Evening journal., 1914-11-12
The Spirit of Service
on American Railroads

There is one feature OF travel in
America which distinguishes il from
all other travel.
This is the spirit of hospitality
and "hominess" which characterizes
the American trains-the trains, at
least. which travel distances requir-
ing day or two for the trip.
The modern American limited
train, in the first place, is one of the
highest achievements of the mechani-
cal and industrial arts. 1t is
model of comfort, convenience and
simple, refined elegance. Il IS con-
structed with the single view Of
making travel easy, pleasant and
carefree. The cars are especially
designed to ride smoothly over the
rails. with the least possible jOlting
and lurching. Every requirement OF
safety is satisfied i'm the steel coaches
which are now used exclusively on
all OF the best trains.
The comparison of a modern
American limited train to a hotel Is
trte and frayed by long usage, but
it still remains the most Illuminating
one that can be employed. There Is
on every one OF them a club or loun-
ging room for men, fitted with COM
Portable movable chairs and supplied
with magazines, books, writing desks
and every feature of the well equip
ned library or "den" at home.
Each train carries am observation
car at the rear. which has an ample
sheltered platform where the traveller
can spend his time out of doors
viewing the scenery to the best pos
sible advantage. These cars likewise
are supplied with books and maga'
zines and the daily papers.
The dining cars offer a service
which is not surpassed in the mos
important hotels. In many trains
the dining car goes through without
change and becomes pleasantly
homelike and familiar feature OF the
journey.
The sleeping cars themselves are
all that human ingenuity can de
wise. For long journeys especial,
they are immeasurably superior an'
more cheerful than the type of com
partment car used i'm Europe. Th'
very best and latest products of th'
car manufacturers always are toun'
on these limited trains.
But all this physical equipment Il
of secondary importance TO the rea
comfort of the traveller. It is tn
spirit i'm which the comforts AM
/ conyeniences and service of thes'
travelling hotels are offered to tn
| traveller which makes them so pecu
! liarly delightful and which makes tn
! comparison between these trains an
modern hotels especially happy an
appropriate.
The growing self-consciousness G
railroads as public servants is nc
where illustrated so clearly as in tn
treatment of its passengers on thes
trains. You are genuinely regarde
as guest. You are given TO fec
that the railroad system which 70
are patronizing, from the presider
down to the brakeman, appreciate
the favor of your patronage and I'll
honor of your confidence. You al
made to feel that carrying you is
privilege for which they are real
grateful. You are treated with
simple, sincere. unostentatious cou
tesy and solicitude for your comic
which you expect to find nowhere b
in the house of a friend who is yOl
host for time.
This hospitality is never Olicio
or intrusive, because Il is a genuil
expression of the spirit OF the e.
tire system. You are welcomed, n
because you have paid your fare al
therefore are a source of profit
the management but because you a