MR. DOWNING'S LETTERS FROM ENGLAND. 



in sight, the engine or its whistle begins to scream out — the bell rings — the steam whiz 

 zes — and the train stops. Out hurry the waj*^ passengers, in rush the new comers. 

 Again the bell rings, the steam whizzes, and with a noise something between a screech and 

 a yell, but more infernal than either — ^a noise that deafens the old ladies, delights the 

 boys, and frightens all the horses, off rushes the train — whizzing and yelling over a mile 

 or two more of country, before it takes breath for the like process at the next station. 



In an English railwajr you seldom hear the scream of the steam whistle at all. It is 

 not considered part of the busine-ss of the engineer to disturb the peace of the whole neigh- 

 borhood, and inform them that he and the train are coming. The guard at the station 

 notices the train when it first comes in sight. He immediately rings a hand-bell, just loud 

 enough to warn the passengers in the station, to get ready. The train arrives — no yelling, 

 screaming — or whizzing — possibly a gentle letting off of the steam — quite a necessary 

 thing — not at all for effect. The passengers get out, and others get in, and are all care- 

 fully seated by the aforesaid guard or guards. When this is all done, the guard of the 

 station gives a tinkle or two with his hand-bell again, to signify to the conductor that all 

 is ready, and off the train darts, as quietly as if it knew screaming to be a thing not tole- 

 rated in good society. But the difference is national after all. John Bull says in his 

 railroads, as in everything else, " steady — all right." Brother Jonathan", " clear the 

 the coast — go ahead!" Still, as our most philosophical writer has said, it is only boys and 

 savages who scream — men learn to control themselves — we hope to see the time when our 

 people shall find out the advantages of possessing power without making a noise about it. 



If we may take a lesson from the English in the management of rail-wa3^s, thej^ might 

 learn vastly more from us in the accommodation of passengers. What are called " first- 

 class carriages" on the English rails, are thoroughly comfortable, in the English sense of 

 the word. They have seats for six — each double-cushioned, padded, and set off from the 

 rest, like the easy chair of an alderman, in which you can entrench yourself and imagine 

 that the world was made for j^ou alone. But only a small part of the travel in England 

 is in first-class cars, for it is a luxury that must be paid for in hard gold — costing four or 

 five times as much as the most comfortable travelling bj^ railroad in the United States. 

 And the second class cars — in which the great majority of the British people really travel 

 — what are they? Neat boxes, in which you may sit down on a perfectly smooth board, 

 and find out all the softness that lies in the grain of deal or good English oak — for they 

 are guiltless of all cushions. Our neighbors of this side of the Atlantic have been so long 

 accustomed to catering for the upper class in this country, that the fact that the railroad 

 is the most democratic institution of the day, has not yet daM'ned upon them in all its breadth. 

 An American rail-car, built to carry a large number in luxurious comfort, at a price 

 that seems fabulous in England, paj'S better profits by the immense travel it begets, than 

 the ill-devised first and second-class carriages of the English rail-ways. 



But what finish and nicety in these English roads ! The grades all covered with turf, 

 kept as nicely as a lawn, quite down to the rails, and the divisions between the road and 

 the lands adjoining, made by nicel}^ trimmed hedges. The larger stations are erected in so 

 expensive and solid a manner as to have greatly impaired the profits of some of the roads. 

 But the smaller ones are almost always built in the style of the cottage ornec — and, in- 

 deed, are some of the prettiest and most picturesque rural buildings that I have seen in 

 England. They all have their little flower-gardens, generally a parterre lying open quite 

 to the edge of the rail, and looking like a gay carpet thrown on the green sward. If the 

 lish are an essentially common sense people, they, at least, have a love of flowers 



aces, that has something quite romantic in it 



