American Railroads. 79 



in the middle the seats are constructed in such a manner as to 

 be transformed for the night into tiers of beds, each provided 

 with curtains, and at least as convenient as those in an Atlan- 

 tic steamer. At the end of every car is a room with looking- 

 glass and toilet accommodations. In each car are four or six 

 so-called state-rooms, which deserve that name as much or 

 little as the narrow boxes so named in ships. These state- 

 rooms contain in the daytime four seats, and are separated from 

 the middle way by a large door. At night-time the beds are 

 arranged with wonderful celerity, and blankets, sheets, and pil- 

 lows emerge from the most unexpected hiding-places. The 

 state-rooms have sleeping accommodation for four persons, the 

 lowest bed on the floor having room for two persons. For 

 travelling families these state-rooms are a great convenience, 

 and they are not expensive either, costing for a night only four 

 or five dollars above the usual fare. Whoever has tossed about 

 a night in a railroad car and remembers his feelings in the 

 morning will understand how to appreciate these sleeping cars, 

 strange as they may appear at first sight, especially to persons 

 who never have been on board an Atlantic steamer. 



I was used to travelling in America, and acquainted with all 

 those things which astonished Mrs. Corvin, who was now for 

 the first time in that country. The woods which we saw on our way 

 commenced to show here and there those brilliant tints which 

 are a peculiarity of American foilage in the fall. Bright yellow 

 and burning red are prominent, and a European artist who 

 should paint such a wood would be accused of exaggeration, 

 and lose all his credit. 



Railroads in Europe seem to be considered a kind of luxury. 

 In the commencement not so much importance was ascribed 

 to them in America as they have acquired of late ; they were 

 chiefly valued as means of connection between the water 

 courses, which were principally used for the transportation of 

 goods. Though these ideas have experienced a change, rail- 

 roads are still in America only roads, and to create them as 

 fast as possible and put them in working order is the principal 

 object. It only the rails are properly laid and the rolling-stock 

 in good order, everything else is of little consequence. There- 

 fore w^e do not see in America depots as we see them in 

 Kurope, costing milHons ; not rarely a simple shed, offering 



