Northern Lands; Or, Young America in Russia and PrussiaOptic, Oliver
General
Northern Lands; Or, Young America in Russia and Prussia
Optic, Oliver
Prussia (Germany) -- Description and travel -- Juvenile fiction; Russia -- Description and travel -- Juvenile fiction
They entered the second-class sleeping-car. It was altogether a
different affair from that used in the United States; but only two
rubles extra are charged for this accommodation, though that is all it
is worth. It was a large, clumsily-built carriage, with a door in the
middle of each side, and one at each end opening upon a platform. On
the top was a second story, which, however, was only about half the
size of the lower part. The side doors open into an apartment in the
middle of the car, furnished with one large arm-chair in a corner,
and seats on the sides. From this room a flight of steps ascends
to the second-story apartment. From this central corridor two long
passage-ways, on opposite sides of the car, lead to the ends. From
each of these passage-ways three or four compartments are entered,
each with two seats facing each other. The passengers lie upon these
seats at night, being provided with a pillow, but with no covering of
any kind. Each compartment has one or two swinging shelves, or berths,
besides, which are placed above the windows. Of course only three or
four passengers can be accommodated in each compartment. There is no
ventilation except at the windows; and if a Russian cannot sleep, he
lights a paper cigar every half hour, while a dozen others may be
smoking in their seats. There are conveniences at each end of the car,
which are hardly to be found on the trains of any other country in
Europe.
The first-class sleeping-car is precisely like the second, except that
it is fitted up in a little better style. The train also includes other
carriages, some like those in common use on the continent, and one or
two quite different. In one first-class there were two apartments,
one at each end, with seats at the sides, and containing a table for
card-playing. These rooms are sold at one hundred rubles the trip,
whether occupied by one or a dozen persons, for they will seat sixteen.
Between these apartments is one for general use, fitted up with stuffed
arm-chairs. When the private apartments are not taken by parties, a
ruble or two, given to the conductor, will procure admission to them
after the train has passed a certain station. The conductors generally
speak German, and some of them French.
The doctor, Lincoln, Billy Bobstay, and Scott, took one of the
compartments in the second-class sleeping-car. They made some
comparisons between the vehicle and those in use at home, and wondered
why the people of Europe insist upon making night travel by railroad
as uncomfortable as possible. At half past two the train started, and
the students were fully occupied for a time in observing the suburbs of
the city; but in half an hour there was nothing to be seen but the low,
level, marshy country, which is the same thing all the way to Moscow,
with hardly anything to vary its monotony.
"We haven't seen any of the triumphal arches of St. Petersburg," said
Dr. Winstock. "The Moscow Gate is one of them, and is a very elaborate
work of art."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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