The Celestial Railroad

           Notagreatwhileago,passingthroughthegateofdreams,IvisitedthatregionoftheearthinwhichliesthefamousCityofDestruction.ItinterestedmemuchtolearnthatbythepublicspiritofsomeoftheinhabitantsarailroadhasrecentlybeenestablishedbetweenthispopulousandflourishingtownandtheCelestialCity.Havingalittletimeuponmyhands,Iresolvedtogratifyaliberalcuriositybymakingatripthither.Accordingly,onefinemorningafterpayingmybillatthehotel,anddirectingtheportertostowmyluggagebehindacoach,Itookmyseatinthevehicleandsetoutforthestation-house.Itwasmygoodfortunetoenjoythecompanyofagentleman—oneMr.Smooth-it-away—who,thoughhehadneveractuallyvisitedtheCelestialCity,yetseemedaswellacquaintedwithitslaws,customs,policy,andstatistics,aswiththoseoftheCityofDestruction,ofwhichhewasanativetownsman.Being,moreover,adirectoroftherailroadcorporationandoneofitslargeststockholders,hehaditinhispowertogivemealldesirableinformationrespectingthatpraiseworthyenterprise.

           Ourcoachrattledoutofthecity,andatashortdistancefromitsoutskirtspassedoverabridgeofelegantconstruction,butsomewhattooslight,asIimagined,tosustainanyconsiderableweight.Onbothsideslayanextensivequagmire,whichcouldnothavebeenmoredisagreeableeithertosightorsmell,hadallthekennelsoftheearthemptiedtheirpollutionthere.

           "This,"remarkedMr.