Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-13
Lady and Street Car Seat.

Not long since query was sent TO THE
GAZETTE, asking response as 10
what constituted street-car etiquette.
Frankly, it is hard to decide. The first
rule seems to be obligatory on public
carriers, that is, when seats are paid for
they ought to be provided. There is no
rule excusing railway or transfer COM
paules for failing TO give purchaser
what he pays for, and it is only the good
nature of n long suffering public that has
not compelled compliance with this rule.
AS question of etiquette between
passengers, the law OF mutual cousidera-
ton is equally binding. No lady has any
right in u public conveyance that Is not
in the same degree the right of gentle
man, but upon each is laid the law of
courtesy. A lady, on entering q street
car, will take the first seat proffered
her. She will acknowledge the courtesy
in quiet, lady-like manner. a lady
will not occupy more space than is ueces-
sary, and will submit to crowding rather
than oblige any man to remain standing.
She has no right peculiar IL seat, @
place, or window; her five cents buys
exactly as much aD3 no moro than
does the mans, and he is entitled
to the same return. y lady will not
allow an old man or sick mG1 to stand
that she may sit, neither IL she have
children will sho allow them to occupy
seats while their seTiors stand. o. to
engross space by their feet upon cusn-
ions. Whatever OF courtesy she receives
is concession to her sex to her weakness
il may be, but it is one no lady will exact
either by word or action. No glance of
the eye, 10 comment to those with her
will betray an inward resentment, she
may feel for what only can be rightly
construed only as acts Of dis
courtesy.
A gentleman Will instinctively give
preference to lady, he will gladly
avail himself of a privilege 20 show his
manhood. but must comment in
wardly upon any lack of reciprocal
courtesy On the woman's part. A
gentleman will guard his words aud ac-
tons in the presence of ladies in q public
conveyance with more care than in q
private house, because gentleman
could not take advantage of the fact that
for the lady to escape it is at the time
impossible.
Travel and extended observation leads
the writer to believe that much OF the
censured discourtesy is the result of the
manners CT women themselves, and that
q little of the golden rule might be of
service in the construction of a code of
laws for street car etiquette.
To substeutiate what has been said the
readers OF this department will pardon
an allusion to a little personal expe-
rience. Distance from business has ne
cessitsted considerable street car riding,
and during the five years the writer has
passed TO and fro there has always been
extended to her the greatest courtesy by
drivers, conductors and passengers. Not
only are seats freely offered and change
passed up by gentlemen in broadcloth
and in overalls, but tin buckets rs well
as dainty parcels have been put down in
order TO assist in every way gentleman
could. Neither have these attentions
been limited, but as far as could be OBJ
served they have been universal and
there has often been cause to blush for
the way such acts have been received
til en- for any failure to extend them.