SOME AMERICAN CUSTOMS. 209 



I cannot get over the calm manner in which express trains run. 

 through town without the least protection. The rails are sunk level 

 with the ground. At one place the cars stopped in the middle of 

 the market-place without even the vestige of a platform, and the 

 passengers walked across several sets of rails in entering or leaving 

 the train. I nearly lost my train at Worcester for this reason, 

 Naturally, I expected it to draw up to the platform. O dear no ! 

 It had been standing for some time in the middle of several lines, 

 and I had been looking at it without the least suspicion of its object. 

 Finding casually that it was the Boston train I made a rush for it, 

 and clambered on the car while it was in motion. 



I saw a house being lifted, so as to get an additional storey below. 

 Strong beams were inserted under the foundations, and a number of 

 screw-jacks raised it enough to have wooden blocks inserted. Then 

 it was again raised, and more blocks added. 



The hotel office is a capital institution, and I wish we had it in 

 England. It pays your cab when you arrive. When you go it pro- 

 cures your ticket and checks your luggage to anywhere, so that you 

 need not trouble about it. If the journey be a long one, the office 

 gets you a chair in a drawing-room car, and charges one dollar. It 

 finds you a cab, and all the charges are entered in your bill. If you 

 make purchases, you want no money. The articles are sent to the 

 hotel, and the office pays for them. If you go out, and have for- 

 gotten your purse, the office hands you any sum you like. 



The checking system is wonderfully good. When I neared Boston 

 from New York, a man came into the car, bearing on his arm a huge 

 iron ring, on which were hung numbers of leather straps. The man 

 calls out " Any luggage to be checked ? " I call out, " Hotel Bruns- 

 wick ; four." I give the man my New York checks, and in return he 

 gives me checks marked " Brunswick." At the station a number of 

 hack men are penned behind a barrier, and bawl for custom. These 

 men may not come out unless called, but they may bawl and gesticu- 

 late as much as they like, and in the semi-darkness glass roofs being 

 impossible on account of the snow all you can make out is a row of 

 mouths opened beyond all anatomical proprieties, and double the 

 number of hands gesticulating wildly in the obscurity. I call out 

 " Brunswick," and the Brunswick driver takes possession of me. 

 Arrived at the hotel I give the checks to the office, and shortly find 



