Evening star., 1942-05-22

Henry MeLsnors. not being able to
travel as much or as easily as they
have in the past. what with the
Government needing the railroads
for troop and supply transportation.
These stewers and fretters would
do well to sit back and consider
some Of the blessings that 60 along
with not travelling on a railroad.
Have you ever had thirst descend
on you at 3 or 1 o'clock in the
morning when you were in an upper
berth? OF course you have, If you
have ever been in an upper berth.
because there is something about
an upper berth that is more con-
ducive to thirst than q picnic on
the Sahara Desert.
1t never does any good before you
climb into an upper berth to drink
so many of those little paper cups
Of water that you could pinch hit
for a reservoir. The moment the
porter takes the ladder away. the
first inkling that you are going to
be thirsty later on hits you. You
drift into troubled sleep, knowing
that it Is only a matter Of hours
until you wake up parched.
When you do wake up parched.
you don't know what to do. At
in the morning q porters bell
sounds like Klaxon. That is. to
every one except the porter, who
apparently Is immunized against
the sound OF this bell and never
hears 1t at all So you just toss
and roll and dream Of the morning
when you can scamper down the
ladder and make your way to that
little ice-cooled oasis at the end Of
the car.
Then there is the after of seeing
people of on trains and being seen
of on trains. 1t is just as trying on
the see-er-offers as on the one being
seen of.
The approach of q train into a
station tongue-ties all concerned.
Kills all sense OF conversation.
Creates platitudes and cliches by
the fistful. Does any of this sound
familiar to you?
Well. here she comes. night on
time, too. told you we didn't leave
any too soon. Yep. you're right.
We didn't have any too much time.
Wonder where our car is7 Porter,
where would M-33 be? Well.
wouldn't you know it. Clear back
at the end of the train.
Don't go all the way back there
with m .eWe1l just say good-by
here. Good-by, Sadie. Good-by. Ro-
land. I can't tell you how much
appreciate .. None of that,
now. We're gonna walk back with
yon. Well. here we are. Here 1t is.
M-33. Porter, is my luggage on7
Yassuh.
Well. sood-by, Sadie. Good by. Ro.
land. I can't tell you how much
I appreciate -" All a-a-a-board.
The train gives a little Jerk. Tho
one who Is leaving gets on the step,
and starts waving. The ones send
ing him of start waving. The train
moves forward yard or two and
comes to a stop. This is the mo-
ment when no one has anything to
say, and all hopefully pray that the
train will start rolling again. But
it doesn't, so the converse ton has
to start again.
Honestly. I can't tell you two how
much I appreciate what '''. For
get 1t, fellow. Well be In your town
pretty soon.
The train shudders an over. The
departee makes his way to the plat
form. All wave feebly.
Good-by, Sadie. Good-by, Roland.
Good-by. Henry. Come back soon.
The train starts now. 1t is an un-
written law that the departee now
must rush to his seat, press his nose
against the window-pane and wave.
1t is also required that the ones left
behind run along the platform a few
steps, keeping pace with the train.
1t is also required that the train stop
again and allow the parties con-
cerned to yell at one another
through the thickness of the window.
BY the time the train actually gets
away from the station. the depart
ing guest is in state of collapse
and his friends are the same.
We must remember these things
when the war closes in on what We
like to call our privileges.
distributed By NcNauwht Syndicate. Incl