I Was Amused To See How Little Was Made
Of The Affair By Any Of The Passengers.
In England a delay of three
hours would in itself produce a great amount of grumbling, or at
least many signs of discomfort and temporary unhappiness.
But here
no one said a word. Some of the younger men got out and looked at
the ruined wheel; but the most of the passengers kept their seats,
chewed their tobacco, and went to sleep. In all such matters an
American is much more patient than an Englishman. To sit quiet,
without speech, and ruminate in some contorted position of body
comes to him by nature. On this occasion I did not hear a word of
complaint - nor yet a word of surprise or thankfulness that the
accident had been attended with no serious result. "I have got a
furlough for ten days," one soldier said to me, "and I have missed
every connection all through from Washington here. I shall have
just time to turn round and go back when I get home." But he did
not seem to be in any way dissatisfied. He had not referred to his
relatives when he spoke of "missing his connections," but to his
want of good fortune as regarded railway traveling. He had reached
Baltimore too late for the train on to Harrisburg, and Harrisburg
too late for the train on to Pittsburg. Now he must again reach
Pittsburg too late for his further journey. But nevertheless he
seemed to be well pleased with his position.
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