New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-22
CHANCES HERE AND THERE.

In the by no means simple matter OF catching a
streetcar a woman n al a decided disadvantage, aud
the odds generally against the of her first
attempt In hailing car. She cannot whistle; 1t IS
unbccoming TO shout; luckily for tho death-rao Of
the city, her esHfousness prevents her nom step
ping boldly into the middle OF the street where she
may By look, enrcsty threat compel the attention
and the services Of the conductor and hts boon CON
splrator, the driver So she must bde her time,
waiting patiently 2nd with meek resignation on the
curb, seeking by frantic wavlngs aud brandishings Of
her handsatcho, umbrella, mud or anything movable
that she has az hand 10 secure the privilege Of a
ride. II No be doublemanned one her patience
may soon be rewarded but 10 her patience and her
meeness of spirit n the Of provocston DO one
of those odious engines OF torture known the bob
tailed car These relics OF barbsnsm have already
disappeared from Twenty.thirist; they should DO at
once abolished on Fourieenth-st, one 90 the chief
shopping thoroughfarcs Of the city, II for no other
reason than that they rffle lovely woman's temper
Ncw-Yorksrs take kindly. a rule. 10 the system
Of cooling and eating known the table d'hoc plan
but singulaly enough there arc few Instances in this
city in which these Establishments directed and
rum by cur counlrymen. The French Italians,
and Germans appear 10 have exclusive control Of tho
table dhote houses, and their quaint and delightful
cafef are now scattered tho city from Bowling
Green 10 Harlem Bridge They cluster about Fulton
ST.. Beeokerst. Is uncomfurtably full Of them they
found in groups about Union Square: sxth.ave.
Is lined with them. and tho side streets have their
quota OF these restaurants The price OF the enter
talnment at these places varies from twenty i've
cents to two dollars. and the dinner breakfast or
lunch, as the case may b. has wine, generally a
modest California claret FOR It's inevitable accom-
panment II ~ marvel how Appealing dishes Of
hsh, flesh. fowl and fruit served at such moderate
prices Possibly the great secret lies I'm tho scrup-
blous economy which these foreign restaurateurs
practise, and possibly. also. herein may lie tho ex-
PLANTATION why the Yankee does not his guests
on the table d'hote plan.
traveller on an elevated train yesterday, who
buslly engaged reading stevenson's Black Arrow
got pcrplexed when he arrived at the point where
near the beginning Of a chapter, 1t Is stated that
they were not yet half way to the nearest house
boforo the bells began to ring backward from the
steeplo' lilo consulted hls neshbors as TO what was
meant by the bells ringing backward but got light
II he had been familiar with Scott he would have
the expression before. He and other perpexed read
ers af Stevenson and The Tribune may be glad to
learn that 10 4" ring the bells backward means to
sound tho chimes I'm the reverse Of the usual ORDER
and that THIS was formerly done as public signal
OF alarm or danger 10 Is probable that Robert Louis
Stevenson may have hcad tho bells sounded In this
fashion In his native Scotland.