the celeatial railroad-第1章

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THE　CELESTIAL　RAILROAD



Not　a　great　while　ago；　passing　through　the　gate　of　dreams；　I

visited　that　region　of　the　earth　in　which　lies　the　famous　City　of

Destruction。　It　interested　me　much　to　learn　that　by　the　public

spirit　of　some　of　the　inhabitants　a　railroad　has　recently　been

established　between　this　populous　and　flourishing　town　and　the

Celestial　City。　Having　a　little　time　upon　my　hands；　I　resolved　to

gratify　a　liberal　curiosity　by　making　a　trip　thither。

Accordingly；　one　fine　morning　after　paying　my　bill　at　the　hotel；

and　directing　the　porter　to　stow　my　luggage　behind　a　coach；　I

took　my　seat　in　the　vehicle　and　set　out　for　the　station…house。　It

was　my　good　fortune　to　enjoy　the　company　of　a　gentlemanone　Mr。

Smooth…it…awaywho；　though　he　had　never　actually　visited　the

Celestial　City；　yet　seemed　as　well　acquainted　with　its　laws；

customs；　policy；　and　statistics；　as　with　those　of　the　City　of

Destruction；　of　which　he　was　a　native　townsman。　Being；　moreover；

a　director　of　the　railroad　corporation　and　one　of　its　largest

stockholders；　he　had　it　in　his　power　to　give　me　all　desirable

information　respecting　that　praiseworthy　enterprise。



Our　coach　rattled　out　of　the　city；　and　at　a　short　distance　from

its　outskirts　passed　over　a　bridge　of　elegant　construction；　but

somewhat　too　slight；　as　I　imagined；　to　sustain　any　considerable

weight。　On　both　sides　lay　an　extensive　quagmire；　which　could　not

have　been　more　disagreeable　either　to　sight　or　smell；　had　all　the

kennels　of　the　earth　emptied　their　pollution　there。



〃This；〃　remarked　Mr。　Smooth…it…away；　〃is　the　famous　Slough　of

Desponda　disgrace　to　all　the　neighborhood；　and　the　greater　that

it　might　so　easily　be　converted　into　firm　ground。〃



〃I　have　understood；〃　said　I；　〃that　efforts　have　been　made　for

that　purpose　from　time　immemorial。　Bunyan　mentions　that　above

twenty　thousand　cartloads　of　wholesome　instructions　had　been

thrown　in　here　without　effect。〃



〃Very　probably！　And　what　effect　could　be　anticipated　from　such

unsubstantial　stuff？〃　cried　Mr。　Smooth…it…away。　〃You　observe　this

convenient　bridge。　We　obtained　a　sufficient　foundation　for　it　by

throwing　into　the　slough　some　editions　of　books　of　morality；

volumes　of　French　philosophy　and　German　rationalism；　tracts；

sermons；　and　essays　of　modern　clergymen；　extracts　from　Plato；

Confucius；　and　various　Hindoo　sages　together　with　a　few　ingenious

commentaries　upon　texts　of　Scripture；all　of　which　by　some

scientific　process；　have　been　converted　into　a　mass　like　granite。

The　whole　bog　might　be　filled　up　with　similar　matter。〃



It　really　seemed　to　me；　however；　that　the　bridge　vibrated　and

heaved　up　and　down　in　a　very　formidable　manner；　and；　in　spite　of

Mr。　Smooth…it…away's　testimony　to　the　solidity　of　its　foundation；

I　should　be　loath　to　cross　it　in　a　crowded　omnibus；　especially　if

each　passenger　were　encumbered　with　as　heavy　luggage　as　that

gentleman　and　myself。　Nevertheless　we　got　over　without　accident；

and　soon　found　ourselves　at　the　stationhouse。　This　very　neat　and

spacious　edifice　is　erected　on　the　site　of　the　little　wicket

gate；　which　formerly；　as　all　old　pilgrims　will　recollect；　stood

directly　across　the　highway；　and；　by　its　inconvenient　narrowness；

was　a　great　obstruction　to　the　traveller　of　liberal　mind　and

expansive　stomach　The　reader　of　John　Bunyan　will　be　glad　to　know

that　Christian's　old　friend　Evangelist；　who　was　accustomed　to

supply　each　pilgrim　with　a　mystic　roll；　now　presides　at　the

ticket　office。　Some　malicious　persons　it　is　true　deny　the

identity　of　this　reputable　character　with　the　Evangelist　of　old

