168 TOBACCO. 



persons with offensive odors. Over and over 

 again I asked myself, M Am I, verily, in one of 

 'The Finest Palace Reclinixg-Chair Cars in 

 the World ? ' " 



After a time one of the aforesaid gentlemen 

 carefully closed the ventilator. Feeling too mis- 

 erable for resistance, I said not a word ; indeed, 

 I had entirely succumbed to the inevitable. For 

 twelve long hours were we thus imprisoned, — our 

 much-anticipated trip being turned into disappoint- 

 ment, discomfort, and positive suffering. 



Yet we were pilgrims all the way from the old 

 Bay State, and never again expected — I might, 

 on that day, have added, never again desired — to 

 be in the Mississippi valley. Need I say that I 

 was thankful when the last mile was ended ; when 

 sick, weary, and disgusted, I was free to leave 

 this much-lauded rt luxurious " car. 



To show that my statements are not exaggerated, 

 let me say that neither a long waiting in the 

 ladies' room, nor a ride of a mile and a half, 

 proved a sufficient quarantine. We carried with 

 us a strong tobacco-flavor, which our friends 

 instantly noticed. If they had inferred that we 

 were just from a smoking car, would they have 

 been far out of the way? For several days the 

 dreadful tobacco-odor clung to my garments, and 

 the tobacco-poison lingered in my system. 



Now, I am a peaceable woman, not given to 

 complaints; and were I the only victim, I would 

 keep silence. But I speak in behalf of hundreds 



