The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-29
ENGLISH WAYS.
(From Tinsley's Magazine !

(From Tinsley's Magazine
| Recently had the pleasure of meeting In so
ciety an American lady residing in England VIII,
had just returned from visit to the United
states. With great frankness she declared he
entire disenchantment concerning New York
The streets of that metropolis seemed to her very
narrow and very dirty, after her experience Of
LONDON and, above all, she found herself mos
uncomfortable on account of the absence of cabs
To be forced to plod up and down the American
thoroughfares with no refuge from pedestrianism
but In an omnibus, carriage, or street car and
to be debarred from going to parties or theaters
IN wet weather. because there were no "hsn.
SONS" or "four-wheelers" for which she could
send her maid, seemed to her uncomfortable incon-
yeniences; and she had come back to England
fully satisfied with temporary sojourn in her own
| for the rest of her life.
No doubt the English cabs, and more especially
the CABS OF London, are dear and dirty. Equally
certain is II that they will not bear moments com.
parison with the cabs Of Paris, Vienna Berlin and
| the rest OF the European cities. English editors
tell Us this often enough, and without the slightest
eject on the cab propretors. But to Americans
who have never been accustomed to anything of
the kind at home, the English cabs are positive
luxury, and their fares are ridculoaslv cheap.
Even the Eoglish omnibus-that unyentiisted HOY
upon wbeels-that combination of incon.
veniencies-possesses several advantages over
the omnibus of the United States. The American
omnibus Is more roomy and the seats are more
down so as to admit fresh air; but still it is but
very lew removes from that Texan etage-coach
IN regard to which traveller Indignantly observed
tnat ne was willing TO pay for ride and walk the
whole distance, but he'd be hanged If he would
carry q fence rail to pry the coach out of the
mud'hoies He who rides In an American omni-
bus works his own passage. There is no couduc-
TOR TO stop the vehicle and open the door for him
wnen ne Hfqt5u Ia rHst ont he must pass his
keep up the steam, or as grease to pretvRefh
the machine from coming to dead stop b.
its own friction. Parton, though advocatin,
total abstinence, is still considerate enough 4,
say "Perhaps, if we were all to stop ou
guzzling suddenly, lcitho,d discontinuing ou
other bad habits, we should rather lose by il
than gain. Alcohol supports us in doin
wrong 1t prevents our immediate destrut
ton" Exactly. There is precisely where tb
great trouble lies. 1t is not simply refor
with reference to strong drink that
needed to overcome the particular evil in th
regard, but it is universal reform-a refor
SO wide and fundamental that scarcely lie |
than the unanimous consent and cooperate |
omnibus. he shouted through the psy-hole to the
orlyeI, and when he desired to pay his fare he |
pulled the check-ren and stopped the vehicle
These proceedings, although they excited much |
nocuie, seem to me perfectlynatural. Old fogy
as England is considered, il is many years ahead
OF the United States in public conveysnces and in
several other matters quite as important. Doubt
less the English omnibuses may be capable of
great improvements; no one can ride in them and
not agree with this opinion but it ia not for
americans TO cast stone at q means of locomo.
non lar IN advance OF anything of the kind in the
sli distances, and where foolish laws prevent the
omnibuses from running on Sundays, when the
greatest number OF people wish to travel about.
1 90 not forget the American street-railwavs.
snlen many persons and many journals are now
inxlous to have introduced into England. III
jeorge Francis Train had been more of business
nan, and less Of buncombe orator. this experi.
nent would have been tried in London long ago
mo, 10 spite OF the prejudices which he managed
o create against bis own scheme, the proiect of |
treet railways now has 80 many and such infuen.
lal friends, that wel.informed journalists predict
hat these railways will soon supersede the omni.
uses. IL these predictions prove correct, there
re isrge fortunes TO be realized by the omnibus
roprietors who have only to follow the example
i Their American brethren by first claiming
identities for the lose Of their routes and then I
Wrestling the money thus acquired in the stock of
ne railway companies. 1t is quite certain that
in England will pay. In America
he dividends are something enormous-forty per {
ent per annum has been paid by some compa-
les. Legislators and lobby agents grow rich Z
pom the bribes offered to secure the passage of s
OCcuD1eQ |
lilroads. believe that the Brkenhead railway c
ANYWAY, 1t is called in Englsnd-is very remu. I
eratve; and in the little Spanish town Of Jerez, q
hence almost all the best sherry is exported. f.
uso tnst tne street-rallway was regarded as p
rontaole investment. How much greater. then. p
Ill be the gains of the trsmway companies in such II
pace AZ London, which is city of suburbs and Q
agnincent distances, and in which the daily "
svei is almost incalculable But if my sugges.
ons In regard to this matter could have apv C
eight with members of parliament. would beg q
tnem not TO grant charters for any street rail. J.
ay companies before sending Commission to a.
ew ork and Philadelphia to inquire as to the n
'eratlon OF the system in the United States For | b.
iamPle, there is no reason why a percentage of o
Pronts OF the companies should not be paid to 81
e local government as the price of the right of &c
~. MOST OF the present companies in American u
es =, nave escaped from this just debt by ignor p
the municipal governments. and obtaining W
elr enthusiastically by direct purchase y
I'm the State legislatures; but so pc werful has Ii,
ture corporations WIN 1Ss ' teSsmfylRjssS t TO that AZ
suse giving the local taxpayers share of their oil
Things, more than enough to keep tie streets OF
can ana m repair. Such clause ought to be st
rced INTO every English charter. There is no az
tier model than the State Of New Jersey vi
1ich preserves It's inhabitants from all Stale la
xaiion by simply levying q percentage upon 70
cry ticket issued by the Camden and th
nDoy Halfway Company Again, it has BY
ghsh omnibus proprietors will not voluu. on
rily adopt the trsusfer-ticke system which nj
,rks 90 admirably in Paris. The rail yay pro. SO
letors will be just as obstinate, unless the law in
,ps In to compel them to accommodate the m,
pnc, In New York. where this point vas over. yo
,ked IN the charters, the companies refuse IN m,
ne transfer ti,kets, although they are almost on
owned by the same capitalists but in PhiIa- III
lphia you have the privilege of changing you- ar,
lte as often as you pie sse, for the same fare a
ection. sr.f ..r.- ~
Then the shameful over-crowdng peculiar 10 the fee
nerican street cars should be prevented bv rec
ict legislation; for in the United State, the shi
ssengers are packed into the ears as closely, inQ
not as comfortably, as behring's 10 barrel ou
m or no seats, ventilation or no ventilation and chi
tne remonstrances Of the press are unsyainr enl
an occasional death, frequent Academia and the
-long illnesses result from this practice the The
- S;s o9oso'e themselves with their enor- swi
a.. ~. loI coiporstons nave no souls" bee