The Means to a “Bend.”

And what of the train in this scheme of springs. The train is the variegated

– 14 –

pull-over, the joyous jazz-jumper, covering the torso of Nature. The train is a means to a “bend,” and an accomplice in the act of breaking and entering the portals of Promise. The train and the traveller get “steamed up” together during the festive fiesta. Certainly Christmas was on the map before steam, but before steam stymied Stodge, Christmas was celebrated by sitting round flesh-pots rather than for flitting round fresh spots. With the arrival of the rail, railing took the place of aleing and baleing at Yule-tide, and now the world seeks new whirls to conquer, and discovers sun spots in rollicking by rail. In short, the railway engine is the iron hors d'oeuvres in a meal of merriment.