Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-30
HUMAN NATURE IN CITY CARS.

HUMAN NATUHE IN CITY CARS.
Correspondence New Orleans Crescent
Ifthere is anything that gives me de-
light above all else, It's a car ride.
Carriage riding is very disagreeable to
me. 1t universally makes me sea-sick ;
perhaps because / do not ride in my own.
Still, do not envy the luxury, as tits
called. Of occupying four seats in FASH
iouable turnout and looking with pity
ing eve upon the poor pedestrians. No
one need pity me. / enjoy life thorough
ly, and when ] feel in the least low spir-
tied, nv bonnet gets on my head some
how, and I'm Of for jaunt in the cars.
There I study human nature, hatteriug
myself can read faces with facility.
There grs some few countenances that
defy my percepuve powers. a few days
since, in one Of my rides, / sat opposite
a gentleman who puzzled me extremely.
I could not trace the least shade Of
any emotion upon his face. 1t was truly
eXpressiOnless. He was quite q good
looking man, but I felt sure he was not
married, for he did not look like q mar
ried man. ] should really Ike to make
his acquaintance, for there must have
been some feeling beneath that cold,
calm exterior. was truly sorry when
nv study was brought to an abrupt close,
Tia object Of it leaving the ear. It is
probable / shall meet him again. Nery
often l meet people 1 have seen in my
rides and sometimes | am tempted 10
speak, but then it is highly probable
they 10 not recognize me, whereas l
never forget fase.
Someume ago / was at the terminus Of
one OF the uptown roads, when a re-
markable looking couple entered the car
"a man of at least sixty years Of age
hair and beard as white as snow, esc1rt-
ing with The most gallant attention
a young girl OF sixteen summers. She
was so pretty and fresh-looking in
contrast with the wrinkled old man, l
could not help atshing thela. lie seemed
devoted, yet / knew he could not be her
father. 4 father would have given her
a seat, paid the fare, then taken up his
posilian IN the drivers stand. In1y are
not much given 70 snow devotion 70 their
daughters in railroad cars. But this old
man seemed so very anxious to please,
and there was respect mingled with his
at!entos that lqohel strange, nor she
was 30 young. They excited my curl
,.sity to a great extent. She seemed per
fectlv indifferent, answering in mOnOsvl-
labies, in a isstiess manner. on leav-
( Ing the cars, / felt strongly tempted to
I follow them, but refrained, knowing il
was foolish In me b lie interested IN per-
feet strangers.
Somehow. the couple haunted me,
could noI flTgst the sweet, girlish face
peeping out from behind a most cOquet-
tish little hat. OF course I could hardly
hope % wept thpm again YET, one after
noon shcrtlv qfter, ! happened, in my
J. n Ifrra ks aH z Nn
extreme end Of one af the lower French
town roads, when, 10 my great satisfac-
tiou. the same couple entered. Il seemed
somewhat strange I should have met
them twice, and in such out cf tks way
p!acss. Aesin 4 made observations; the
old mar seemed even more assiduous in
his attentions than before, the girl more
lislless and indifferent. He was TOO
anxious fof her confort 60 be a relative; (;
in fact, his manner when raising the
window at her seat struck me suddenly
a. extremely lover-like. You know
lovers do such things with an air Of pro
tective carefulness that is verv amusing.
I've nad numerous admirers, and SO
spsak from expe rience. Ny experience
then Taught me that the wlfite-haired old
man was actuallyiu love with hemaiden
o. sixteen twas the old story Of lecem-
Der and May. Forthwith my fiagina-
/ ton took possession Of the fact and found
l quite a romantic little story.
! The gir. Is al orphan. ir--oanseiv
I wealthy, left 70 the guardianship Of this
| old man he places her, & little child, at
! boarding school in this big tcYl yaar
/ BY gear'he visits her 70 ind new accom-
/ plishments expanding her wen stored
mind, new graces In every movement
/ This last visit he marks the vast i'm
! provement In mind and manner, casts a
! thought 70 her wealth, regards himself
/ compiaevptlY 10 hls IniFaor. and comes
1 10 he Astounding resolution 70 marry the
! Virl. and save her from the misfortune Of
! fancving any young scape goat OF a fel-
/ Iow who would wRnt her moRey.
But he f0rgets, ike the generality of
ola men. that he is not Is young as he
( was forty years ago. The young girl re-
yards him as q grandfather, and, uufor-
| funately for the grandfather, who placed
/ her I'm fhis wicked town where Young
men Will prcYl around bp@rdins schools
she has already made acquaintance with
a charming young scape-graee, With
! beautiful brown mustache, who deiies
I gadrdiqns and garden walls, and whom
J Che maiden means 20 marry some q
! these days, OF else, ike all lOyelorn dam
I sells. end the weary remainder OF life in
a convent The Old beau, seeing her aps
I parently low spirited, and believing,
I IKE myself, that car riding Is a certain
/ remedy for tired nerves, Invests a SO
J green6sck in tickets and means to