The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-08-01
(By the Old Man In the Christian
Science Monitor)

Why she is called Polly, cannot
tell you. I made Polly's acquaintance
while In Chickasha, Oklahoma, last
September, and, coming to know her.
quite naturally asked, "Why 'Polly'?"
l questioned two conductors, brake.
man, fireman and an engineer; but
they did not know. Next, In turn,
appealed TO e. policeman, the clerk
ut the Mcfarland hotel, and the lad
who tends the soda fountain In the
old bank bullding--the one that has
the cornucopias over the door. Not
one Of them could tell me. Nor,
strangely enough, could the baggage
man at Purcell, though he frankly
confessed that he had met Polly at
least twice each day for more years
than his ga1lantry cared to remem.
Der.
But, after all, just why Polly is
Polly need not greatly concern us. 1t
should be enough to know that 30
lovable train bears so lovable
name. So many go solely by mum.
pers. or wear very grand and CON-
posite titles that would no more
suit Polly than would Polly suit them.
For Polly Is none of your aristocratic
thunderer9 that rush by In the day
OF flash past In the night, giving O
momentary glimpse Of pink-shaded
lights, the rich CLEAN Of silver from
white-lined tables, or bland-looking
passengers, lounging in the depths
OF parlor-car chairs. Not seat in
ha hut that .-tn n,,1.. .,tr as.,t,
at attention and makes for compan.
ionship. since each is built to hold
two; not a window but frames at
least one friendly face as she mean
ders along from hamlet to town; nor
a station that Is wanting in furnishing
faces as friendly as those that they
greet.
Pollys coaches-she has three--are
OF the old-fashioned kind; not bobbed
close at the neck or pulled out at
the ears as is often the way with
the present type, but with picturesque
caves and handy dimensions that lend
themselves to an appearance of cozi-
ness. Their coats, once Of green,
have syly reverted to more modest
hues until they have now found
color most becoming to Polly.
Within one finds door frames and
window sashes scrolled at the cor.
ners. To match, and between them,
are panels fairly smothered in varnish-
forming surfaces Of the kind tina.
make such fine dancing places for the
splotches of light that skip through
the tricolored transoms which border
the sides where the ceilings join hands
with the walls. These ceilings are
high and slightly domed at the arch.
Down their length run still other
panels painted pale pink and gray.
These panels have roses tucked in
their corners and boast three cherubs
that somehow or other have lost most
Of their toes. Or it may be that
the toes have but faded from view.
This is no mere conjecture, but q
quite possible fact based upon Polly's
love for sunshine, which she coaxes
to enter by providing a variety Of
chnks of the kind most favored by
sunbeams.
Here and there in the cars-that
is to say, at both ends and the middle
neatly kept lamps sprout down from
the ceiling, wearing spotless white
shades shaped like halves Of the moon.
Under these lamps and through rings
that are parts Of them, runs the jolly
gray cord that connects with the
whistle. 1t is not, happily, concealed
from ones gaze as in the more mod
ern cars. but ever-swayngly pres
cnt-swaggering importantly on its
never ending journey to the engine
ahead.
As for seat coverings. Pclly favors
none OF those modish patterns such
as the fashionable browns or the
greens that adorn the cushions in
the newest steel cars. Instead she
proffers well.tried red plush or. that
failing our fancy, Polly supplies one
coach with no upholstering at all.
Polly's windows are always kept
open. or such, at least Is tho rule in
september. This hospitable custom