The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-24
Street Etiquette,

Too little attention is paid to street eti
quettc, although.a proper regard for it is n
much mark ofsegood breeding as grac,
aud correct demeanor in the drawing room
Here, where people rush through the streets
as though impellcd by alpress,lre of circum
stances equivalent TO forty pounds to tho
square inch, any great consideration for the
convencnccfof persons cannot be expected
but every minute in tho day can bc.witncss
ell acts OF boorisluess which no gentleman
would be guilty of, even in attempting tc
escape from the sheriff. We need moi
particularize to any extent. Let the curl
Gus walk Icisurcly along Montgomery street
any fair day. and they will understand us
One man will take the middle of the side
walk, and keep it regardless of its crowded
condition or any other circumstance, and
. drive through, push aside, and run over the
| passclS, male and female, as though the
street belonged TO him, and all others were
tresplsScrS. Such man is brute in fcclinn
| aud hlackguard Ly education. 1t is not
an uncommon thing to see three or four men
walking side by side along the narrow side
walk, or Starting in the same position, com
pclln@ pedestrians to wait their leisure, or
pass them 10y stepping into the street. Such
an lll.manncred monopoly ola common
right shottld entitlc the offenders to ten DAYS
in the Chain gang, at least. Some, arguing
that most people will give the way rather
than be run over and knocked down, take
considerable pleasure in heading directly
for all crafts Of lighter metal, and compel
ing them to make speedy choice in tie
matter. Point out such man, and we will
sllowvou 4 wretch unfit for decent society.
Here permit us to call the attention Of tile
l;rlIcs to certain little llloug!ltess 1--WE trust)
breaches Of street etiquette. As far rs we
are concerned Individually, they might mon
opolize, unrebuked, all the sidewalks of all the
streets, and even the streets, for that mat
ter; but there are persons less gallant, and
korthcir benefit we feel disposed to saw
few words. We do not include In their
transgrcssions the practice of turning the
head after passing, and examining the lace
upon each others ilounccs, for this seems to
bc an inherent curiosity, which must lie
gratic'l at all hazards, and at the expense
OF every rule of propriety. Although dam
gerons ns well us sometimes annoying, we
are willing to concede then This privilege.
concession on their part. They must not
(GoI bless them stop in larger number
than three in front Of display windows, es-
peci;'lly if arraye'l in loopcd skirts, for Oh
vious reasons. If thus attircd, it must he
evident to any ordinary mathematician,
that two Of them. walking with one gentle
man, sweep the sidewalk from lamp post to
window. and 6 are l2, and three are
l5 fcct) Under such circumstances, a
change of position or Il contraction of crino-
line 1--WE dare not suggest proccss) is i'm
pcratively called for, and passcrs rarely fail
to appreciate it, if done Sa'oluntariyE in,
season.
We frequently see men meet, and step
to the right and left often enough, before
they succeed in passing, to arouse the ire of
each to fighting heat, yet tlIe annoyance
arises solely from an ignorance Of street eti-
quettc. To avoid rough contacts, gentle
men should, if practicable, in proceeding, in
opposite directions, pass each other atsfhe
right. We're this; rule generally observed,
street walking would become more pleasant.
A gentleman in passing another going in
the same direction, should take the side. of
the walk nearest the street ifany one is
jostled into the mud, then, himself aud
lie has no apologies TO make. Ladies should
observe both ofthcsc rules among themselves,
ortliey are as applicable to one sex as tho
other. OF courseS every. gentleman knows
that ladies arc at alttimes entitled to the
inside Of the walk, and the best plank or
bricks in crossing mud hole. If a gentle
mans business is sufficiently rnEessing to
urge him into speed fasterthaiifa q walk, lit
is lis duty to take the street, as a crowded
sidewalk is not the proper place to rhif 4
footrace against time. We do not expect
to see these suggestions observed to any ex-
tent, but they may serve as n reference in1
deciding from whom the apology should
come, when collisions occur.
=. San Francisco Golden Era.