Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-25
Car Etiquette.

1
The following paragraph, taken from an
exchange, illustrates the great necessity OF such
an oracle for the migratory multitude.
i PRETTY AND GRACEFUL.-lt seems nova
days very common affair to see two ladies W
enter railroad car half an hour before the
time for the leaving of the train, throw the
back of one seat over so as to sit vis-a-vis,
lumber the spare room with shawls, bundles,
and band-boxes-and then when, the cars be-
gin to fill up, take precaution to prevent any
one from occupying either of what should be
vacant seats, and in many instances compelling
passengers to stand, when spirit of accomo-
dation would allow them a comfortable position.
Such persons should be informed by the con.
ductor, that when they buy ticket, the pur.
chase of car is not included.
| None of us but have had similar scenes come
under our notice. We are reminded at this
| moment of a singular movement ON the part oil
an individual in the Central railroad cars
which came under our notice few weeks ago
"a movement which combined in a striking
degree at once the judicial and the executive
in the person of single selfappointed Fighter
| of human wrongs.
Two ladies fashionably dressed and apparent
y intelligent but of the species indicated above,
had taken their seats in the cars, facing each
other, and ekeing out to the greatest possible
extent what they called their baggage"
Though the live stock of the party were ia,
worthier that name, with shawls, reticules, and
little "hxins," so as to effectually exclude all
corners from the two vacant seats. The cars
soon became uncomfortably crowded, several
were standing, and many were the Intellectual
applications made for the unoccupied places
referred to- but all to no purpose. When at
Ia AZ oil nd
in, and meekly requesting place, the young
lady, who sat with her brazen face towards the
passengers, consented to allow the lady of the
new corners to sit opposite her, but no mortal
would she permit to occupy the seat by her
side Consequently the husband was impelled
to find an asylum in some remote part of the
car. The indignation and contempt of all the
passengers had by this time attained about the
murmuring pitch, but things went on this way
few stations further, when stalwart, hoosier-
looking chap, who sat directly opposite the ell
derby lady, and on the other side of the aisle,
seemed to have been visited by sudden inspi-
ration, rose, marched up to the selfcomplacent
young pre-emptioner, and said in a tone that
would have made nor-wester nervous
"Hallo! sa-ay-look o'here! bin thinking
we can make better 'rangement than this,
should like to hev that old gen'lman and his
wife sit together, should. They'd ride a heap
more comfortable. Now spos'n you and this
other gal turn over this seat and sit together,
and I'll fetch the old genlman and set him
down along sides Of this woman"
With superciliousness that was beautiful
to see, her ladyship replied:
"No, thank you, sir. want this seat for
my baggage, and shall not give it up to any.
body" and up goes her nose at an angle Of
forty-fve degrees.
"Wa-all now" persisted Hooshierous, "that
up hull seat with them little traps, when
places is so scarce. Hang EN- up onto a nail;
stick EN- under ye; set onto 'em; there's lots
o'ways to fix it."
Snap went the eyes again, and up cooked
the little nose, as she retorted:
/ shall do no such thing, sir; and, more
over, will be obliged to you if you'll just
mind your own business"
swell, now, you see, I've set my heart into
fixing this, and it don't seem as though could
think Of being disappointed. And I've about
made up my mind that, unless you fix it so, /
shall be obliged to give up my seat to the old
gen'lman, SOS to bring him as nigh as possible
to his wife, and | shall hey to come and sit
along oyou. i dunno but you'd like that
'rangement; I'm considered some among the
girls where live.p
look Of determination began now to CLEAN
from the corrugated face Of the countryman,
and the young lady, with mingled alarm and
Indignation, FASTENED to reply:
You'd better take care what You do, sir :
I'm not to be insulted with impunity"
sob, I'm responsible" was the only answer,
as he led the gentleman to his own seat, and
immediately commenced crowding into the
I,,Iu h,yt 1a d., - a l. u
movement she resisted, when, encircling her
waist with his brawny arm, he lifted her np, as
though she was a child, planted her down firm
ly at the other end of the seat, and settled him
self comfortably into his place.
There" said he, that's the dandy. Now
let's hev q little turn of conversation. You'll
find me one Of the pleasantest fellows you ever
did see in private conversation"
The reader may well suppose there were
screams and struggles, and eyes that flashed
through tears, and threats of vengeance by the
quantity, while the passengers on every side,
staggered by the Cromwellian boldness Of this
coup detdt, and more than doubtful of its pro-
prety, but rejoicing, in spite of their misgiv-
ings, over the sudden retribution that had be-
fallen the common enemy, were vainly striving
to conceal their merriment.
You brute! you william! / never was so
insulted in my life. It's outrageous for the
passengers to permit It'll Conductahl conduc-
tab waraugh, oh! wa-augh's the conductor?
Well see if ladies are to be insulted with impu-
nity"
Fetch on your conductor" says the imper-
turable squatter; would have him to tell
us what lady in car is"
Out bounded the lady in rage, "rd rather
Jump off upon the track than ride with such a
BEAST
Immediately the Hoosier rose, turned over
the revolving back, removed the lady's t.L..;,nos
carefully to the seat on which Ter companion
mute and terrified, was sitting, placed tie pas,
sive old gentleman and his wife, who oheyed
him with an amusing reliance upon his supe-
rior ability, into the vacant places, while he
assumed his with the air of man who has
served his generation.
Ilecc gected lady soon returned to the side Of
her companion, and in q crest,fallen and unob.
rusive mood retaining her place to the end Of
her journey Chronicle.