New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-14
Communicated
ABOUT STREET CARS.

Communicated
ABOUT STREET CARS.
After mature deliberatiOn on the subject.
/ have come to the conclusion that the
above mentioned method of conveyance
affords excellent opportunities for engaging
in that interesting mployment-studying
the many different phases of human char
acter. AS an illustrations: While riding in
one of those vehicles few days ago, being
fortunately ensconced in farther corner, /
noticed a handsome, elegantly dressed
lady enter the car, which just then hap
pened to contain only a few passengers.
Seating herself with .'air and mien ma
.jestic,' her vOluminous skirts and stout
figure monopOlizing the space where, to
put it at the lowest possible estimate, three
full grown persons might have sat COM
fortably, she Immediately became appa-
rently oblivious of passing events.
The car rapidly filed, but there she sat
entirely insensible of the unmistakable
looks of some half dozen gentlemen who
were hanging with rueful countenances
upon the straps assigned for that purpose.
To make a slight depression on the last
point a gentleman who has voluntarily
relinquished his seat to one of the fair sex
feels sense of having performed a good
deed, and accepts the straps with manful
compOsure; but when he sees woman
spread laces, velvets and silks over SO un-
reasonably large a space, he cannot do
otherwise than regard her in the light of a
decided monopolist.
To return to Mrs. Furbelow, the
poor fellows fearing to assert their rights
lest they might come into contact
with the said silk and velvet, thereby doing
irretrievable damage, retained their upright
position, with evident ungraciousness was
Just wishing that some of them would in
sist upon sitting down, when to my great
relief portly old gentleman with deter
minatiOn and resolution in every wrinkle Of
his face, entered the car. and pushing along
he took in the whole situation at glance,
and stopped before her majestically. saying
in stentorian tones: Madam. excuse me
for disturbing your reverie, but if l judge
rightly, there is room for both of us here"
Madam, lifting her eyebrows and looking
her feelings-at least so / thought, Judging
from the expression of her face-haughtily
gathered her skirts closer about her and
moving slightly, gave the old gentleman
barely room enough for his generous pro-
portions. Crowding back he made room.
and, to cap the climax. recognizing an ac
quaintance among the standing men, beck
oned to him, saying: Sit down. SIT down ::
plenty of room, thus. at last, bringing
Madam FurbelOw to her proper position.
1t was worth considerable to see the graf
itied looks which passed between the stand
ers. and will venture the opinion that they
really enjoyed the rest of the ride quite as
much as though they had occupied comfor
table seats themselves merely to have the
satisfaction of witnessing the evident dis
composure of that feminine monopolist.
There is natural protest in every breast
against injustice in its simplest form: and
but few there are who do not rejoice to see
the establishment of right in the most triv-
ial matters.
Street car riding forms an excellent OPP
character. 1t is always ludicrous 10 see the
rueful looks of a car full of the masculine
gender when one of the opposite sex enters.
Each individual man of them looks from one
to the other to see who the " lucky" one is
to be; and as far as my observation has ex-
tended. it is rare occurrence for more than
one to rise at a time, which reflects all the
more credit on the man who surrenders his
comfort for the accommodation of the
weaker vessel
A word now respecting the manner OF re-
ceiving the REIMBURSEMENT on the part Of
the lady.
Some benighted person once told some
other equally benglted friend that it Is cot
strict etiquette to thank the gentleman who
gives you his seat. assigning as a reason for
the opinion that it is duty which men owe
to the female portion of humanity. Poor
creatures. They are really to be pitied for
knowing so little of true politeness. 1t is a
recognition OF civility which should always
be observed, and which is always gratifying
to the recipient. Every true lady can but
regard it in that light. and act accordingly