Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-16
rnr rorcr 81 nx.AweEn.
How "a Little old Man Gos Seats
for lhe Ladies'.

G1r ahe kAdAes.
A few days ago the New York Times
said: A little old gentleman with wintry
locks and time-seamed countenance was
an iDconspiouous passenger on Harlem
train Of the Sixth avenue elevated road
about 3 O'Clock yesterday afternoon, when
1t pulled up at the Fourteenth street sta
ton. His dress Of Anticipated style, his
throat enciroled with am old-fashioned
red neckerchief, and the kindly twinkle
OF his blue eyes, which bespoke gentle
man of the old school were lost upon
the crowd of Wall street clerks and down
town business men, the fellow-oecuptnt
OF his car, who were absorbed in the mar
ket reports and the pictured publications
| of Ohristmastide.
When the rain stopped rush OF
Christmas shoppers from the arcndes and
| emporiums of Fourteenth street imme-
| diately filed the aisle of the car with
bundle-ladsn throng of femininity. They
gnzed helpleBsly around for q moment
| only TO find that the spruoely clad male
passengers had buried their faces in their
papers with an increased interest in art
and stock quotations, and then, with u
sigh, they resigned themselves TO the
torturing straps.
old gentleman saw an aged and intirm
lady before him, and instantly, with u
sparkling eye and courtly bow, he had
assisted her to his seat, as he said in o
voice audible throughout the car;
II am only SO, but am doing this for
woman, and particularly an old woman
i with gray hair. Madame, would do 1t
for any woman. Faith, an Id die for
your lovely sex"
His words were voiced in the orotund
utterance of an orator, mellowed by n
touch of deliciously rich Irish broguts
and as he gazed in scorn upon the row,
of men. filled seats half smile aud hall
flush spread over the masculine faces. He
continued with great earnestness
{ "Here's an example for ye young bucks
We young dudes For shame that "
| would see young woman stand. A
+. womanl Young and old, they're al
beautiful. Get up there" and with the
words he grabbed young swell with gold
: trimmed glasses and dragged him, faintl,
|, resisting, to his feet.
A burst of laughter and applans'
greeted the action, men and women join
> ing in heartily, One young fellow sug
gested that the old gentleman had beei
J, partsking of Christmas punch, but never
theless he k ept on with his good work
AS he pulled man after man out of hi
y seat with merry exclamation, the fui
became contagious, aud all the passenger
fell into fits of laughter. III n there wa
general rising up of the men until ever.
woman was seated aud there were vacan
seats to spare. One of them was presseI
upon the little old gentleman.
mo, no." said he, "Pll stand N
=, throughout the trip TO let the ladies 81
:" down. It takes an old gentleman froI
v the country to teach We city bucks goo
manners. All, we should riyerince tn
C. ladies'"
Twenty-third street!n shouted tn
T. guard just then, and in came anothe
:" throng of shoppers.
en- Holy Mother, here's an angel in tn
ry car !" cried the amusing little old gentle
~ man, as the passengers again burst int
fits of laughter, and half dozen seat
il were at once offered to the hiushing CIR
in who did not know what to make of tn
as strange scene. On went the train wit
ng the jolliest car load of people that eve
er has been seen on the elevated road. III
r. comical comments of the old gentlems
found q hearty reception and when Fort.
a. second street was reached and he al
\ nouneed that he was going TO his hon
n on the Hudson, as he took a cordi
n adieu of the old lady to whom he ha
~ given his seat, he received round I
n. hand shakes, while every woman's fat
followed his retreating figure as it disal
peared down the steps.