Therefore, I desire to ask the public whether the servants
of the great railways--who, in fact, are their servants, their
ready, zealous, faithful, hard-working servants--whether they have
not established, whether they do not every day establish, a
reasonable claim to liberal remembrance.
Now, gentlemen, on this point of the case there is a story once
told me by a friend of mine, which seems to my mind to have a
certain application. My friend was an American sea-captain, and,
therefore, it is quite unnecessary to say his story was quite true.
He was captain and part owner of a large American merchant liner.
On a certain voyage out, in exquisite summer weather, he had for
cabin passengers one beautiful young lady, and ten more or less
beautiful young gentlemen. Light winds or dead calms prevailing,
the voyage was slow. They had made half their distance when the
ten young gentlemen were all madly in love with the beautiful young
lady. They had all proposed to her, and bloodshed among the rivals
seemed imminent pending the young lady's decision. On this
extremity the beautiful young lady confided in my friend the
captain, who gave her discreet advice. He said: "If your
affections are disengaged, take that one of the young gentlemen
whom you like the best and settle the question." To this the
beautiful young lady made reply, "I cannot do that because I like
them all equally well.
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