Punch,  47 (1864), 84.

Chemin de Fer et De L'Enfer

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Railways, Technology, Religious Authority, Religion


    Announcing the opening of the Northern Spanish Railway by 'a person denominated King of Spain' (i.e. King-Consort Francisco D A Bórbon y Bórbon), describes the close connections between the railway and Catholicism. For example, 'No end of priests' blessed the engines, 'The boilers are to contain nothing but holy water', and 'A first-class carriage is to be fitted up as a confessional in case of accidents'. Ponders the fact that while one end of the line is in 'devout Madrid', the other is in 'Voltairean Paris'. Asks: 'Which way will flow the stronger current of thought?'



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