New-York tribune., 1890-06-01
PTBLTC N.iNNERS.

Il ought 10 be pleasure Ia every respocoaplc
citizen. not only to note the fact that crusade
has been begun against offenders against dc-
ccncy i'm public places. but also to assume
share of the task of cXtcrminatlng them II
may bee assumed. we think, without much RISK
Of rcfutaion that the great American "Ap'ct"-
rator has become slowly less numerous ana IN
tolcrablc since Dickens first made him lmnor-
,ally infamous. And yet II does undoubtedly
rcaIlirc 4 large measure of philosophical I'M
partalry TO recognize the daVning OF new
era The species is still abundant ana pro-
liiic. and the multiplication of transportation
facilities and of popular resorts makes us eA-
iStonce universally burdcnSome.
With some prevalent complaints against the
owner, and the management OF public convey
anccs we are not in the most thorough sym
pathv. realizing that FOR the present they are
futile and that patrons are quite as much To
blame as purycyorS. We are entirety conn
dent. for example, that the Street-car company
which should make and enforce a rulc Tor
bidding the admission 10 a car o. more persons
than il could comfortably seat would forthwith
become the object of bitter malcdctons. Inc
average inhalitant Of the United states, man.
woman and child. claims an inalicnabc rcht
10 life liberty and the pursuit ot happiness
and Of all particulars included under the last
specification few are more precious IMAM INC
rieht Ia a place i'm the first conveyance that
comes along without reference 10 It's previous
condition of Surplu>agc When new transit
systems shall have doubled our present faclll-
Ties this National Characteristic will become
lc>, intense, and a slow process OF education
will set in.
But for other miscricS Of urban travel there
is no excuse. and no explanation except IN the
hcastly instinct, of 4 minority. I'm oiical
mandate has been issued in Philadelphia
AGAINST the vile and selfish habit az splitting,
which deserve, to bee initiated in every city.
town and hamlet which maintains ppbhc
conveyance The unhappy fact Is that thiN
disgusting vice is intrcnchcd IN the personal
! proci,itic, of a multitude of men who are IN
! most respects inollcnNyc. but from whom an
| uncomfortable dulnc>s or ohhquIiy oi pcrccp-
| ton conceal, its real cnorml'y. That a man
who will chccrfully surrender his seat To "A
woman. DELFT icratcly prcicrring her comfort to
| mi, own should be willing to appear aN If he
were rcycnging the sacrifice upon her feet and
skirt, is an incXpcable phenomenon. Allied
] -
who refuse To rcinquish partly consumed cigars
Al steps and station platforms, and thus
cyalt economy aS a greater virtue than regard
for others rights. They do not generally defy
! the letter of the universal rule against smoking
i'm public conycyanccS though furtvc nhaa-
tion by way of tanning hidden fire is not un-
common but they one and all ignore It's spirit,
for. as every uncorrupted nostrl knows full
we'll "A cigar that has gone out is more Of
fenSivc than a cigar that is burning. ENtlnc-
ton is infinitely worse than combustion.
But more dcteStablc than these ylolators of
the law of love are the unSpeakablc wretchcS
who take advantage of tNcr surroundings 10
aggrayatc the unavoidable annoyance OF pro-
pinauity into the gratuitous offence of un-
necessary contact-who find m odious gratii-
cation in swaying and pressing against their
ncighborS, in the certainty that they can invent
a plausible excuse and charge their bascncSS
to the crowd and the motion of the car Per
SONS who insist on going where there is not
room for them undoubtedly court discontinue,
but they do not on that account merit insult.
Tho correction Of these and kindred abuses
must be slow, and the beginning of rcforma-
tion has been delayed too long The trans
portation companies and theatre managers can
initiate the process by a stern discrimination
against patrons who spit. or swear, or talk OBJ
sccnclv. or diifuSc the fumes and commit the
varied trcSpasSes of intONicaton.