Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1887 — People Who Live on the Railroads. [ARTICLE]

People Who Live on the Railroads.

There is a distinct railroad popular tion that is constantly growing. It icomposed of commercial travelers, lecturers, show agents, actorg, and acttresses. They eat more meals in hotel cars and railppad meal stations than they do at home or iq hotels. They spend more nights in sleeping-car brinks than in beds. To a person who travels only occasionally it ig interesting to note hew thoroughly equipped these professional joumeyers are. Upon entering a sleeping-car early in the evening, for instance, they remove their shoes and put on slippers, hang their hat up arid don silk traveling caps, take off their coats and put On short sack coats or smoking jackets, In the morning, when the occasional traveler, obliged to wear the only clothing he has brought, goes to the toilet compartment in his coat and vest, and thus struggles in an effort to cleanse his skin without soaping his sleeves or his coat collar, these professionals again excite his envy. They come along all smiles, having slept well, and feeling perfectly at home. They hang np their smoking jackets and display snowy white robes, ornamented with colored binding and braid, and capable of being thrown open at the neck and rolled up above the elbows, From a pocket in the suspended jacket one produces an ivory-backed brush and cpstly comb, a tooth-brush, and perhaps a nickleqflated soap box, Another opens out u prettily embroidered receptacle, composed of many folds, each one a pocket and each one labeled. In these lockets are a ,comb a brush, a tooth-brush, shaving-brush, soap box, pair of razor cases, nailbrush, whisk broom, hand glass, and cologne bottle. Their familiarity with their surroundings is as noticeable a part of their equipment. A glance out of the window is almost certain to reveal to them their whereabouts when they arise, or when they are waked up, or are about to go to bed. They carry their time-tables in their heads, and give good advice as to which station has the best caterer. They are sociable and democratic.— Pit Uadelp hin Jiecord.