Diary in America, Series Two | Page 5

his head out of window to inquire the cause;
to whom the driver's voice replied, in an angry tone, `I say, you mister,
don't you sit jabbering there; but lend a hand to heave these things
aboard!' To my surprise, the gentleman did not appear struck by the
insolence of this summons, but immediately jumped out and rendered
his assistance. This is merely the manner of the people. The driver
intended no insolence, nor was it taken as such; and my
fellow-travellers could not help laughing at my surprise."
I have mentioned these little anecdotes, as they may amuse the reader;
but it must be understood that, generally speaking, the drivers are very
good-natured and obliging, and the passengers very accommodating to
each other, and submitting with a good grace to what cannot be
ameliorated.
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Note 1. Miss Martineau in her work speaks of that most delightful of all

conveyances--an American stage-coach; but Miss M is so very peculiar
in her ideas, that I am surprised at nothing that she says. I will, however,
quote the Reverend Mr Reid against her:--
"I had no sooner begun to enter the coach than splash went my foot in
mud and water. I exclaimed with surprise. `Soon be dry, sir,' was the
reply; while he withdrew the light; that I might not explore the cause of
complaint. The fact was, that the vehicle, like the hotel and steam-boat,
was not water-tight, and the rain had found an entrance. There was,
indeed, in this coach, as in most others, a provision in the bottom, of
holes, to let off both water and dirt; but here the dirt had become mud,
and thickened about the orifices, so as to prevent escape. I found I was
the only passenger; the morning was damp and chilly; the state of the
coach added to the sensation; and I eagerly looked about for some
means of protection. I drew up the wooden windows; out of five small
panes of glass in the sashes three were broken. I endeavoured to secure
the curtains; two of them had most of the ties broken, and flapped in
one's face. There was no help in the coach, so I looked to myself. I
made the best use I could of my garments, and put myself as snugly as I
could in the corner of a stage meant to accommodate nine persons. My
situation just then was not among the most cheerful. I could see nothing;
every where I could feel the wind drawn in upon me; and as for sounds
I had the calls of the driver, the screeching of the wheels, and the song
of the bull-frog for my entertainment."--Rev Mr Reid's Tour, vol. I,
page 100.--Very delightful, indeed!
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Note 2. This spirit of accommodation produces what would at first
appear to be rudeness, but is not intended for it. When you travel, or
indeed when walking the streets in the Western country, if you have a
cigar in your mouth, a man will come up--"Beg pardon, stranger," and
whips your cigar out of your mouth, lights his own, and then returns
yours. I thought it rather cool at first, but as I found it was the practice,
I invariably did the same whenever I needed a light.

VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER TWO.
TRAVELLING.
In making my observations upon the rail-road and steam-boat travelling
in the United States, I shall point out some facts with which the reader
must be made acquainted. The Americans are a restless, locomotive
people: whether for business or pleasure, they are ever on the move in
their own country, and they move in masses. There is but one
conveyance, it may be said, for every class of people, the coach,
rail-road, or steam-boat, as well as most of the hotels, being open to all;
the consequence is that the society is very much mixed--the millionaire,
the well-educated woman of the highest rank, the senator, the member
of Congress, the farmer, the emigrant, the swindler, and the pick-pocket,
are all liable to meet together in the same vehicle of conveyance. Some
conventional rules were therefore necessary, and those rules have been
made by public opinion--a power to which all must submit in America.
The one most important, and without which it would be impossible to
travel in such a gregarious way, is an universal deference and civility
shewn to the women, who may in consequence travel without
protection all over the United States without the least chance of
annoyance or insult. This deference paid to the sex is highly creditable
to the Americans; it exists from one end of the Union to the other;
indeed, in the Southern and more lawless States, it is even more
chivalric than in the more settled. Let a female be ever so indifferently