The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-19

hhericah career 10 STUDY iue, NtVoiS Ill"
politics in the nations beyond the sea.
street Car Amenlties-shan Ladies'
stand While Gentlemen Are sested'
An advocate of womans rights, in the en-
thusiasm of the peroration to q great speech,
declared herself in favor of women sharing
every privilege with men, even to standing up
in the street cars. Indeed the street cars
enter very largely into this class Of literature,
for another writer has supplemented the
claim Of the suffrage orator by the complaint
that even here there is inequality, since it is
plain from the height of the straps that they
were intended solely for men. We believe
both Of these talking ladies are right, and so
under ordinary circumstances the only ques-
ton to be settled would be whether the straps
should be let down but as the managers Of
street railways, like their understrappers gen.
orally, are the natural enemies of mankind
there is no hope in that direction.
1t is thus the argument takes new form,
and the question arises whether a lady should
be allowed to stand up while gentlemen are
seated. We are rather inclined to say yes,
especially if she is young and pretty. 1t
would not hurt the old and ugly ones to be
offered a seat but we fear for o sad misinter-
principle should be applied to the handsome
women who crowd the street cars. They
that is to say, the young ones-must not be
encouraged in this matter or the look Of
beauty will be equal to the voice Of command,
and wretched young fellows who exchange a
seat for strap will be embittered in their
wretchedness by the want of "thank YOU
for the courtesy. Spanish women thank
every passing admirer for word of compi-
ment to their beauty but American women
demand an introduction before they can even
be grateful for favor. When they are
offered seat in street car they fall into it
with the dulness Of a wooden image, and they
need not wonder if, after time, men grow
tired of being kind to such ill-mannered god
desses. Politeness to Indies in public con-
veyances has gone out Of fashion, and, high
straps or low straps, it is not likely to come
in again till the ladies themselves learn better
manners.
The worst feature about the street car bust
ness is that anybody at all should be required
to stand. At two dollars day conductors
and drivers are certainly cheap enough to
afford full supply of this part OF the outfit OF
q street railway. few new cars would be q
splendid advertisement for most of the lines
and more cars are required on every line in
the city Overcrowdlng has become unen-
durable. Fifty or sixty people are packed into
asingie car like SO many sausages in barrel.
Thanks to Mr.. Bergh's law for the prevention
Of cruelty to animals, sheep are transported
on the great highways of the State with greater
care than is shown to men and women in the
city. In consequence the street cars have
become simply abominable. If managers
gave halt as much attention to the comfort of
their passengers az to watching their
employees better state OF things would soon
appear; but, with spoilers getting on and off
every few blocks. and unsightly clocks and
noisy bells and other contrlvances to detect
theft, they are too busy for anything else. The
want of proper returns is an offence, but con-
ductors laugh at the complaints OF passengers
knowing that such small matters are never are
needed Ii is thus that street car amenities
left entirely to the passengers, and the women
compelled to fight their battle with the men
unaided. In one respect, apart from the strap
question, the contest is an unequal one. The
cars at the downtown starting places, every
evening, are crowded with men before single
woman--or married one either, for that
matter-can get into them. This is an evil
tor which there seems to be no adequate
remedy, and we suppose we shall have to wait
for reform until the happy time that ushers
in the Bloomer costume, when ladies may take
part in the gentle exercise OF rushing into
street car without being impeded by their
skirts. And i'll that glorious age it will be
scarcely necessary to discuss the subject.
The Pith OF the Religious Press.
The RELIGIONS press Of the civ having used