1888 



GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTURE. 



97 



any thing anybody wants to do business 

 with. If any one seemed to be looking in- 

 quiringly for something, a smart boy tripped 

 up and inquired, '• VV^ere you looking for 

 something, sirV"' Well, now, no matter 

 how inexperienced or green the stranger 

 seemed to be, this boy never smiled, lie 

 took it as a matter of course, and gave the 

 fullest explanations. At the supper-table 

 a friend next to nie made the remark that 

 he had only so many minutes to make his 

 train. As the supper he called for required 

 a little time, he began to worry about los- 

 ing the train. A bright, intelligent colored 

 man who stood near overheard him and re- 

 plied at once, " Oh ! we will take care of 

 that, sir.'' And he beckoned to a fellow- 

 waiter, and asked him, in courteous tones, to 

 find out if the train was on time. He was 

 back in a twinkling, saying they were fifteen 

 minutes late. So our friend had ample time 

 to finish his supper at leisure. The clerk 

 furthermore informed him that he need have 

 no anxiety in regard to the matter. Said he, 

 " We will take the responsibility of putting 

 you on the train in ample time." The 

 ticket-ottice in the hotel had telegraphic 

 commuication in regard to all the trains 

 leaving. This ticket-office. althoi;gh it seem- 

 ed to be fully as large and comprehensive as 

 the one across the street at the depot, was 

 managed by a boy. This boy would consult 

 maps, make inquiries, and give any traveler 

 the fullest particulars in regard to any thing 

 he wanted to know. This of itself was in 

 bright contrast to most of the agents at the 

 ticket-oflices in our great cities. The boy 

 was courteous and friendly ; in fact, the 

 clerks and waiters, tlie whole of them, made 

 you feel that your Avere associated with nice, 

 sociable, pleasant, intelligent people, who 

 had the spirit of the text I have quoted, in 

 their hearts—" And whosoever will be chief 

 among you, let him be your servant." It is 

 true, they have an abundance of helpers ; 

 but instead of being crusty to eacli other 

 they seem to delight in working in harmony, 

 and with a pleasant good nature toward 

 their fellows, as well as the travelers they en- 

 tertain. I tell you, my friends, there is a 

 big contrast between this state of affairs 

 and being waited upon with scowls and 

 surly cross words. During my three days' 

 sojourn there I almost forgot that we have 

 to meet rudeness on the great thorough- 

 fares of travel. I wonder if our railway of- 

 ficials could not learn some valuable lessons 

 by stopping at the Baggs Hotel. 

 When 1 started to go home, my train was 



late on account of the storm. I inquired at 

 the exit gate, of the man who took my ticket 

 and punched it, about how long the train was 

 behind time, but he turned his head in an- 

 other direction, with a sort of scowl on his 

 face ; and after waiting so long 1 began to 

 fear he was offended, and didn't mean to 

 answer at all, he jerked out, " Half an hour, 

 or thereabouts." After I left him I found 

 on tlie bulletin-board, written in chalk, the 

 train w^as forty minutes late. Of course, /it- 

 knew what was written on this board. Why 

 couldn't behave replied promptly and pleas- 

 antly, "About forty minutes"? I then 

 made proper inquiries for a sleeping-car 

 ticket, and was told that I must get it on 

 the train. On the drawing-room car I ap- 

 plied to both the porter and conductor. 

 Tiiey told me I should have to wait till we 

 got to Syracuse, and the conductor of the 

 train declared I need have no anxiety, for 

 they always had plenty of room on the 

 sleepers. When I got to Syracuse, the 

 sleepers were all taken, and the conductor of 

 the sleeping-car was abusive because I tried 

 to explain to him that I was in nowise re- 

 miss. In fact, he would not hear a word. I 

 waited, however, till his conscience troubled 

 him a little because of his ill treatment of a 

 guest ; then I sat down by him, and explain- 

 ed, and he admitted I was right and that he 

 was wrong, and made arrangements to give 

 me the berth I was entitled to. Here four 

 different officials were short and uncour- 

 teous, and one of them let his temper get 

 the better of him, and was abusive, when he 

 was wrong and I was right. Do you not 

 think, my friends, there is room for improve- 

 ment in the line of our text ? Well, now, 

 don't let us lose the point of our text by con- 

 cluding that 'ice are all right, and that our 

 neighbois are all wrong. My friend, youare 

 very doubtless suffering the consequences of 

 a lack of the spirit of this little text. I know 

 I am suffering in the same way, and I have 

 made huge resolves, since leaving that ho- 

 tel, that I would learn and practice wisdom 

 in the future. 



Mr. Baggs, the proprietor of this hotel, is 

 a large farmer, and he is a great lover of 

 choice stock. Tlie bills of fare are printed 

 every day for each meal. In fact, they are 

 a little bit of daily paper, published three 

 times a day, and on eacli one you see some- 

 thing in regard to his farm that furnishes 

 butter, milk, and cream, from his choice 

 Jersey cattle. Potatoes, celery, and vege- 

 tables in general, are mostly of his own 

 growing, and the very best of their kind. 



