The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-25
How A. C.. L. Trains
Govern The Life Of
An Ocala Editor
(Ocala Starr

the Atlantic Coast Line have been
taken off, and the writer is going 10
miss them.
For almost a quarter of century
we have labored in the big, ugly
brick block by the railroad track, and
in that time the trains seemed to be
come personal friends. There was
only one little narrow-gauge train
each way a day when we came, but
there were many people on them and
they generally came on time. Then
the rails were put further apart and
more numerous and bigger trains
came by There is quite lot OF
trains now, but we note nearly every
one that passes in the twenty-four
hours.
No. 10 starts the day, as it comes
banging in from Leesburg at 5:4O.
It's a genuine alarm clock, for the
Star office is the writer's home as
we'll as his work place, and when
he hears No. los fat wheels doing a
| cakewalk under window he knows
its time to separate himself from his
downy couch and trot out in the com
posing room and light the gas under
the linotype machine. and then go
/ Lack to roost for another hours
sleep.
! At 11:15 a. m No 141 from Gaines
vile and Palatka backs in, and the
friendly boys aboard blow their air
whistle as they near the Fort King
crossing, to warn the people and to
tell the Star the Gainesville Sun is
shining for ii aboard their train.
At 1884 p. m. No. 40 comes stalk
ing majestically in from st. Peters
burg. bringing the Tampa Tribune
and giving the writer warning he had
better hustle lively for his lunch and
to think up the scareheads for the
first page.
! At 2:37 p. m. No. 39's brass-rimlned
stack suddenly shows up at the win
dow opposite the editors table and
gives notice that the last and busiest
hour of the day is on, and everybody
must hustle or the paper will be late
At 4 p. m. No. 14O slips modestly
by northward, giving a gentle tap OF
two on the bell as notice that the
train crew would like to have a paper
to read on their way to Gainesville
They seldom miss it.
At 9:05 p. m. No. 9 comes scurryint
. in from Jacksonville, on it's way tt
Leesburg. bringing the people home
and warning the editor man that it's.
about time for him to quit standint
around the street corners and go t.
his desk.
For many years we have prevented
insomnia by the simple rule of never
going to bed until we are too tired tt
stay awake any linger. And we have
wished that 81 and 3S came along a.
1:21 a. m. instead of an hour later
for if they had they would have made
an excellent curfew
AS it is. they often caught us a.
our table, and we haxe made it a rule
to always go to roost when they come
along, whether we are sleepy or not
When they find us asleep, it's E
great satisfaction to wake up ana
realize we have over three hours Of
solid comfort ahead before we have
to wake up again.
No. 81 always had to work so hare
pulling his long line of coaches and
slccpers up the grade from the cross
ing that it seemed to do him a worlt
OF good to stand outside our window
and pant a few minutes, while the
train crew refreshed themselves with
coffee and sandwiches at the lunch
counter.
No. So, arriving from the south
walked in very quietly, but he alway,
cast cyclopean eye thru the soutt
window of our boudoir. There is 8
much priced picture on the northern
wall of our room, and we have a no
ton that SO liked to see it. for h,
never failed to take look at it as h,
came along.
We have nearly always ridden OF
81 and SS when we took a round tri,
to Jacksonville. 1t was very conyen
lent to work until 3S came along ans
step aboard almost at the Office door
and lie down and sleep while bein,
carried swiftly to the big town h,
the St Johns. And after paddin,
around that village all day. it al