TRAVELLING.
No lady should set out on a journey unprovided with an oiled-silk bag
for the reception of tooth-brushes, soap, a hair-brush, and a towel. Let
the bag be about half a quarter of a yard longer at the back than at the
front; so as to leave a flap to turn over, and tie down, when all the
articles are in. It should be square, (exclusive of the flap,) and about
a quarter and half-quarter in length, and the same in breadth; stitched
in compartments, something like an old-fashioned thread-case, only that
the compartments differ much in size. The two smallest are for two
tooth-brushes. Another should be broad enough to contain a hair-brush.
For travelling, have a hair-brush with a mirror at the back, and if you
can get one that has also a dressing-comb attached to it, so much the
better. The largest compartment (which should occupy the centre) is for
a towel, and a cake of soap. If you are obliged to start in haste, all
these things can be put in while wet from recent use, the towel being
rolled or folded into as small a compass as possible. The oiled silk
will prevent the wet from oozing through. When all are in, turn over the
flap at the top, (which should be furnished with two long strings of
broad, white tape,) and tie it securely down. Carry this bag in the
square satchel which all ladies now keep in their hands when travelling,
and which contain such things as they may want during the day,
precluding the necessity of opening their large carpet-bag, till they
stop for the night.
In a carpet-bag pack nothing but white articles, or such as can be
washed, and will not be spoiled by the bag chancing to get wet. Have
your name engraved on the lock of your carpet-bag, and also on the brass
plate of your trunks. Besides this, write your full direction on several
cards, make a small hole in each, and running a string through the hole,
tie a card to the handle of each trunk, and sew one on the side of your
carpet-bag—the direction designating the place to which you are going.
Your name in full should be painted in white letters on every trunk.
This costs but a trifle, and secures the recognition of your baggage
when missing. It is also an excellent plan to tie round the handle of
each trunk or bag, a bit of ribbon—blue, red, or yellow—all the bits
being off the same piece.[8]
Write on a large card, a list and description of each trunk, box, &c.
and give the card to the gentleman who escorts you. It will greatly
assist him in identifying all the articles that comprise your baggage.
Be quite ready at least a quarter of an hour before the time for
starting. Nelson said he traced all the most fortunate events of his
life to his practice of being, on every occasion, quite prepared a
quarter of an hour too early. It is a good rule.
Previous to departing, put into the hand of your escort rather more than
a sufficient sum for the expenses of your journey, so as to provide for
all possible contingencies. He will return you the balance when all is
paid. Having done this, should any person belonging to the line come to
you for your fare, refer them to the gentleman, (mentioning his name,)
and take care to pay nothing more yourself.
Dress very plainly when travelling. Few ladies that _are_ ladies wear
finery in rail-cars, and steamboats—still less in stages—stage-roads
being usually very dusty. Showy silks, and what are called dress-bonnets
are preposterous—so are jewellery ornaments, which, if real, you run a
great risk of losing, and if false, are very ungenteel. Above all, do
not travel in white kid gloves. Respectable women never do.
The best travelling-dresses are of merino, or alpaca; plain mousseline
de laine; grey or brown linen; or strong India silk, senshaw for
instance. In warm weather, gingham is better than printed lawn, which
rumples and tumbles and “gets into a string” directly. The sleeves wide,
for if tight to the arm, they will stain with perspiration. Your
travelling-dress for summer should have a large cape or pelerine of the
same. Beside which, carry on your arm a large shawl for chilly mornings
and evenings. No lady should travel in cold weather, without a warm
cloak, mantilla, or pelisse,—furs, &c. of course—and travelling-boots
lined with fur or flannel; having also inner soles of lambs-wool,
varnished on the leather side to make them water-proof. Take with you
one of those very useful umbrellas, that are large enough to shelter one
person from the rain, and can also be used as a parasol. Do not pack it
away in a trunk, for you may want it in the transit from rail-car to
steamboat. Keep it near you all the time, with your satchel and extra
shawl. By all means wear a white collar.
If you are fortunately able to ride backward as well as forward, you
will be less incommoded with flying sparks, by sitting with your back to
the engine. A spark getting into the eye is very painful, and sometimes
dangerous. It is possible to expel it by blowing your nose very hard,
while with the other hand you wipe out the particle of cinder with a
corner of your handkerchief, pulling down the lower eye-lid. We have
seen this done successfully. Another way is to wrap the head of a pin in
the corner of a fine, soft cambric handkerchief, and placing it beneath
the lid, sweep all round the eye with it. If this does not succeed, get
out at the first station-house where you can stop long enough, procure a
bristle-hair from a sweeping-brush, tie it in a loop or bow with a bit
of thread, and let some one insert it beneath your eye-lid, and move it
slowly all round, so as to catch in it the offending particle of coal,
and bring it out. Or if there is time, send to the nearest apothecary
for an eye-stone, (in reality, a lobster’s eye,) and soak it five
minutes in a saucer of vinegar and water to give it activity, then,
wiping it dry, and carefully inserting it beneath the eye-lid, bind a
handkerchief over it. The eye-stone will go circling round the eye, and
most likely take up the mote in its course. When the pain ceases, remove
the handkerchief, and wash the eye with cold water.
To read in a rail-car is very injurious to the eyes, from the quivering,
tremulous motion it seems to communicate to the letters of the page. It
is best to abstain from your book till you are transferred to the
steamboat.
Many persons cannot talk in a rail-car without a painful exertion of the
voice. And it is not an easy task, even to those whose lungs are strong.
