A LESSON FOR RAILWAY SERVANTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2615, 11 August 1876, Page 3

A LESSON FOR RAILWAY SERVANTS.

For some days past (says the Some News,) tho station at Lille, on the frontier of Belgium and Franoe, haß beon tbo soono of a complete panic. If a gorilla were ensconced behind tho refreshment bar, or a tigress with a young family installed in tho waiting-room, thero could not bo a greater state of alarm prevalent amongst travellers and officials. Tho origin of all this trouble forms a little history in itself, and as there is a moral to tho tale it is quite worth rooounting. It appears that a short time ago a small paoket was despatched from the Zoological Garden at Antwerp to the director of tho museum at Paris. Arrived at I tho frontier station it had to bo detained | awhile for inspection by the customhouse people, and was aooordingly deposited for a time in a room full of railway employSs. Tho latter, who havo a keen so^ntfor any ouriosity, and are naturally of a somewhat inquisitive disposition, were instantly attracted by tbo box, whioh was vory small, and very light, but contained some article, valued at no lees than £40. A first examination only served to onhanoo tho mystery. Thoy shook and pinched tho paroor, they peeped through tho holos in tho lid, but without obtaining any satisfaction. Briefly their curiosity triumphed, the box was opened, and there shot forth a small bufc very lively and vicious- looking enako. Of oourso no one dared restoro the escaped prisonor to his cage, and the box was fastened up ogirin, and forwarded empty to its destination, Shortly afterwards arrived a tologram from the disappointed oonsignoo at tho Paris Museum. "Search everywhere," said tho man of soienoo, " for tho oontonts of that little box. Tho snake is a coral serpent, a most dangerous speeios." Furthor inquiries showed that the bite of the ooral kills a man in a few minutes. Tho terror whioh has since pervaded tho station is easily imaginable. Each nervous pasaengor oxpoots that tho monster is coiled up under tho soat of his own carriage. dwßds to put his hand in his own pookot, and only puts on a, hat or coat after first shaking it thoroughly. But tho worst oondition is that of the porters, who are oompelled to work night and day jamongst the litter of a goods depftt. Here thoy go about their usual tasks with blanohed oheoks and trembling hands. At the very touoh of straw they shudder, and at tho loast sound they are ready to soattor in I dismay. At thp same time no one is inclined to pity them, considering that it was their rashnoss whioh lot loose this terriblo scourge. They are learning painfully a lesson which i!; j would bo woll to toaoh to a good many other employes on the foreign lines.