New Orleans Republican., 1873-04-11
CAR MANNERS.


manners en- the part of passengers IN she
street cars have generally dwelt TOO much
upon gross ILL breeding, such as splitting
upon the floor, crossing the legs, sitting so
as to take up too much room, receiving
courtesy without thanks, etc. There are,
offensive to sensitive people, which have
not as yet been alluded to; such as loud
toned, egotistic conversation, and that Oft
cious sociability which calls one by name
and asks improper questions. Such i'll
judged amiability from passing scquain-
tances often causes more annoyance than
the unbridled selfishness of mere strangers,
and calls to mind the hackneyed, because
too often applicable, quotation, II can pro-
tect myself from my enemies, but the Lord
defend me from my friends 1t is very
unpleasant, for instance, for a modest man
to be unwillingly introduced to whole car
full of people by such an exclamation as
the following:
Good morning. Mr. Simkins: bad
weather, this, for bunions. Mrs. Simpkins
recovered yet ?" by which every ones at
tention is attracted to the dilapidated con-
dition of Mr.. Simkins' pedal extremities,
and to the fact of his recent paternity. Or
this; Fine day, Mr. Jones: money mar.
ket pretty Tight" ronsins poor Jones from
a brown study in which he is wondering
how great shave he will have 20 submit
to on some paper in his possession in order
to raise an Indispensable SUM.
1t is altogether inexcusable TO address
any one by name in the street oars, or any
other public conveyance where people are
so close together that each is likely TO hear
every word said. Equally out of place are
disputes about politics, discussions on doc
trinal points of religion, personal apecdotes
wherein names are mentioned teEcept
those of public men), and long stories about
ones own doings, sayings, opinions, and ex-
pectations. We have seen very polite
man hesitate before ringing the bell when
he had reached his point of destination,
because by doing SO he must cut short a
story in which his fellow passenger was en-
gagged fer his special benefit. To ladies
this species of mistaken cordiality is fire.
quently very embarrassing. We remember
such an occasion, noticing the expression Of
lady's face, on being addressed by name
in loud voice from the opposite side Of
the car. 1t spoke volumes of reproof. as
did the curt manner and dry tone III which
she responded to her elephantine- skinned
questioner.
We regret TO say that sins against good
taste of the sort alluded to are by no means
confined TO our ruder sex. Women, well
dressed and of refined appearance, are
guilty of them every day. Not long since,
in one of the Prytania street cars, fair
faced, golden-ringleted, blue-oyed little
lady. elegantly and modestly attired, took
her seat in a tolerably full car immed lately
opposite to Us. As we were engaged in fur.
lively admiring her pretty and piquant
face the rosy lips opened, and from them
issued, in a gruff tone, the words, "MOve
up, can't you; don't like to be squeezed
so;" which elected a haIf-suppressed litter
from some i-reverent lads in her vicinity,
but caused al immediate movement along
the whole line. Nobody ielt disposed
to squeeze that lady-in a street car.
Getting room enough. or at least if lot
enough, more than her share. she imme-
diately settled her founces aud resumed
her equanimity. This is perhaps an ex-
treme case; but nobody can ride much in
the street cars without learning that iine
feathers do not make fine birds. nor broad
cloth always accompany good breeding.
We might mention opposite cases; in.
stances of beautiful Difference to the COM
fort of others. of modest courtesy but this
is needless, as, on the whole. good breeding
is the rule in our street cars, and by its
prevalence makes its opposite tho more OF.
fensive.