The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-09
Miscellany.
ladies In she Cars.


Once upon time lady neglected to thank
gentleman tor giving her his seat in the car
and the whole generation of ladies have mad
TO suffer for it ever since. The newspapers
took up the offence; articles were written and
sermons preached on its enornlty; ladies'
fastened to dsclaim their el11ng sister; and
from that time forth gentlemen have felt it
their duty to vindicate their rights and keen
their seats, painful as it has been, with the
spectacle before them of fragile women, Young
and old, with and without babies and bundles.
frantlcally clutchins at the greasy strap be-
yond their reach, and lettering and even fall
ing at every stoppage OF the car. but who per-
chance might TAIL 10 thank the giver for
seat II 1t were offered to them.
Now there is another side to this picture
as the gentlemen who have thus sacrificed
their feelings to maintain their dignity will
probably be glad to know. The ladies have
accepted the present state of affairs to such
an extent that, for the most part, If to their
astonishment seat Is offered them, they are
either Overwhelming IN their expressions of
gratitude, or hesitate so long in accepting it,
tnat some illmaDnered fellow slips into the
pace and leaves both parties out in the cold
But If by chance lady SO far forgets that
sne IS lady as not to return thanks for a
service rendered, should a gentleman there
fore forget that he was gentleman? What
we the think OF this class of ladies we have
already said; it is time to say something on
the other side.
As rule, a lady is not so well able to
stand or to keep her balance In a ioltino car
as gentleman, which fact gives her a prior
claim to a seat. "But ladies have no business
to get into crowded car" 1t is said. Yet as
from seven to ten in the morning, and from
three to six in the afternoon, eve,y seat in the
city cars is usually taken within two blocks
iron the terminus, what else are the unfortu-
mates to do who live beyond these fortunate
limits, and are obliged to go abroad Al hours
SO unreasonable for women?
=" First come, first served; those who take
the seats have the best right to them,v it is
SAID. Begging your pardon, they have not.
Inc cause OF the evil is that the railroad COM
panles swell their profits by running only half
enough cars to accommodate the travelling
public. Now, as the government of the coun-
try Is IN the hands of men, if they fail to
make these companies fulfil their contract
tney should pay the penalty. When women
snare this responsibility they will be on equal
iootlng; bnt till that time they have the first
Snt 10 seals In the cars by justice as well as
Dy courtesy, while those who have the power.
but Tread the trouble of compelling the d.
rectors OF the railroads to furnish the accom-
modations which they have promised, and
Tor which they are paid, should have the obi
CATION to do SO enforced ON them by bearing
the consequences.
The courtesy for which American men
have been so remarkable seems passing away
without any equivalent The demand for
new rights for women, instead of bringing
them new privileges, is made a pretext for
taking away those already accorded. But as
American men are of all others those who
most truly respect and appreciate women. we
are persuaded that these shortcomings arise
only from want OF due reflection, and merely
need to be dlscerned to be corrected-Har-
per's Bazaar.