Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-27
HORsE-CAR CALAMITY.
what y W0maa's Rights woman Says
AhOmt IT.

HOR9E-CAR CALAMITY.
what sWOmsn's Rights woman Says
About IL.
CMiss X. Stuart Phelps I'm the Independent.l
/ have had occasion to traverse the CITY o.
beston In the street-ears at least twice-mors
not suppose that have been peculiarly unfor-
tunate In the selection of my roads or my hours
rather the contrary, indeed, having been favor
ed by circumstances, to use one Of the "best'
lines in the town, and to 6nd myself in the
company Of the "best" class OF its patrons. And
do depose and say, at the conclusion of win
and careful investigation Of those phases Of the
subject open to study in such conditions, that
instructive consideration Of the weakness or
desire to promote their comfort, Of thar Gentle
courtesy which delights to relieve them OF in
convenience In an agreeable and unobtrusiv We
heve lie as inherent in the large and noble souled
nature Of men, and rs clinging desperately to
Its birthright until our political or other indie
Pendence of 1t shall force the grieved thing.
the great masculine heart, 1 have seen only
enough to remind one Tin ones poetical moods)
with the sad grandeur Of dying dynasty, or the
1 affirm that, II women had already ACC uired
their political rights; IL they had thereby made
intelligent and effective use of their numerical
driven men from active trade; II they had mo-
nopolized the pulpit; If they queened 1t In lit
erature; If they had rivaled and defeated the
other sex in science. art, industry; II husbands
had long since sewed on their own buttons, and
fathers, as a rule, had tended sick children, and
brothers, for the most part, made the preserves
and went to sewing circles, and boomers were
the mode, and Congresswomen in the majority,
and the rum shops closed; and if IN short sli
the woes which are prophesied as to follow upon
the womans era were already become familiar
facts, the treatment of women by men in public
places could scarcely differ from that which
they receive to day.
That one may have individually little to COM
plain Of in such matter, only stirs ones soul to
freer (because more candid) expression. 1 am
30 fortunate as seldom to be obliged to stand in
public conveyance. Generally, receive the
offer of a seat from woman. As a rule, do
not accept one from a man.
do not suggest (be 1t always understood) that
any woman has the ghost of right to complain
that man does not sacrifice his convenience to
her because he is man and because she is a
woman. She has no such right. He is under
no such obligation. What / ssrise to explain"
is simply that his denial that he is under such
obligations is no longer misty threat but is be-
coming oxed fact, and this before women have
acquired that position upon the yielding of
which he has made the code of his devotion to
their womanhOOd contingent. He cannot wa
TN ne may bully us at the ballot-box. He will
inauRurate the new system of suppression while
we are still out shopping for Berlin woods and
baby edgings. He will don the order Of the new
knighthood while as yet We are taxed to support
his colleges and compelled to "petition from
him as privilege, rather than to vote away
from him as right, the repeal OF such laws of
his making as that recent enactment known as
the shame of st. Louis.
Illustrative Of some of these thoughts, nv
winters travel:
Pretty, healthy school girls, we'll RULED and
seat, receive 1t.
have thought that, after all, there may be q
subtle relic Of masculine tender ness for genuine
need in this selection, when one pauses to con-
slder the amount of weight carried by these
suffering creatures in their panniers, chignons,
and kilt-plaiting. / throw this out as a we'll
IntentioEed attempt to be as candid as the cir
require.
Washwomen with bundles stand. Old women,
30 frequently as to lead one to say, at venture,
are seated by the courtesy of their
own sex.
young mother, who always goes downtown
with three children and bag usually obtains a
seat, and usually by the prompt pushing aud
plotting of another mother who espies her a
half dozen car lengths ahead.
A won an with very little baby in her arms
s never allowed to stand by either sex.
An old and feeble gentleman is more likely
to yield his right to seat than young and
energetic one.
Little Irish boys will not allow a little lady to
stand; but do not offer the courtesy to her ex-
pressed gratitude, slipping outside shyly in the
lightly and delicacy of unthanked service.
A deformed dwarf, whom L wOt of on 'tour
road, Is fond of assisting crpples up the steps,
and apt to be on the platform If the car Is full.
The regulation number of passengers upon a
'ide being 9, ten gentlemen will crowd one lady
she being among the early arrivals, and there
till, for very decency's sake, she Is driven to
stand and leave the field to them.
The passengers being divided on the true Bos
ton principle OF separate education of the sexes,
nine men will set and expectorAts upon the
dress of nine women (fOr the use of the straw as
a spittOOn amounts to that) the whole way into
town; and neither the arm OF the law nor the
soul of the corporation will grant the cleaH-
mouthed side of the car redress. L intend no
gloomy pun, gentleman. I have had too many
dresses spoiled.
."I wonder what you would think" said a
young lady to me, the other day. ''Of what l
see every day of my life. MY sister and 60
into town on the business train. (Thev are
school teachers.l Where we get upon 1t there
is no platform. We take 'the long step from
the ground to the car. Every morning the gen.
tlemen Of Ginger Hill stand in file and push
their way before us. When the last man isupon
the car and seated, we can get on; not before"
"Why don't you take your turn with the rest?
You are not so physically weak as to be driven
to submit to such treatment"
81 wouldn't touch such men. wouldn't push
my way through such a crowd. I'D rather wait
till can get in without brushing 30 much as my
dress hem against them"
This happens every morning at a station not
many minutes out from Boston, on the Provi-
dence road. refrain from giving the real
name Of the place only out Of consideration
for the ladies who object. These are not "wo-
They do not 60 into town to attend suffrage
conventions. They have no desire for the bal
lot They left no neglected homes behind them.
They pursue their professions as quietly, as
modestly (and at such q Disadvantage as q
woman may. They have never petitioned in
the green-roOm on hearing ter the considera-
ton OF the fact that one-eighth OF the teachers
of Massachusetts,, being men, average half as
much again in salary as seven-eighths, being
women. They do not ask for the nomination Of
female school committees, to avenge them in
their wrongs. They do not strive nor cry,
neither is their voice heard in the streets. They
do not infringe upon those conditions on which
the gallantry Of men is supposed to rest.
THE AWFUL FATE OF SIR JOHN FRANRLIN's
PARTY.-It is well known that his great sledga
journey in search of the relics of Sir John
Franklin, Capt Hall made distressing discover
cries, which he resolved never to give to the
light as long as Lady Franklin should live. On
his last departure from Greenland in the Po-
iaris he intrusted all his important documents
to a Mr.. Smith of Tessuisak From them it is
now ascertained that Capt Hall made the sad