Little Journeys to Russia and Austria-Hungary (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 Excerpt: ...information as to trains and boats which we wish to take. For instance, we have planned for today an excursion to the Caves of St. Canzian, the Mammoth Cave of the empire. We were told at, the hotel last evening that the express for the interior would leave at 7:50 A. M., but in reality it does not go until half-past eight and we have an hour to spend in the depot, glancing over the time-tables on the walls, for there are no free time-tables to be had. When a train is about to leave, a hand-bell is rung, and so whenever a bell rings we hurry to the gate to find out whether or not it is our train which is starting. At last our train does start, with us aboard. When the conductor takes our tickets he gives us receipts for them, and should we lose these receipts we might be forced to pay our fare over again. It was well for us that our friends advised us not to take much baggage; for only after our tickets are bought can we have our trunks weighed and checked, and we must pay for every pound of baggage. Hand-baggage, however, we give to porters, who have the right to enter the trains and deposit it in the cars, insuring a seat for the owner at the same time. We have a short ride among the mountains--densely forested and with huge masses of conglomerate protruding from their slopes. The scenery of the region calls to-mind the tremendous forestry and mining interests of the empire, but of these we shall see greater evidences later on. Here and there we catch a glimpse of a farm enclosed by rock walls that remind us of Xew Engliand. At Helperje (hair-pell'ya) we change to another train. As we speed along, we notice women standing at the crossings, waving a flag to warn people off the tracks, for the automatic gate at railway crossings is unknown in this part of t...