Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-03
The Girl Of the Period I'm a stree, Car.

She stands upon the curb, with little sprin-
~, up-and.down motion, as II she had spiral
approaches, she sticks the point OF her closed
Darasol in the direction of the driver with
mall jerk. The car stops. She gives one or two
Dere little springy motions before she leaves
she pavement, and then dances to the car. As
she ascen6s the step, the conductor seems to
consider u absolutely necessary to her safety to
place one Of his hands in the small OF her back,
while he rings the bell with the other. She
enters the car, with the spiral springs still bob
bIng her up and down; and, as all the seats are
full, she stands holding her hands IN front of
her, and gazing of into illimitable space, as ii
the che idea which never entered her mind, and
which never could enter IL under any possible
ereHmstanees Is. that some man VIII rise and
sfsT her his seat. But a young man in the
corner does rise. and Immediately the fel.
low next TO him moves quickly into
the corner, as if the performance of that ma
newer had formed the subject OF anxious
thought during many years of his life. To get
corner seat, indeed, would seem to be the
sslsf end OF man, II we remark the avidity
with which human beings in street cars seek
mat object. When the young man rises the
young lady suddenly becomes consciou. that
Mere Is something nearer to her than the hori-
zen, and she gives two or three more little
1ounees, and says: "Keep your seat :" The
ye1ng man is embarrassed, and saws he ia going
- get out soon; whereupon the fair being
dances toward the seat, sinks into it. and pre-
tsbds that the fact OF the existence of sny
young man who once occupied that seat and
Who II gong 10 get out, has entirely faded
her dress and its supplemental frippery, PEN
aants and hounces, and again locks far be-
ysnd the confines Of the car into emptiness
She Knows che 70 expected by the other women
IN she ear 10 remain unconscious of their pres
snse while they study her clothes. Thew i'm
Btdiately begin. They stare at her dress, her
ssef, her hat, her back hair, her jewelry, her
bsws and ribbons, and her miscellaneous milli-
merry, until the entire costume is photographed
In their memories, and the price estimated and
critical opinion formed, with resolution TO
n he = I'D
ese upon the same pattern. When the Young
lady thinks this examination is concluded she
eecomes conscious again, and begins 70 look
around and see how al the other women Ara
dressed. She examines each one in detail and
u Few moments she is in possession of All
tee usual facts. Presently a young man with
whom she Is acquainted gets into the car,
1hd ne stands elutchiDg the strap and try
ing in vain to keep himself in a grace-
FOL attitude while he conyerses with her
All the women begin to wonder whether abe
eSIes particularly for him-and, as she knows
fhSiT thoughts, she Is 50 distant that the Young
nan becomes more embarrassed than ever and
makes renewed struggles TO maintain a graceful
posluon. When she wishes to get out she rises
snooths down her frippery again, indulges in
two or three springs, and dances along the plat
teIm. The conductor again considers IL imper-
anveiy necessary 10 press the small OF her back
Dent, and then dances along the street fully
aware OF the fact that the women in the car
save All turned round to look az her And se-
renely confident in the assurance thar she has
on good clothes, which fit her splendifly AZ
aAe dlsappears, the conductor turns to the mar
We u smoking cigar on the platform, and
rem aIks That she Is - crusher -