ENGINES, ENGINES, AND MORE ENGINES

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One is made to think of 'The Slaughter of the Innocent' when he sees what is happening to our railway locomotives and farm engines. Who has not lain in his Pullman to listen, when awake, to the rapid exhaust of some faithful locomotive far ahead up the tracks pulling us, gliding over silvery ribbons of steel, or to hear the solemn lonesome wail of the whistle vibrating the dark night air. How different now with these diesel rattletraps and imitation whistles

No, I am not an enemy of progress, so please, please, do not try to inhibit my sentimentality. Do you say, 'Amen?'

Many of these old engines are receiving better care today than ever before. Many brazen instruments, pop and other valves, governors, lubricators, try cocks, steam gauges and whistles show marks of some 'pipe-wrench artist,' brasses that should have had the same care a man gives a fine watch or your wife accords her bracelet.

Just as no man is a real horseman unless he loves horses, likes to personally assist in his care, to clean his feet, curry, brush and saddle him, so the real honest-to-goodness engineer is seen caring for his engine, when not otherwise engaged, wiping -with his oily waste every part of this marvelous servant of man.

We talk about 'live steam', so it seems that one reason for our attachment from boyhood to the steam engine lies in the fact that, when fired up, it becomes, it seems, a living thing, throbbing with energy, breathing, pulsating, trembling, eager for the master to touch the throttle, then to respond in consonance with the nature of that touch maybe, gently as when a mother lifts her babe from its cradle, or with the vigor and alertness of a Minute Man, who with loaded musket blasts forth with pent up power.

These old engines are monuments to a race of men. The men who operated those mills and separators and engines were no kid glove, white collar, swivel chair, cake eating, street corner loafers. They were he-men, tall men, strong men,, sun-crowned, brawny pioneers who settled on the land, cleared the forests, laid out and tended their farms, erected homes, and sired and reared their families, men who laughed at their calamities, whistled as they planned and sang as they worked, and now we have come upon this rich American inheritance of culture, discovery, invention, scientific technology, with abundance for all and an almost universal longing for peace.

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