St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-07
The Pirs in Rice Park

There is something sublime in the quiet,
determined, self satisfied manner in which
the masculine part Of the American citizen
holds onto good thing when he once gets
a clean, undisputed grip. 1t is a matter of
no consequence, under such circumstances,
whether he is right or wrong, or whether the
ordinary politeness of every day life requires
him to surrender the whole, or some portion
of his requirements to others. Nor does he
stop to consider how people will look upon
his action. 1t is sufficient for him to know
that he has got a good thing; that he has it in
his possession; that no one can get it away
from him, and that its possession admins
tiers to his comfort and enjoyment. With
these thoughts in his mind the American
citizen holds fast to that which he has. If
anyone has any curiosity in this respect, and
desires to see how the citizen
will hold onto good thing, ali he has to
do is to go to Rice park on Saturday even
ing when the Great Western band plays, and
see the free American citizen in all his
glory. He goes early, for he is thrifty aud
has heard of the success of the early bird.
He accordingly reaches the park in good sea-
son, and upon the best and most comforta-
bic of the seats, as well as the most conven-
lent, the masculine American citizen plants
himself. As the crowd gathers, others like
him come, and soon the masculine citizen
has monopolized nearly, or quite all the de-
sirable seats. Now, as the concert lasts over
two hours, it is matter, of a good deal of
importance for ladies that they have an OPP
portunity to sit down at least a part of the
evening. 1t was a sight at the last concert
to go around the park and observe the peo-
pie that occupied the seats. Not less than
three seats out of every four were occupied
exclusively by men, and the others were oc-
cupied partly by men and partly by women,
that is as fast as lady left seat some man
would drop into it and hold it for the balance
of the concert. Nearly every seat around
the band stand was appropriated by men,
who stuck to them all the evening. In
going around the park to look after this seat
business, everywherein front of the seats
and close around them were found groups of
tired looking ladies who gazed long and
anxiously, and wistfulIy at the seats and
their occupants hoping that some of those
great, strong, husky fellows who had been
holding down the settees so long would get
up and take walk, but they did not, they
feared that if they did they would not get
their seat again, and as they were thrifty
they would not take the risk of losing their
seats. Some ofthe ladies appeared to have
the idea that these men had no right to 90
there and taking possession of the seats in
the early part Of the concert, hold them
clear through to the last piece. Very likely
that the lady who thought this way had not
had any experience with this class of animals
and did not know that when this porcine
specimen of animal life gets good thing he
at once determines to keep it. This peculiar
trait of the masculine American citizen is
perhaps susceptible of defence. At least,
those who follow the practice referred to have
! in their minds reason that satisfies them.
1t is reason, perhaps, that will not satisfy
anyone but themselves. If these fellows with
bristles and no manners have a right to hold
these seats for two hours, while the concert
lasts, they ought to be protected, and Chief
of Police Clark should be censured for allow
ing these ladies to stand up around the orist-
les. These ladies, every last one of them,
should be driven off at the point of the
bayonet and taught better manners
than to stand around annoying gen.
Licmen WHO are quietly enjoying
themselves. 1t must be admitted by all right
| thinking men that it is not only very I'M
| ladylike but positively insulting for them tc
stand around these occupied seats for an
hour or two, in manner that is equivalent
to saying: "Bristles, we are very tired. We
have been standing here a long time and
would like to sit down. Can't you let Us
spell you little! 1t would do you good tc
take little walk" Now, the sense of JUS
/ tice in every PERSONS mind will say that
these bristles ought not to be subjected tc
this annoyance. If, by taking the seats,
they viii claim they become entitled to hold
them, then this rude work on the part of the
ladies, this annoyance of the bristles, ought
to be stopped If it takes the last button of
| Chief Clark's coat.