Guard And Conductor

The gr.ard is found on the station platforms, where he looks at your ticket, opena and closes the door of the compörtment, will try to see you well placed according to your class, then hop? into his van and goes with the train on your journey. He is by no mean9 the important person that the conductor is in the United States, says Colonel H. G. Prout in Seribner's Magazine., for he has no opportunity to sit with the passengers, to talk politics, or horses, or railroads. He never rises to tho rank of captain, as all conductora do in our Southern Btates. He may become a Knight Templar for all I kno,w, but I never eaw hina with his waistcoat ablaze with the symbols of that order which so often decórate our own conductora. Doubtless in private life he is a man of influence in his neighborhood, but on duty he ia a quiet servant, and his relations with the public are purely those of business. He is a tidy man in blua cloth uniform with white metal buttons, and often wears a broad patent-leather strap over one shoulder with white buckle and ornamenta. He Eometimes carrier a small bag, presumably for such papers as he needs to have, and is provided with a green flag to wave to the ongineman as a signal to start the train. Altog-ether he is a simplo, efficiënt and civil official, and just here is a striking contrast botween the men of the two countries. On the English railroads one never sees the conductor or ticket seller who scorns you if you ask a quastion, and gives the minimum o' itjformation with the maximum of brusqueness: and one never sees the usher who stands in the gateway and bellows in inarticulate pride, then turns a quid in his cheek and squirts tobáceo juica into a corner.