Wichita eagle., 1888-07-18
IN A BIG CITY.
4 BRIEF CHAT ON THE ETHICS
OF STREET TRAVEL.

A BRIEF CHAT ON THE ETHICS
OF STREET TRAVEL
Row te Avoid Danger and Iaconvenienee
in Getting About the Metropolis-The
Clown and the Ignoramus-Crossinst tho
Street-Hatchways.
'It always does me good to do that said a
friend to reporter. as he trod heavily on tbs
heel of a man who had rudely crowded past
and placed himself squarely in front of the
two pedestrians The offender turned around
in fury, but becoming conscious either Of
the unequal match or Of his being in the
wrong, he transferred the ''iEsultn from his
heel to his pocket and walked off.
''These big fellows seem to think that they
own the town." continued the triumphant
social refornler ''They elbow their way
without regard for others If they are be-
hind you in dense crowd they press you
closely, and they never seem to like it when
you turn your side to them, put your hand
on your hip and give them the point Of your
car they viii back UP to six inch interval
between two passengers and settle into it, leay-
ing their neighbors TO choose between stand
ing the crush or msking room to Che right
and left. The fact is, there is a great deal Of
ignorance as to how to get about in j big
city like New York, with convenience to
ones self and Difference TO the rights of
others. Clowns like this fellow do not mean
TO annoy any one-only to make their own
way. But there is widespread ignorance as
to what is polite and proper, what tactful
good sense reouir.s, what is safe or danger.
Gus, in using the crowded streets and public
places, and it ought to be part OF q common
school education to give a little instruction
and lay down few general principles that
ought to be, but are not, universally accepted
DIFFERENCE TO LADIES.
Men have rather confused ideas as TO
what Difference they should pay TO ladies il
public places. 1t is well understood that il,
the elevator OF hotel a man should conduct
himself as he would III any other room-the
parlor, for lnstance-of the hotel, and should
rise and stand uncovered when lady enters
the elevator. But In the elevator of down
town building the conditions are changed
That is a public conveyance not an apart
ment. and in it a man may do exactly as he
would in a street car. The rights and privi-
leges of pedestrians are very well defined, if
people only knew it. That lubber whose heel
just scrunched had perfect right to pass
me, but he was bound to keep ahead can't
stop walking just because he chooses to get in
front of me. used to do So as most people
do; one instinctively draws UP rather than
sra r
trained myself out of that habit, and now
rather step out than step short.
very few people know how to look out
for themselves about the city, and most of
them plunge into inconvenience and even
danger which little headwork would avoid.
Ninety-nine men in 100 viii hurry forward
to catch swinging door before it closes be-
hind some one who has juss passed through,
and run the risk of a broken wrist in receiv-
ing its full weight. They don't seem to think
that if they let it swing freely toward them
it will Immediately swing back again, when
they may pass through almost without touch
ing their hands to it But tie best way is to
disregard entirely the door that another has
just passed through-uso the other, and let
the first one swing of its hinges if ii viii.
CROSSING THE STREET.
"a New York American has no need to be
in hurry in order to take tremendous risks
in crossing the street. He never will learn
that there is moro room behind a moving We
hicle than in front of it, and dashes over ap-
parently for the mere satisfaction of accom-
plishing feat. The New York drivers are
not quite so reckless as the Paris cabbies,
who are said to run a man down whenever
they can, but even 81 New York pedestrian
has few rights q driver feels bound TO re-
spect, and the best wsy to deal with the case
is to give the truckman the right of way.
Occasionally an imperious Old gentleman ad-
vances boldly into midstreet and holds up
his cane to stop the approaching express
wagon. 1t may work and it may net; but
to be sure of it one needs to be a police
man armed with the rattan of official
authority. How many men have narrowly
escaped Draining by bales and boxes dropped
from a hatchway hoist. And how many,
even Of those who understand the danger,
secure their peace of mind by adopting the
only infallible rule Of safety, never to pass
under hoist There is always room to &c
around the hatchway, and never fail to dc
that.
''If people are foolish and untanght about
the avoidance Of danger, how much more 50
are they regarding the avoidance of incon-
veniencea Never a train stops on the ele-
vated road or the Bridge but there is process
sion OF geese, eager to ahght, standing in the
aisle of the cars, ready to be pitched, first
and then backward, yanked to and
fro, clutchins wildly at the door frames and
at their neighbors, as the engineer applies the
jerky air brakes. l usually get of the car
ahead of most of them, although | remain
seated until the train comes to a full stop, for
| sit near the door, and when 1 get up riss
In my place in the very van of the procession.
A little headwork saves great deal Of leg
ork.n-New York Tribune.
1ne Cneery wet Weather Daisy.
Athletics are not left to men. Women
and girls go in for them, at least IN their own