Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-01
Railroad Manners.

Railroad Manners.
Philadelphia Bulletin.l
II is enc of our many American boasts that
country to another secure from all mOlestation.
AS matter of actual fact 1t is true that great
many women have done so, and that there Is a
t teas general disposition TO extend to unpro-
tecled women all necessary kindness, attention
anu protecuOn But the claim as universal
one, is qualified by the fact that there is a con-
SIDERABLE class OF the travelling public. of both
sexes, who are very singularly affected by rail-
IOadlng IN way that makes men, and women
100, who are otherwise comparatively fnoffen-
s sne persons, very great nuisances whenever
about the conditions of travelling that brings
out all the latent selfishness of human nature.
FROM Ihe moment such persons approach a
emerge from the station at the other end OF the
line, their motto is, every man for himself and
Ine devil take the hindmost. And at the hands
liable to rudeness, imposition and neglect as is
the modest, unaSSuming man who is content to
take his own share Of what comfort may be
PROVIDED for travellers and to get the fair, rea-
sOnaDle worth OF bis money and no more.
This class of super selfish people, who regard
tne pu0uc railway train as their private, fndi-
t Hldaai property, and who are so dsagreeable
no means peculiar to this country. It's great
CHARACTERISTIC being an intense selfishness. it is
naturally 10 oe found wherever intense selfish
everywhere. England it is scarcely necessary
TO say, supplies as abundant illustrations of bad
railway manners as can be found anywhere In
tne world. A recent number of the London Tele-
Vdph, discussing this question, says: Far too
prevalent is the doctrine that stage carriages
anu anu railway trains are made for the sole COM
fort OF each individual, and not for the com
by rail are especially Liable to continual
annoyance from those who are apparently
700 blind to see the dsagreeable effects OF
tnelr own determined SeltShneSS. The whole
VI the compartment is considered to belong to
such person from the moment he has pur-
chased his ticket. He is Inclined to take half
for one; all the cushions on starting for a Jour
ney are streWn with miscellaneous articles to
deceive others into the belief that the seats
nave Dee1 taken, whereas 1t is trick and no
more. and one very often fatal to the comfort of
late arrivals on the platform. Then comes the
WINDOW question; one wants it open and the
other insists upon Its being closed, the love OF
fresh air having as rule secured a position
with his back to the engine, and Out OF the
wind, While his miserable companion is exposed
TO the full power of the cutting blast and to i'm
mediate danger OF neuralgia pains. Instead OF
using the netting provided overhead for small
parcels. or thrusting small Dortmanteau under
his seat the selfish Traveller often strews the
noor OF the carriage with packages. and If any
one happens to get in at any intermediate sta
ton regards his presence as personal annoy
ance The error is entirely On the part of the
first conner, who makes himself comfortable and
does not care what happens to any one else: but
let stranger enter the carriage as he has a
perfect right to do and he is met with scowls
simply because room has to be made and the
confusion lessened that never ought TO have
been created. groan OF impotence or snort
or irritation shows but too clearly the I'M
WaIrantabie attitude OF the essentially
selfish man." We do not know exactly the
same forms of monOpOliZing railway facilities
In this country that are here described and
some OF which are peculiar to the compartment
system OF the English roads. But there is great
deal TOO much OF the same surly, unaccom-
modating spirit, that scOwls at the timid pas
senger seeking seat, and often drives him or
nothing left but the close company OF the red
hot stove or the blasts OF cold from the door
whenever 1t is opened We arc all familiar with
the railway lout who spraWls himself ont over
four seats, pretending TO be asleep and appear
ing to be Intoxicated. and with the snappish
woman entrenched among her bundles and
sity of COMPRISING herself within the space
she has paid Tor, entirely unconscious
that the severest trial falls upon the person
who has to sit beside her. Ii is a lament
able fact that so many men and women who
pass for t0lerably amiable and courteous women
at home and in their ordinary walks OF life be-
come Doors and termagants whenever they wish
to secure some special and selfish advantages on
a railroad train. They show off their ILL.,
manners at every opportunity. They are I'M
civil TO their ACCOMPLISHMENTS; they are petu-
they are impatient at the tcket-office and bag.
gage room, greedy and eager at their railway
meals, unpleasant In some way or another. all
the time. When the unprotected female falls
In with this style OF fellow traveller she loses
faith In the old legend about the ability of her
sex to 60 roaming over the country without an
escort. She finds out that there are people who
look upon her as having no rights that they are
bound TO respect, and were 1t not that there are
generally some gentlemen in every car how
ever small their proportion may sometimes
chance to be. she would fare very much worse
than she does.
A good deal of the boorishness and thought
less selfshness that exhibit themselves on rail-
way trains might be cured If there was more
general quiet and firm assertion of personal
rights on the part OF passengers. The large class
OF people who generally surrender their rights
rather than "have row. over them has much
to answer for In the encouragement OF bad man.
nerS on railroad trains. Bad hammered people
become and continue so, TO a large extent be-
cause they get no lessons In good manners The
"ruleS OF the road" are generally simple and
easily understood. The infractions OF them are
generally such that there cannot be much room
for dispute over them, and a quiet assertion OF
the right Is sure to succeed For their own sakes
and for the sake OF the public generally, travel
eus who are annoyed or imposed upon by bad
railway manners OF any kind should claim their
rights even at the expense Of q little temporary
unpleasantneSs. well taught lesson, whether
TO passenger or an official, is never thrown
away.