Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1892 — Rallroads In India. [ARTICLE]

Rallroads In India.

Railway travel in India may be made very cheap, for although firstclass fare is three cents a mile, tho second-class is but a coat, and a half, and third-class only a half cent. One has little trouble with his baggage at the stations. As soon as the train stops, says the author of “Indlaka,” he has only to go to the door of ids compartment and call out, “Kuli hai?” which means, “Is there a porter about?” and the question will bw answered by one or perhaps half a dozen barefooted natives. At the time of the decennial pilgrimages, thousands of natives take the train, crowding In with such persistency that there is no withstanding the pressure. Sometimes the railroad officials stand near the cars, and with great bamboo rods beat away the pilgrims, pounding them over the head and shoulders with all their might, in prder to prevent the dense crowd from overwhelming the train. * The pilgrims and the ordinary natives use the third-class carriages, hut Europeans are taking to them very rapidly. When Bishop William Taylor was making his four years’ evangelistic tour through India, he succeeded In setting that economical fashion. It was not then considered respectable to adopt such humble means of travel, and he was asked: “Why do you 'ride In third-class cars?” His reply came on the instant. “Because there are no fourth-class cars!” Since then, it has been respectable for Europeans to travel by any class.