The Queen's Train

The English press, in referring to the eitraordinary precautions observed in connection with the present journey of the czar to the Don Cossack country, comment on the unfortunate state of affairs in Russia which renders the adoption of such nieasures necessary. From this it would appear that they are ignorant of the fact that almost identical regulntions are in force whenever Qüeen Victoria travels through any part of her dominions, no matter whsther it be from Osborne to Balmoral or from Windsor to London. Indeed, the precautions lor her safety are very elabórate, and will surprise most people. The regulations for her majesty's journey flll severa] foolscap pages, including the time tables, which oecupy two pages. The times of departure and arrival having been nientioned, and the metáis on which the train will travel specified, the regulations provide: 1. For a pilot engine, accompanied by the loeomotive superintendent of the particular district traveled over, and by a guard, with lamps, flags and fog signáis. The engine precedes the royal train at a uniform rate of speed, and is always flfteen minutes in advance of it. 2. The drivers and firemen, as well as the engines for the royal train, are specially selected. Telegraph men accompany the train under a superintendent, and brakeraen, fitters, lampmen and greasers travel in the train afl the way, keeping a constant watch. At stopping places they must alight and examine the train and grease the axle boxes. 3. A lookout is placed on the tender of the engine, and, seated with his face toward the engine, observes any signal that may begiven by the occupauts. This position is by no means an enviable one, as may be imagined, particularly at niiht, when more than ordinary vigilance is required. OTHER PRECAÜTIONS. The ubove are a few of the precautions which the railroad companies adopt to secure her majesty:s safety, and her comfort is no less carefully studied. For thirty minutes previous to the queen's coming, no train, not even a light engine, by which is meant an engine without carriages attached, or auy kind of vehi"le is permitted to proceed upon or cross the main line, the pilot engine alone excepted. Not only are all these regulations enforeed on the down line, but on the up line also it is commanded that dri vere must reduce their speed to ten miles an hour and on no account open the whistle when passing her majesty's train. Fuithermore, no passenger trains are permitted to arrive or even pass through the stations while the queen's train is stopping at such stations for refreshments, or to change engines. The passengere arriving at Perth after traveling all night are frequently detained for over an hour on a siding outside the depot while the queen is breakfasting, before they are allowed to alight. Not only are these rules expected to be, and are, strictlyconformed to, but all goods trains are examined to see if anything is projecting which might strike the royal tra in. No dri ver is permitted to allow his engine to blow off steara or to permit any smoke to escape, or to whistle while on a siding nearthe queen, or while she is passing. The facing and other points are properly secured and bolted before the royal train passes; the gates or level crossings. where there are no gate keepers, are Joeked an hour before the queen comes; and a long line of plate layers are stationed at stated intervals within hail of one another, like a row of sentries, to guard the permanent way. Special telegraphie signáis are employed. The public are exeluded from the stations, and the servants of the company must perform their duties silently and without noise. TRAVELING IN SILEXCE. In this luxurious and eininenlly peaceful manner, in as strict privacy as if in her own apartments, does the queen speed across England by day or night. While she is sleeping or tossing in bed, while the moon shines or the thunder lattles, through a calm or storm, the royal train continúes its unerring way in the darkness and almost in silence. A monster engine rushes by- fifteen minutes afterward the lights of the queen's train flash past, and then, after a pause, the hand of discipline is partly relaxed. Locomotives run off on errands to reclaim wandering carriages, goods engines snort and sneeze again, facing points are left as usual, gates are unlocked, the plate layers return to bed, station masters turn in and leave the platform to the portere and the stars, the servants of the railroad company once again revel in banging milk cans and luggage about with their ordinary disregard for other people's property. Brakemen of goods trains get into their vans, and apparently don't care whether anything projects ornot; express drivers rush by wbistling in their regained freedom. The royal train has passed. The line assumes its normal condition. Just as the arrival of the prince started the sleeping palace into life, so is the departure of the queen the signal for the re6umption of the bustle and noise and turmoil which her presence or her aDproach had m. merized into silence and restfulness. Tbe queen's saloons are in the center of the train, and these commodious carriages, fitted for day or night traveling, her majesty occupies with Princesa Beatrice. There are two beds in the sleepiiig apartment whicb opens from th day saloon. The beds are simple, matching the green and gilt f uraiture and fittings, and are something like elabórate cots in shape; and generally tbe interior fittings of the train Ieave nothing to be desired. The floors are carpeted, the ceilings padded, the wide windows curtained and the lamps deeply shaded. Electric bells communicate with the attendants or the officials and by pressing a button at the end of a long variegated cord or bell pull, the alarm is sounded in the guard's van. A separate electric button is flxed in each side of the sleeping apartment, by which the attendants may be summoned; another button, when pressed, will cause the train to stop as quickly as may be. ij The usual furniture is comfortable but simple. There are hooks and racks for parcels, wraps, bird cages and small bundies of which the queen and the princess convey a gooaiy