They could not sit, only lean. Recall the incidences Polly Platt mentions of being jostled left and right. More on chairs and sitting. The following information is from Gaylen Kranz' book, The Chair . French American Keep your voice down, especially in public.
Air waves belong to the strongest voice.
Modulate your voice in order to be heard. If you are overheard, you're mal elev . If you're overheard, they're nosy . Electricity is cheap. To understand man, you must understand the receptor systems.