Part 5

A passenger by the Canadian Pacific Railway gives an interesting sketch of the travelling arrangements on this latest trans-continental line. We learn that the locomotives have a haul of about one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty miles in each division of the line, when they are changed, and fresh ones put on. The continent is crossed from Montreal to Vancouver, in British Columbia, in five days and fourteen hours; and this will soon be reduced to one hundred and twenty hours. Good time is kept. The first east-bound trans-continental train that was met in transit, passed Sudbury, going eastward, at 4.17 P.M., after being about five days on the journey. Before its arrival, there was some curiosity to learn whether it was in time, and bets were made on the time it would arrive. This train, after travelling a distance of two thousand five hundred miles, arrived only fifteen seconds behind time. The railway route from Montreal to Vancouver covers two thousand nine hundred and nine miles; and the through sleeping-coaches attached to the train run the entire distance without change, which is a great comfort to the traveller. Every week-day, a train starts from each end of the line, leaving the eastern terminus at Montreal at eight o’clock in the evening, and the western terminus at one o’clock in the afternoon. On Sundays, the trains do not start; thus making six trains each way every week. The west-bound train is called the Pacific Express; and the east-bound train the Atlantic Express.

The Pacific Express, in which this correspondent travelled, was made up of five coaches. At the head was the luggage, mail, and express coach, which carried the baggage. The next is the colonists’ coach, a third-class carriage with seats arranged so that they can be turned into a double tier of berths on each side for sleeping accommodation. The train carries passengers at three rates. The ordinary American first-class passenger coach follows the colonists’ coach, which usually takes local travellers along the line. Following this is the dining-coach, which usually accompanies the train only from seven o’clock in the morning till nine o’clock at night. Following the dining-car is the through sleeping-coach, which is constructed with six sections on each side. In the aggregate, twenty-six persons can be given sleeping accommodation in this car; while at one end, toilet-rooms and a bathroom are provided. At the rear of the sleeping-coach is a large open apartment with a good outlook, which can be used as a smoking-room, and where passengers may have a view of the line passed over.

OVERHEAD TELEGRAPH WIRES.

This arrangement of wires has always been considered as a disfiguring and dangerous eyesore, and at last our quick-sighted cousins ‘across the water’ have determined that the nuisance shall be forthwith abated. In New York, Washington, St Louis, Chicago, and other great cities of the United States, legislative decrees have been issued for the compulsory abolition of all overhead wires, which will in future be conducted underground in tunnels beneath the pavement, and by this means a great improvement will be effected in the matter of street architecture, and some dangers to passengers will be removed. Many instances have been known in America where, from violent storms of wind or snow, the telegraph posts have been blown down, occasioning injury and even death to passengers. All this will be avoided by the new arrangement.

ANGRY BEES.

As a supplementary note to the article on ‘Bees and Honey’ which appeared in No. 135 of the _Journal_, a correspondent sends us the following:

‘A painful instance of the terrible consequences of provoking bees is connected with one of the loveliest sights in India, the famous Marble Rocks of Jubbulpore. These rocks form a gorge through which the great river Nerbudda flows, and the marble formation extends for about a mile. The dazzling walls which shut in the river are studded with pendent bees’ nests, and for any one proceeding in a boat down the narrow channel to disturb the bees is a fatal proceeding. If any warning were required, it is given by a tomb which stands on the outskirts of the village just above the gorge, to the memory of one who was stung to death in this beautiful spot. Actuated by a foolish impulse, he fired his rifle at one of the nests, whereupon the bees came down on him in such numbers that he attempted to save himself by jumping overboard. The relentless insects, however, still pursued him, with fatal results. I quote the story from memory, but believe it is to be found in detail in Forsyth’s charming work, _The Highlands of Central India_.

‘A friend once told me that as he was driving near a village some miles from Jubbulpore, he and his servant and horse were attacked by bees without any real provocation. The enemy crowded round in such numbers that the situation became serious. After receiving several stings, and finding the horse, too, becoming restive, my friend resolved to save his own life and that of his servant, both of which were really in jeopardy, at the risk of a little discomfort to other people. Accordingly, he whipped up his horse and made for the village, a cloud of bees keeping up with the trap without the least effort. When the village was reached, the bees, as my friend anticipated, found so many other objects of interest, that they distributed their attentions with less marked partiality than hitherto. In other words, the cloud left the trap and scattered among the villagers, who were, however, so numerous, that two or three stings apiece probably represented the total damage. The expedient was not, perhaps, a charitable one, but, in the circumstances, was, I venture to think, justifiable.’

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_The PUBLISHERS have pleasure in intimating that next year will appear in this JOURNAL an Original Novel, entitled_

RICHARD CABLE,

_by the distinguished Author of the well-known works of fiction, ‘Mehalah,’ ‘John Herring,’ ‘Court Royal,’ &c._

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A BRIGHT DAY IN NOVEMBER.

A Summer hush is on the golden woods; The path lies deep in leaves—the air is balm; No sound disturbs these silent solitudes, Save some faint bird-notes, which, amid the calm, Seem like the sad, sweet song of one who grieves Over a happy past—yet with a strain Of Hope, which sees amid these yellow leaves, Bare boughs all clothed with Spring’s young buds again.

Even thus, most gracious Lord, in Sorrow’s hour, When Life seems saddest, and our hopes decay, Thou sendest comfort—as, in wood or bower, Some humble flower remains to speak of May; Some gleam of joy lights up the wintry scene; Some tender grace returns to bless and cheer; And though our trees no more are clothed in green, Bright days may light the closing of our year. J. H.

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The Conductor of CHAMBERS’S JOURNAL begs to direct the attention of CONTRIBUTORS to the following notice:

_1st._ All communications should be addressed to the ‘Editor, 339 High Street, Edinburgh.’

_2d._ For its return in case of ineligibility, postage-stamps should accompany every manuscript.

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_4th._ Offerings of Verse should invariably be accompanied by a stamped and directed envelope.

_If the above rules are complied with, the Editor will do his best to insure the safe return of ineligible papers._

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Printed and Published by W. & R. CHAMBERS, 47 Paternoster Row, LONDON, and 339 High Street, EDINBURGH.

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_All Rights Reserved._

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[Transcriber’s note—the following changes have been made to this text. Page 764: Naraganset to Narraganset.]