Before the days of modern railroads one could not very well
travel over night but now, thanks to Mr. Pullman, it is possible
for the traveller to go to bed en route and be every bit as snug
and comfortable as the proverbial insect in a rug. Shortly after
dinner the porter will “make up” the berths in the car and when
you desire to retire for the night you should ask him to bring
you the ladder in order that you may ascend to upper 9. While you
are waiting you should stand in the aisle and remove your coat,
vest and shoes, and then begin to search for your suitcase which
you will finally locate by crawling on your chin and stomach
under berth number 11. When you again resume an upright position
the train will give a sudden lurch, precipitating you into berth
number 12. A woman’s voice will then say “Alice?” to which you
should of course answer “No” and climb quickly up the ladder into
your proper berth.
A great deal of “to do” is often made of the difficulty involved
in undressing in an upper berth but most of this is quite
uncalled for. Experienced travellers now generally wait until the
lights of the car have been dimmed or extinguished when the
disrobing can be done quite simply in five counts, as follows:
_One_—unloosen all clothing and lie flat on the back. The
respiration should be natural, easy and through the lungs. The
muscles should be relaxed; _Two_—pivoting on the back of the head
and neck, inhale quickly, at the same time drawing the muscles of
the legs and arms sharply under the body, as for a spring;
_Three_—spring suddenly upward and to the right (or left),
catching the bell cord (which extends along the roof of the
train) with the teeth, hands and feet; _Four_—holding firmly to
the cord with the knees, describe a sudden arc downward with the
head and body, returning to position as soon as the shirt and
undershirt have dropped off into the aisle; _Five_—taking a firm
hold on the cord with the teeth, let go sharply with the knees.
The trousers, etc., should at once slide off, and you can (and,
in fact, should) then swing yourself quickly back into your berth
and pajamas.
Once inside your “bunk” you should drift quickly off to
slumberland, and when you wake up it will be five minutes later
and the————engineer will be trying to see what he can do with an
air brake and a few steel sleeping cars.
In the morning you will be in New York.