showing fewest snakes'
heads.

PREJUDICE REMOVED.

Mr. William Reed, a land agent, was called, in 1834, to give evidence in
favour of the Great Western Railway. He was questioned as to the
benefits conferred upon the localities passed through by the Manchester
and Liverpool Railway. He was asked, "From your knowledge of the
property in the neighbourhood, can you say that the houses have not
decreased in value?" "Yes; I know an instance of a gentleman who had a
house very near, and, though he quarrelled very much with the Company
when they came there, and said, 'Very well, if you will come let me have
a high wall to keep you out of sight,' and a year-and-a-half ago he
petitioned the Company to take down the wall, and he has put up an iron
railing, so that he may see them."

A RIDE FROM BOSTON TO PROVIDENCE IN 1835.

The early railway enterprise in America was not regarded by all persons
with feelings of unmixed satisfaction. Thus we read of the railway
journey taken by a gentleman of the old school, whose experience and
sensations--if not very satisfactory to himself--are worth
recording:--"July 22, 1835.--This morning at nine o'clock I took passage
in a railroad car (from Boston) for Providence. Five or six other cars
were attached to the locomotive, and uglier boxes I do not wish to travel
in. They were made to stow away some thirty human beings, who sit cheek
by jowl as best they can. Two poor fellows who were not much in the
habit of making their toilet squeezed me into a corner, while the hot sun
drew from their garments a villanous compound of smells made up of salt
fish, tar, and molasses. By and bye, just twelve--only twelve--bouncing
factory girls were introduced, who were going on a party of pleasure to
Newport. 'Make room for the ladies!' bawled out the superintendent,
'Come, gentlemen, jump up on the top; plenty of room there.' 'I'm afraid
of the bridge knocking my brains out,' said a passenger. Some made one
excuse and some another. For my part, I flatly told him that since I had
belonged to the corps of Silver Greys I had lost my gallantry, and did
not intend to move. The whole twelve were, however, introduced, and soon
made themselves at home, sucking lemons and eating green apples. . . The
rich and the poor, the educated and the ignorant, the polite and the
vulgar, all herd together in this modern improvement of travelling. The
consequence is a complete amalgamation. M