We who have lived before railways were made belong to another world. It was only yesterday, but what a gulf between now and then! Then was the old world. Stage-coaches, more or less swift, riding-horses, pack-horses, highwaymen, knights in armor, Norman invaders, Roman legions, Druids, Ancient Britons painted blue, and so forth -- all these belong to the old period. But your railroad starts the new era, and we of a certain age belong to the new time and the old one. We who lived before railways, and survive out of the ancient world, are like Father Noah and his family out of the Ark.

Summary

This quote reflects on the transformative impact of railways on society and how it creates a clear demarcation between two worlds: the old world and the new era. The speaker emphasizes the profound changes brought about by advancements in transportation, highlighting the stark contrast between pre-railway times with stage coaches, horses, and historical figures, and the modern world with its railroads. The analogy of being like "Father Noah and his family out of the Ark" implies that those who lived before railways are a part of a bygone era, witnessing the transition between two distinct periods in history.

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