Year: 1869


THE STORY OF A LONE WOMAN, WHO WENT FROM


PHILADELPHIA TO "BELow DOVER"


MIR. EDiToR live good bit to say, If somt
one will only listen to me.


In the first place I've been to Philadelphia, and
would you believe it? saw young men sitting
comfortably and unconcernedly In the street cars
while weary women were Obliged to stand, yes,
young, handsome and handsomely dressed ladies
as well as the "mothers in Israeli 1t didn't lool
right to me, nor feel right, and know IL was ne
SO when was young.


Well, took little of the needful and shoppet
round some in the city, got Jim new pair q
trowsers, and Martha Jane right genteel dress
for twenty-five cents, and new hat, (she's going
to be married, You know and q nice balmoral ioi
Becky, some muslin and flannel for all hands, and
just the sweetest doll baby for little Elsie. Some
dough-nuts and candy rounded up matters, and
went down to Broad and Prime in street car
and had 10 stand all the way with my basket and
three bundles.


When I showed nay ticket to the gate-keeper
and asked what car should get in to go "below
Dover" he hurriedly waved his hand toward the
train and said: " Pass on, pass on, there are two
hoh aoWh shSiS W tOhs Jou hit hpouL ~. uuu
been told the same thing on former occasions and
have never yet found any one there to tell me
oil about it," and other passengers, who wished
to come below Dover, were just as much in the
dark as was, as to which car to get in.


1t is very unpleasant, inconyenient and dan.
gerous thing for lone women to be changing cars
and l, for one, dread the process exceedingly


! finally made selection and got in with my
traps, and we soon started, and when the whistle
blew for Wilmington, to be doubly safe, / asked
the conductor If there was any changing cars
there, and, to my dismay, he said Yes, nam,
you'll have to get In the forward car !" and he
was moving of when l caught him by the arm
and told him about my bundles and basket and
how fearful / was of getting all mashed up Ia
nothing, and how anxious Billy was that should
get home safely, and asked him II he wouldn't be
kind enough to lend me q helping hand, and he
promised he would "see to me all right" Of
course that satisfied me good deal, but when
the train stopped locked and waited in vain fol
that promising friend casting my eyes toward
the station house l saw him lesurely entering
the refreshment room, and he may be there yet
for all / know.


I put the doll baby in my pocket, headfore-
most, gathered up my things and, with a very
questionable blessing on that conductor, tried
to manage for myself. On the platform, how
ever, very plain looking gentleman relieved me
of my burthens, took my hand and landed me
safely In the next car, and II | only knew where
he lives. know Billy would send him grand
turkey for Christmas.


Feeling q little settled once more, ! tried to
enjoy the ride and the scenery, and 1t became
| quite dark before we reached Dover, and then
the new conductor gave us the word to get In
the forward car, as the one was in would be
| left there.


OF course was in great tribulation again, and
| thought of applying to the conductor for help,
| but he was not to be found. So got my bum
dies together and my basket, and felt that the
dolly was all safe, and scrambled along the best
| could to the door where l told strange. man
that it was no use trying to get any farther, and
at last and finally Billy met mo OF our station,
and got home, feeling as If l had been right
down ill-used.


Dear little Elsie went to bed crying because the
doll-baby's feet were broken off-smashed up
changing cars-and some nice man had squirted
tobacco Juice all over Martha James new hat, he
did not see 1t 10 the dark it lying In the basket
so snug and comfortable and suppose that also
was done while changing cars, but tell you !
was too thankful thar was not mashed up my
self.


Now want to know why the President of the
| said railroad does not have more satisfactory
management in this matter; surely a very good
thing it would be to have the cars labelled out
side in painted letters, telling us exactly, what carr
go to Dover and also below Dover.


Suppose Mrs. John Rogers should come along
with mime small children and one at the breast, "
imagine the anxiety and torment she would have
changing cars with so many little arms cling
| ing to her Tor safety. Of course half of then
would get killed or crippled on tho road.
| We expect Cousin Rachel's little daughter
| down below Dover, to spend Christmas with us
and she thinks she has only to put Sally on th'
Delaware train, and under the care of the conduc
tor, to insure her comfortable and safe journey
| Without changing cars, and 1t looks probable
enough, only / happen TO know better from SAT
experience. MRS. BLAIN.