An English View.
In an article in the Strand magazine entitled “Reminiscences.” the author, a prominent English cartoonist, describes a visit to an American fire engine house:
“Suddenly the alarm bell rang,” says he. “and before I looked around again, seemingly by magic, but in reality by electricity, the halters fell from the horses' heads, and to my surprise, without any one being near them, they rushed to their places at the shaft of the engine. There were manholes in the ceiling, through which brass rods were suspended vertically; down these slid half-dressed men. who seemed to turn a somersault into their clothes during the descent on to the engine. The harness suspended above the horses dropped on to their backs, and in an instant they were in the street, the engine manned, the fire ablaze, and away the horses raced. Suddenly a whistle from the captain stopped them. It was a false alarm given for my edification. Before the engine was back in the station I was conducted by the captain into the dormitory, where I concealed myself under a bed. Without a grumble the men came up and literally walked out of their clothes, for boots, pants, and everything are all of one piece. These they opened carefully, laid them ready by the side of their beds, and very soon were all snoring, fast asleep.”
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