shown by these officials, passing through a long and crowded train after a stoppage, in recognising the newcomers and asking for their tickets, is often very remarkable.  Sometimes the conductor gives a coloured counter-check to enable him to recognise the sheep whom he has already shorn.  These checks are generally placed in the hat-band or stuck in the back of the seat.  The conductor collects them just before he hands over the train to the charge of his successor.  As many complaints are made by English travellers of the incivility of American conductors, I may say that the first conductor I met found me, when he was on his rounds to collect his counter-checks, lolling back on my seat, with my hat high above me in the rack.  I made a motion as if to get up for it, when he said, “Pray don’t disturb yourself, sir; I’ll reach up for it.”  Not all the conductors I met afterwards were as polite as this, but he has as good a right to pose as the type of American conductor as the overbearing ruffians who stalk through the books of sundry British tourists.  In judging him it should be remembered that he democratically feels himself on a level with his passengers, that he would be insulted by the offer of a tip, that he is harassed all day long by hundreds of foolish questions from foolish travellers, that he has a great deal to do in a limited time, and that however “short” he may be with a male passenger he is almost invariably courteous and considerate to the unprotected female.  Though his address may sometimes sound rather familiar, he means no disrespect; and if he takes a fancy to you and offers you a cigar, you need not feel insulted, and will probably find he smokes a better brand than your own.

A feature connected with the American railway system that should not be overlooked is the mass of literature prepared by the railway companies and distributed gratis to their passengers.  The illustrated pamphlets issued by the larger companies are marvels of paper and typography, with really charming illustrations and a text that is often clever and witty enough to suggest that authors of repute are sometimes tempted to lend their anonymous pens for this kind of work.  But even the tiniest little “one-horse” railway distributes neat little “folders,” showing conclusively that its tracks lead through the Elysian Fields and end at the Garden of Eden.  A conspicuous feature in all hotel offices is a large rack containing packages of these gaily coloured folders, contributed by perhaps fifty different railways for the use of the hotel guests.

Owing to the unlimited time for which tickets are available, and to other causes, a race of dealers in railway tickets has sprung up, who rejoice in the euphonious name of “scalpers,” and often do a roaring trade in selling tickets at less than regular fares.  Thus, if the fare from A to B be $10 and the return fare $15, it is often possible to obtain the half of a return ticket from a scalper