After all, even the surface indications in such
matters are slight and few. But what I noted was that, though the
simple and humble have to go to the wall, and for the most part
go to it unkicking, in England they were, on their level,
respectfully and patiently entreated. At a railroad junction one
evening, when there was a great hurrying up stairs and down, and
a mad seeking of wrong trains by right people, the company's
servants who were taking tickets, and directing passengers this
way and that, were patiently kind with futile old men and women,
who came up, in the midst of their torment, and pestered them
with questions as to the time when trains that had not arrived
would leave after they did arrive. I shuddered to think what
would have at least verbally happened to such inquirers with us;
but, there, not only their lives but their feelings were safe,
and they could go away with such self-respect as they had quite
intact.
V
In no country less good-hearted than England could anything so
wrong-headed as the English baggage system be suffered.
Pages:
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223