AMERICAN RAILWAYS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12258, 8 June 1914, Page 1

AMERICAN RAILWAYS.

To the Editor. Sir, —I wish to write in answer to Mr George Birmingham's article entitled "The Truth About American Trains." I cannot think what the said gentjemjan is thinking about. I amEnglish and have travelled practically all over England, but for the last eight years have lived in Canada, and the United States of America, and I claim that the U.S.A. 'have the most comfortable train cars in the world. I do not. doubt that Mr Birmingham would find a difficulty in keeping as immaculate as the American does while travelling; also the American man does not sleep with his collar on. If Mr Birmingham ever travelled in America he should remember that there is a small net hammock at the side of each berth on purpose to place collar, etc., in. Also it is not necessary for ladies to dress ' and undress in their berths, as there is a. bath and dress-room at each end of the carriage—one end for ladies and the other for gentlemen. These rooms usually contain three wash bowls with hot and cold water and liquid soap. There are also three sets of brushes and combs, and paper towels, so that you do not use the same towel as anyone else, as you have to here in New Zealand.. So, the American lady being civilised enough to always carry a wrappeV or dressing-gown with her, she can just walk along the corridor and do her toilet with ease and comfort.

There is one other thing. It would be utterly impossible to touch the next person's head while lying in your berth in a Pullman car, as the backs of the seats where you sit in the day*turn into the head and foot of your berth at night. So I think Mr Birmingham must he a- very. hard, kicker, if he can manage to kick through basket cane and wood; also you cannot see the mattress of the person sleeping above you. unless you have an X-ray with you, as there is a. t'ray of wood let down to form the top berth. If Mr Birmingham objected to anyone sleeping above him he could have paid for two berths, slept in the lower one, and he would have plenty of room to stand np and dress if he so desired, or if he was afraid to walk along the corridor in his dressing-gown, which no American lady or gentleman takes any notice of. I spent one of the happiest weeks of my life riding in a Pullman car from New York to San Francisco. I dare not think of how I should feel were I compelled to ride for six days in the train, either in England or New Zealand. I can quite believe Mr Birmingham when he says that he does not possess the spirit of sociability, and having Jived in the midst of Americans for eight years, and liking to speak of peoples and countries as I find them I say that the Americans arc among the most sociable and -friendly people, that I have ever met; I only wish it were possible to get an American's idea of i the trains in New Zealand.—l am. etc., TRUTH.