopular
among foreigners as he Is among his
own people. He Is almost as unen.
durable as the Americans abroad who
twang their banjo brag through Eu.
rope, and berate France and Italy for
their innocence Of buckwheat cakes.
The two porters regarded Mr.. Har.
old Wedgewood with dread. as he
bore down on them. He was almost
lost In the plethora OF his own lug.
gage. He asked for the San Fran.
cisco sleeper, and the Portland porter
had to turn away to smother his CUR.
Cling relief.
Ellsworth Jefferson's heart sank.
He made feeble effort at self.pro.
lection. The Pullman conductor not
being present at the moment. he In.
quired:
"Haye you got yo' ticket7"
"of cawse."
could I see III"
M