pains
are spared by the railroad people to add to the comfort, enjoyments,
safety and convenience of the traveling public, until now it is about as
safe to travel as it is to stay at home, and not much if any more
expensive. But in spite of all safeguards adopted by the railroads a
wreck occurs once in a while the same as accidents occur at home.

The first wreck I was in the train struck a split switch with the result
that the cars turned over and piled up in a ditch. That happened in
Colorado. We were forced to crawl out through the windows, like a
prairie dog out of his hole. No one was killed but the passengers were
all pretty well shaken up and somewhat scared. As soon as the cars got
comfortably piled up and the passengers were able to speak they all
commenced yelling for the porter. But at that particular moment the
porter was busy rubbing his shins and assuring himself there was nothing
to be scared about. The passengers at such times are apt to forget that
the porter is as scared as they are, and has forgotten all about tips
and such commonplace matters as that, but after he gets his wits about
him he loses no time in looking after his flock, and rendering
assistance to such of his passengers as need it, and most of them do
need assistance of some kind if for no other reason than to be assured
that they are not hurt. The Pullman porter of today must be a very
versatile sort of a person, he must have plenty of patience, be a good
judge of human nature, quick, kind and observant. Many are the times a
gouty and crusty passenger has traveled in my car, who was in such a bad
humor that it was next to impossible to please him, yet before he had
ridden a hundred miles with me, I had him in good humor and laughing
with the rest of the passengers. "Laugh and the whole world laughs with
you."

It is by no means an uncommon thing for us porters to be called upon to
turn nurse for sick or invalid passengers in our car, and often have I
watched by the bedside of a sick passenger, feeding him, giving him
medicine, bathing him and in fact becoming for the time being a hospital
nurse, and many are the blessings I have received from my sick
passengers, both men and women, whose pain I have eased, and their last
moments on earth I have cheered. And this, dear reader, we do in the
name of humanity and not in the name of tips.

CHAPTER XX.

THE TOURIST SLEEPING CAR. THE CHAIR CAR. THE SAFEGUARDS OF MODERN
RAILROADING.