Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1912 — LONG AND FINE RIDES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LONG AND FINE RIDES

AMERICA HOLDS ONE RECORD, BUT NOT THE OTHER. Frank Beaman and Party Had Moat, Extended Trip, Traveling Thousands of of York’s Train de Luxe. The world’s record for a continuous trip In a private car Is held by Frank

Seaman, according to the Railroad Man’s Magazine, lasted 101 days, and extended Into eighteefa states and the republic of Mexico. In that time Mr. Seaman and his party traveled 14,500 miles in the car, 460 miles by

steamboat, 300 miles by stage and 150 miles on horseback. The private car climbed to an altitude of 8,000 \feet above sea level and descended to '263 feet below sea level. During all the long trip there were no mfahaps and no delays. When Thomas Nickerson, who was president of the Santa Fe before it struck oil, wanted to take a ride he carried his lunch and took a berth with the way freight. That isn’t the way of all American railway spresidents. - / ; ----- - It takes the British, at home or in Canada, to fuss things up; at any rate when the road carries royalty. When the Duke and Duchess fit York (now King George and Queen Mary) visited the Dominion In 1901 the Canadian railways built for them nine cars that eclipsed anything that ever traveled across the jNorth American continent The train was composed of a day car and a night car, one compartment sleeper, three standard sleepers, a dining car, k baggage car and a car for the railroad employes In charge of the train. The exterior of the train was finished In natural mahogany, the standard for the company’s sleeping and parlor cars. The two royal cars hore reproductions of the coats-of-arms of the distinguished guests on each side at both ends. The train was vestibuled. Each car was equipped with electric lights

The Cornwall, the royal day car, 78 feet 6% Inches long, had a reception room panelled In Circassian walnut with a celling finished in old gold with moldings and-ornaments touched with gold and blue. The handings were of dark blue velvet, the carpet was graygreen. There was a piano and chairs and a sofa. The car also has a boudoir for the Duchess with pearl gray panels painted after Watteau, with draperies of light blue moire silk. There was also a dining room In African Coromandel with ornamental cartouches displaying at one end the coat-of-arms of the king and at the other end those of the Duke and Duchess, The arms of the Dominion and the Duke graced the other walls. The panels of the walls were green and gold, the draperies green velvet, the upholstery a warm brown. There

were seats for eight. The night coach York was of the same length as the Cornwall. In the center were two royal bedrooms with bath room and servant’s room adjoining each. It was finished in pearl gray enamel with panels' of silkin' match the draperies. Each room was furnished with a brass bedstead, a dressing table, a large mirror and a wardrobe. The draperies in the duke’s room were of crimson silk; those In the duchess’ room were of pale blue moire. There were also two staterooms, one for the lady In waiting and one for the gentleman in waiting and a baggage room. One of the cars had a consulting room for the royal medical attendant. There were also two baggage cars. Part of one was used for cold storage. In this magnificent train the duke and duchess made the journey from Quebec to Vancouver and returned to Halifax, quite the longest single trlß royalty ever has made by rail.