“Clanwilliam mentioned this evening an incident which proves the
wonderful celerity of the railroads. Mr. Isidore, the Queen’s coiffeur,
who receives £2,000 a year for dressing Her Majesty’s hair twice-a-day,
had gone to London in the morning to return to Windsor in time for her
toilet; but on arriving at the station he was just five minutes too late,
and saw the train depart without him. His horror was great, as he knew
that his want of punctuality would deprive him of his place, as no train
would start for the next two hours. The only resource was to order a
special train, for which he was obliged to pay £18; but the establishment
feeling the importance of his business, ordered extra steam to be put on,
and convoyed the anxious hair-dresser 18 miles in 18 minutes, which
extricated him from all his difficulties.”
_Raike’s Diary from_ 1831 _to_ 1847.