Industrialism, was a time of great change. There were great advances in technology, changes in science and transportation. People saw themselves living in a new world. A change that some writers, such as Charles Dickens, were not thrilled about as was evident in their works. However, others welcomed this change and one such writer was Fanny Kemble.
Fanny Kemble, a popular young actress, was the first woman to ride on the steam locomotive, tells of her experience in "Record of a Girlhood." Fanny Kemble's vivid account of her trip was very interesting to me, and from her letter you could tell that she was very excited about this trip.
"A common sheet of paper is enough for love, but a foolscap extra can alone contain a railroad and my ecstasies" (page 490).From the beginning of the letter you could tell that Kemble was excited and she did not feel as though her words, in this letter, would really do justice in describing her experience. She then proceeded in her letter to describe the steam engine itself, "She (for they make these curious little fire-horses all mares) consisted of a boiler, a stove, a small platform, a bench, and behind the bench a barrel.......she goes upon two wheels, which are her feet, and are moved by bright steel legs called pistons.....safety-valve into the air.." (page 490-491). Calling the steam engine a she signifies something of great beauty. I must admit she was a genius. Someone who was not an engineer by profession giving such details describing the engine must be a genius. She then compared the steam engine to a horse in these words, "The reins, bit, and bridle," "this snorting little animal....was then harnessed to our carriage," (page 491) as she continued to tell of the magical journey that she had. She described the landscape around her, during her trip, in order to bring out that magical experience. Using words such as, "Flying with breath and rhythmical, unvarying pace, between those rocky walls, which are already clothed with moss and ferns and grasses; and when I reflected ....I felt as if no fairy tale was ever half so wonderful as what I saw"(page 491)
She continued her letter by giving her readers an idea of how fast the steam engine was going by using these words, "The engine having received its supply of water....set off at its utmost speed, thirty-five miles an hour, swifter than a bird flies" (page 491). Then she ends her beautiful letter with such confidence and optimism as stated in these words, "You cannot conceive what that sensation of cutting the air was; the motion is as smooth as possible, too....When I close my eyes this sensation of flying was quite delightful, and strange beyond description;....this brave little she-dragon of ours flew on" (page 491). She had such security that nothing would ever go wrong with "She", the steam engine. Was this the case?.......I am afraid not.
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Anthony,
Very enjoyable post on Kemble's account of her first ride on a steam locomotive. I think her enthusiasm and joy must be contagious! You select and comment on several good passages here (although I feel shortchanged a bit at the end, when you don't really say much about her final quotation). I would have liked to see you discuss the way she tries to describe something entirely new, though, and how she draws on imagery from nature and fairy tales to do so.
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