Welcome, Welcome Master Pullman
The great inventor of the Saloon Carriages,
Italy will be thankful to the man
For now and ever, for ages and ages.
To Master Rapp we men are thankful.
Cause of his kindness and adviser sages,
Our hearts of true gladness is full:
And we shall remember him for ages.
Should Master Pullman ever succeed
To continue is work in Italy
What we wish to him indeed,
We hope to be chosen
To finish the work and work as a man,
To show our gratitude to Master Pullman.
FINO AND HIS FRIENDS.
_Turin_, 10 January 1876.
The appearance of the new Pullman cars in England created immediate and
favorable comment, for not only were the cars radical in the service
which they afforded, but their construction, following the advanced
principles of American car building, offered sharp contrast to the less
modern cars of English construction. From the most gorgeous first-class
carriage down to the dumpiest begrimed coal car, all British railway
conveyances rested on four iron wheels, placed in the position where
Artemus Ward located the legs of the horse--one at each corner. Until
the Pullman sleepers were introduced into Britain, the sight of a car
resting on eight wheels was unprecedented, as no one thought of doubting
the entire security from danger of a carriage with only four points of
support. Indeed, the conservative Briton saw no more real necessity for
a railway carriage having eight wheels than for a horse to have more
than four legs.
Under arrangements with the Great Northern Railway, Pullman "dining
room" carriages were put in service on November 1, 1879, between Leeds
and King's Cross Station, London. Luncheon and dinner were served and
the menu included "soups, fish, entrees, roast joints, puddings and
fruits for dessert," a truly English bill of fare. The reception of this
innovation is described by the _London Telegraph_, which concluded a
comment on the dining car with this friendly suggestion:
If the British public can be brought to give this new
refreshment-car system, just inaugurated by the Great Northern
Railway, a fair trial, there will be another traveling infliction,
besides Dyspepsia and Discontent, which will be speedily laid in the
Red Sea. I mean the ghost of Ennui. Luncheon or dinner on board a
Pullman palace-car will surely banish Boredom from railway journeys.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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