You can easily excuse yourself from conversing with your escort, by
telling him that your voice is not loud enough to be heard above the
racket of the cars, and that though you will gladly listen to _him_, he
must allow you to listen without replying, except in as few words as
possible. If he finds a gentleman with whom he is acquainted, desire him
to talk to his friend, and leave you to hear their conversation as a
silent auditor.
If you pass the night in a steamboat, and can afford the additional
expense of a _whole_ state-room, by all means engage one as soon as you
go on board. The chambermaid will give you the key and the number, and
you can retire to it whenever you please, and enjoy the luxury of being
alone, and of washing and dressing without witnesses. If you are
constrained to take a berth in the ladies’ sleeping-cabin, it is not the
least necessary to retire to it immediately after supper. By doing so
you will have a very long, tiresome night, and be awake many hours
before morning. And if you are awake, do not be continually calling upon
the poor chambermaid, and disturbing her with inquiries, such as “Where
are we now?” and “How soon shall we arrive?”
The saloon is the place in which ladies and gentlemen sit together. If a
lady is so inconsiderate or selfish as to violate the rules of the boat,
by inviting her husband or lover to take a seat in the ladies’ cabin,
there is no impropriety in sending the chambermaid to remind him that he
must leave the room. This is often done, and always should be. We once
saw a gentleman (or a pretended one) so pertinacious in remaining, (it
is true his lady-love urged him “not to mind,”) that the captain had to
be brought to threaten him with forcible expulsion. This had the desired
effect.
Such are the facilities of travelling, that a lady evidently
respectable, plainly dressed, and behaving properly, may travel very
well without a gentleman. Two ladies still better. On commencing the
journey she should speak to the conductor, requesting him to attend to
her and her baggage, and to introduce her to the captain of the boat,
who will of course take charge of her during the voyage.
Before arriving at the wharf, she had best engage one of the servants of
the boat, (promising him a shilling or two,) to obtain for her a porter
or a hack, and to see that her baggage is safe. She must stipulate with
the hackman that no stranger is to be put into the carriage with her.
This is against the law, but notwithstanding, is often done, and the
lady who has first engaged the coach, is liable to have for her
riding-companions persons of improper character and vulgar appearance,
and to be carried with them to their places in remote parts of the city,
before she is conveyed to her own home. Previous to getting in, take the
number of the coach, by writing it on a card with your pencil, and make
your bargain with him as to the charge for conveying you and your
baggage.
It would be well if the imposition and insolence of hack-drivers were
_always_ followed with the punishments provided by law. Ladies are
naturally unwilling to appear at a magistrate’s office. But it is the
duty of every gentleman, as a good citizen, to see that the municipal
regulations are never violated with impunity.
All trouble may be avoided on arriving, by sending for the captain of
the boat, and requesting him to see you on shore, or to depute his clerk
to that office.
In arriving at a rail-road depôt, be careful not to quit the cars till
after they have positively stopped quite still. The time gained is but
an instant, and the risk is very imminent of serious injury by falling,
should your ankle twist in stepping out while there is the least motion.
On arriving at a hotel, ask immediately to see the proprietor; give him
your name and address, tell how long you purpose staying, and request
him to see that you are provided with a good room. Request him also to
conduct you to the dining-room at dinner-time, and allot you a seat near
his own. For this purpose, he will wait for you near the door, (do not
_keep him waiting_,) or meet you in the ladies’ drawing-room. While at
table, if the proprietor or any other gentleman asks you to take wine
with him, politely refuse.
If, on arriving at the wharf, you expect a gentleman to meet you, take a
seat either on deck near the cabin-door, or just inside of the door, so
that he may find you easily.
If you are to pursue your journey early in the morning, desire,
over-night, the waiter who attends your room, to knock hard at your door
an hour before the time of starting. Before you go down stairs, ask for
the chambermaid who has attended you, and give her a fee, (not less than
a quarter-dollar,) putting it into her own hand yourself, and not
commissioning another to convey it to her. Do not omit giving a
quarter-dollar at least, to the waiter who attended your room, and one
also to him who has served you at table.
Refrain from making acquaintance with any strangers, unless you are
certain of their respectability. If a gentleman of whom you know
nothing, endeavours to get into conversation with you, turn away, and
make no reply. Avoid saying any thing to women in showy attire, with
painted faces, and white kid gloves. Such persons have frequently the
assurance to try to be very sociable with respectable ladies who are
travelling alone. Keep aloof from them always.
If you have breakfasted early, it will be well to put some
gingerbread-nuts or biscuits into your satchel, as you may become very
hungry before dinner.
Carry but little money in your pocket—not more than will suffice for the
expenses of the day. But for travelling, have another pocket, concealed
_beneath_ your upper petticoat, and _in that_ keep the main portion of
your cash. Be cautious of taking bank-notes in change—they may be such
as you cannot pass. If they are offered to you, refuse them, and insist
upon gold or silver.
Travelling in America, ladies frequently meet with little civilities
from gentlemen, so delicately offered, that to refuse them would be
rude. These incidental acts of politeness should always be acknowledged
with thanks; but they should not be construed into a desire of
commencing an acquaintance. If a lady obliged to travel alone, wishes to
be treated with respect, her own deportment must in all things be quiet,
modest and retiring.
If you have a servant with you, see that she gets her meals, and has a
comfortable sleeping-place, or in all probability she will be neglected
and overlooked. In a steamboat or a hotel, speak yourself to the
head-waiter, and desire him to take her to the servants’ table and
attend to her; and tell the chambermaid to see her provided with a bed.
If their lady forgets to look out for them, coloured women in particular
have often no courage to look out for themselves.