times；　and　even　pretend　to　bring　competent　evidence　of　an

imposture。　Without　involving　myself　in　a　dispute　I　shall　merely

observe　that；　so　far　as　my　experience　goes；　the　square　pieces　of

pasteboard　now　delivered　to　passengers　are　much　more　convenient

and　useful　along　the　road　than　the　antique　roll　of　parchment。

Whether　they　will　be　as　readily　received　at　the　gate　of　the

Celestial　City　I　decline　giving　an　opinion。



A　large　number　of　passengers　were　already　at　the　station…house

awaiting　the　departure　of　the　cars。　By　the　aspect　and　demeanor　of

these　persons　it　was　easy　to　judge　that　the　feelings　of　the

community　had　undergone　a　very　favorable　change　in　reference　to

the　celestial　pilgrimage。　It　would　have　done　Bunyan's　heart　good

to　see　it。　Instead　of　a　lonely　and　ragged　man　with　a　huge　burden

on　his　back；　plodding　along　sorrowfully　on　foot　while　the　whole

city　hooted　after　him；　here　were　parties　of　the　first　gentry　and

most　respectable　people　in　the　neighborhood　setting　forth　towards

the　Celestial　City　as　cheerfully　as　if　the　pilgrimage　were　merely

a　summer　tour。　Among　the　gentlemen　were　characters　of　deserved

eminencemagistrates；　politicians；　and　men　of　wealth；　by　whose

example　religion　could　not　but　be　greatly　recommended　to　their

meaner　brethren。　In　the　ladies'　apartment；　too；　I　rejoiced　to

distinguish　some　of　those　flowers　of　fashionable　society　who　are

so　well　fitted　to　adorn　the　most　elevated　circles　of　the

Celestial　City。　There　was　much　pleasant　conversation　about　the

news　of　the　day；　topics　of　business　and　politics；　or　the　lighter

matters　of　amusement；　while　religion；　though　indubitably　the　main

thing　at　heart；　was　thrown　tastefully　into　the　background。　Even

an　infidel　would　have　heard　little　or　nothing　to　shock　his

sensibility。



One　great　convenience　of　the　new　method　of　going　on　pilgrimage　I

must　not　forget　to　mention。　Our　enormous　burdens；　instead　of

being　carried　on　our　shoulders　as　had　been　the　custom　of　old；

were　all　snugly　deposited　in　the　baggage　car；　and；　as　I　was

assured；　would　be　delivered　to　their　respective　owners　at　the

journey's　end。　Another　thing；　likewise；　the　benevolent　reader

will　be　delighted　to　understand。　It　may　be　remembered　that　there

was　an　ancient　feud　between　Prince　Beelzebub　and　the　keeper　of

the　wicket　gate；　and　that　the　adherents　of　the　former

distinguished　personage　were　accustomed　to　shoot　deadly　arrows　at

honest　pilgrims　while　knocking　at　the　door。　This　dispute；　much　to

the　credit　as　well　of　the　illustrious　potentate　above　mentioned

as　of　the　worthy　and　enlightened　directors　of　the　railroad；　has

been　pacifically　arranged　on　the　principle　of　mutual　compromise。

The　prince's　subjects　are　now　pretty　numerously　employed　about

the　station…house；　some　in　taking　care　of　the　baggage；　others　in

collecting　fuel；　feeding　the　engines；　and　such　congenial

occupations；　and　I　can　conscientiously　affirm　that　persons　more

attentive　to　their　business；　more　willing　to　accommodate；　or　more

generally　agreeable　to　the　passengers；　are　not　to　be　found　on　any

railroad。　Every　good　heart　must　surely　exult　at　so　satisfactory

an　arrangement　of　an　immemorial　difficulty。



〃Where　is　Mr。　Greatheart？〃　inquired　I。　〃Beyond　a　doubt　the

directors　have　engaged　that　famous　old　champion　to　be　chief

conductor　on　the　railroad？〃



〃Why；　no；〃　said　Mr。　Smooth…it…away；　with　a　dry　cough。　〃He　was

offered　the　situation　of　brakeman；　but；　to　tell　you　the　truth；

our　friend　Greatheart　has　grown　preposterously　stiff　and　narrow

in　his　old　age。　He　has　so　often　guided　pilgrims　over　the　road　on

foot　that　he　considers　it　a　sin　to　travel　in　any　other　fashion。

