The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-03-21
Some of the trains were noble eqap.

Others were humble and shabby
linked-up day-coaches and dingy
smoking-cars, packed with workers.
like ants.
Cars are mere vehicles. but locomo-
uves have souls. The express en-
gines roll In or stalk out with gran
deur and ease. They are like en-
perors. They seem 10 look with scorn
at the suburban engines snorting and
grunting and shaking the arched
roof with their plebeian choochoo as
they pun from shop 10 cottage and
back
The trainmen take their cue from
the behavior OF theh locomotives. The
conductor OF transcontinental mods
10 the conductor OF a shuttle-train
with less cordiality than 10 a brake
the limiteds look like senators On
overalls. They are far-traveled men,
leading a mighty life of adventure.
They are pilots OF land-ships across
land-oceans. They have right 10 a
certain condescension OF manner.
But no one feels or shows SO much
arrogance as the sleeping car porters.
They cannot pronounce "supercili-
ous." but they can be IL. Their dis
dain for the entire crew OF any train
that carries merely day-coaches or
halfbaked chaircars, is expressed as
only a darkey In a uniform can ex-
press disdain for poor white trash.
OF all the naughty porters that ever
curled a lip, the haughtiest by far
was the dusky attendant In the San
Francisco sleeper on the Trans-Amer-
lean Limited His was the train or
trains in that whole system. HIS car
the car OF cars. His passengers the
surpassengers OF all
His train stood now waiting 10 set
forth upon a voyage OF two thousand
miles, Journey across seven imperial
states. 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 1T
tie boX-step waiting for the foot or
the first arrival, the porter stood, his
AlN dh htAlAhS hhhNA hiH NAft us
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 "Poarrturr" 10
"Pawtah," and he usually did not
come when he was called.
Tonight he was wondering perhaps
NTH NH a
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 he
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, loohy what's aeon.
i'm"
The Portland porter turned to gaze
81 got my fingers crossed"
Il hope you git him"
81 hope ! 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 TO FIJI a van"
The oncomer was plainly OF Eng
ish origin. II takes all sorts OF peo-
pie 20 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. lie 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. lie 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 a feeble effort at self-pro-
lection. The Pullman conductor not
being present at the moment. be In
CURED:
Have you got yo' ticket?"
"Of cawse."
Could ! see it?"
"Of cawse not. Too much trouble
20 fish il out"
The porter was fading DO you
remember yo' numba?'
"Of cawse Take these" lie began
TO Pile things on the porter like
mountain unloading an avalanche.
The porter stumbled as he clambered
ND the steps, and squeezed thrc ugn
the strait path Of the corridor into
the slender aisle lie turned again
and again 10 question the invader,
hut he was motioned and bunted