Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-01-18
miscellaneous.
CAR Etiquette.

Somebody--not one Of the drawing room
dilettanti, but one who has taken lessons in
HEART poltencss must write the Railroad
Chesterfield or the Wayfarer's Book of Ell
quette. 1t is curious to see how the gentle
man" and the lady" as well as the hog"
and tho "bear," stick out in the little indica-
tions which people manifest in travelling,
more than under any other circumstances.
The following paragraph, taken from an
exchange. illustrates tho great necessity of
such an oracle for the migratory multitude;
1t is now. a days very common affair to
see two ladies (?) enter railroad car half
an hour before the time for the leaving Of the
train, tbrow the back of one seat over so as
to sit Wis Wis, lumber the spare room With
shawls, hnndles and band. hoxes-au then
when the cars begin to be filed up take every
precaution to prevent any one from occupy
ing either Of what should be vacant seats.
aud in many instances compelling passengers
to stand, when a spirit Of accommodation
would allow them comfortable position
Such persons should be informed by the con-
duotor that when they buy a ticket, the pug-
cease Of the car is no: 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 of an individual in the Central Railroad
cars, which came under our observation few
weeks ago--a movement which combined in
a striking degree at once. the judicial and the
executive in the perosu of single self-ap-
pointed Fighter Of human wrongs.
Two ladies fashiopab!y dressed and appa-
rently intelligent, but of the species indica-
ted above, had taken their seats in the cars
facing each other, and ekeing out to the great
est possible extent what they called theil
baggage" (tbough the live stock of the par.
ty were far worthier that name) with shawls
reticules and little fxngs," so as to effect
ually exclude all corners from the two vacsn
seats The cars socn became uncomfortabl,
crowded, several were standing, and man,
we're the Intellectual Applications made for thu
unoccupied places referred to, but all to NJ
purpose. When, at last an elderly gentle
man and his wife, coming in, mcekly request
ed place, The young lady who sat with he
brazen face towards the passengers. consented
, to allow the lady of the new corners to ST
opposite her, but no mortal would she permi
to occupy the seat by her side. Consequent
ly the husband was compelled to find an asy
lam in some remote part of the car.
The indignation and contempt Of all thu
passengers had, by this time, attained to abou
the murmuring pitch, bat things went on il
this way few stations further, when stall
wart, hoosier looking chap, who sat Direct,
5 opposite the elderly lady, on the other side 0
the aisle, seeming to have been visited by {
sudden inspiration, rose, marched up to th'
} self complacent young preemptioner, aud said
in tone that would have made a nor ives
: ter nervous
Hello sa- ay--look 0 here | bin think
ing we can make better rangement thar
this should like to hev that old gen lmar
and bis wife sit together, ! should. They've
ride heap mere comfortable. Now spos'I
you and this other gal turn over this seat ant
sit together, and III ferch the old gen'lmar
+ and set him down alongside of this other wo
man"
With supercihousnesss that was beau
tiful to see, her ladyship replied:
! mo, thank you. Sir ! want this sea
for my baggage, and | shall not give it up t,
: anybody" and up goes her nose into angle o
As degrees.
"Wa-all now. persisted HcOshierous
that don't seem reasonable, that you should