Besides；　the　old　fellow　had　entered　so　heartily　into　the　ancient

feud　with　Prince　Beelzebub　that　he　would　have　been　perpetually　at

blows　or　ill　language　with　some　of　the　prince's　subjects；　and

thus　have　embroiled　us　anew。　So；　on　the　whole；　we　were　not　sorry

when　honest　Greatheart　went　off　to　the　Celestial　City　in　a　huff

and　left　us　at　liberty　to　choose　a　more　suitable　and

accommodating　man。　Yonder　comes　the　engineer　of　the　train。　You

will　probably　recognize　him　at　once。〃



The　engine　at　this　moment　took　its　station　in　advance　of　the

cars；　looking；　I　must　confess；　much　more　like　a　sort　of

mechanical　demon　that　would　hurry　us　to　the　infernal　regions　than

a　laudable　contrivance　for　smoothing　our　way　to　the　Celestial

City。　On　its　top　sat　a　personage　almost　enveloped　in　smoke　and

flame；　which；　not　to　startle　the　reader；　appeared　to　gush　from

his　own　mouth　and　stomach　as　well　as　from　the　engine's　brazen

abdomen。



〃Do　my　eyes　deceive　me？〃　cried　I。　〃What　on　earth　is　this！　A

living　creature？　If　so；　he　is　own　brother　to　the　engine　he　rides

upon！〃



〃Poh；　poh；　you　are　obtuse！〃　said　Mr。　Smooth…it…away；　with　a

hearty　laugh。　〃Don't　you　know　Apollyon；　Christian's　old　enemy；

with　whom　he　fought　so　fierce　a　battle　in　the　Valley　of

Humiliation？　He　was　the　very　fellow　to　manage　the　engine；　and　so

we　have　reconciled　him　to　the　custom　of　going　on　pilgrimage；　and

engaged　him　as　chief　engineer。〃



〃Bravo；　bravo！〃　exclaimed　I；　with　irrepressible　enthusiasm；　〃this

shows　the　liberality　of　the　age；　this　proves；　if　anything　can；

that　all　musty　prejudices　are　in　a　fair　way　to　be　obliterated。

And　how　will　Christian　rejoice　to　hear　of　this　happy

transformation　of　his　old　antagonist！　I　promise　myself　great

pleasure　in　informing　him　of　it　when　we　reach　the　Celestial

City。〃



The　passengers　being　all　comfortably　seated；　we　now　rattled　away

merrily；　accomplishing　a　greater　distance　in　ten　minutes　than

Christian　probably　trudged　over　in　a　day。　It　was　laughable；　while

we　glanced　along；　as　it　were；　at　the　tail　of　a　thunderbolt；　to

observe　two　dusty　foot　travellers　in　the　old　pilgrim　guise；　with

cockle　shell　and　staff；　their　mystic　rolls　of　parchment　in　their

hands　and　their　intolerable　burdens　on　their　backs。　The

preposterous　obstinacy　of　these　honest　people　in　persisting　to

groan　and　stumble　along　the　difficult　pathway　rather　than　take

advantage　of　modern　improvements；　excited　great　mirth　among　our

wiser　brotherhood。　We　greeted　the　two　pilgrims　with　many　pleasant

gibes　and　a　roar　of　laughter；　whereupon　they　gazed　at　us　with

such　woful　and　absurdly　compassionate　visages　that　our　merriment

grew　tenfold　more　obstreperous。　Apollyon　also　entered　heartily

into　the　fun；　and　contrived　to　flirt　the　smoke　and　flame　of　the

engine；　or　of　his　own　breath；　into　their　faces；　and　envelop　them

in　an　atmosphere　of　scalding　steam。　These　little　practical　jokes

amused　us　mightily；　and　doubtless　afforded　the　pilgrims　the

gratification　of　considering　themselves　martyrs。



At　some　distance　from　the　railroad　Mr。　Smooth…it…away　pointed　to

a　large；　antique　edifice；　which；　he　observed；　was　a　tavern　of

long　standing；　and　had　formerly　been　a　noted　stopping…place　for

pilgrims。　In　Bunyan's　road…book　it　is　mentioned　as　the

Interpreter's　House。



〃I　have　long　had　a　curiosity　to　visit　that　old　mansion；〃　remarked

I。



〃It　is　not　one　of　our　stations；　as　you　perceive；〃　said　my

companion　〃The　keeper　was　violently　opposed　to　the　railroad；　and

well　he　might　be；　as　the　track　left　his　house　of　entertainment　on

one　side；　and　thus　was　pretty　certain　to　deprive　him　of　all　his

reputable　customers。　But　the　footpath　still　passes　his　door；　a