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Show If George Gould was addressing a I delegation o railroad brakemen. In F the course of an exceedingly Interest- t ' ing speech he said: "On the English railways the coachos are cut ,up into a number of small rooms,- or compartments. The passungers are isolated in these compartments. com-partments. Sometimes, indeed, they are locked in. Their only means of communication with the brakeman is an electric bell, which must never be rung save in an emergency or crisis. This bell always stops the train, and creates immense confusipn and alarm. "It is a poor system. It is an old-fashioned old-fashioned system that often causes trouble. "An old lady, very near-sighted, got into -a carriage one day in which a boy sat. She and the boy had the compartment to themselves. The train started, the old lady looked ; about her, and, spying the bell, she said to the boy: " 'Young chap, I nin't used to railroads. rail-roads. What's that there bell for?' "The boy smiled maliciously. "That's to ring when you want something to eat,' he said. 'The road provides, lunch.' "The did lady nodded. A half hour 1 ' or so wont by. Then she leaned for- j ward and rang the bell: $ "Instantly tlip brakes ground down I k upon thp wheels. The locomotive whistled.'' The train stopped so sud- denly that many people were thrown forward to the floor. There were shrieks. Windows were lowered and heads protruded. Guards ran from carriage to carriage. "Finally a guard approached the old lady's carriage, i " 'Who rang the bell?' he shouted as he ran along, j " 'I did, young man, said the old r lady. ' ' - j "Well, whafc do you want?' he asked. , . "She thought a little while. Then she said, calmly: " 'I think you might bring mo some chicken sandwiches and a bottle of I root beer.' " |