Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-07-16

AT INarfaSan8ett ttF1er-Fer1anderS8 EX.
rience on Board n TraIn-Has Pas
senger In an American Railroad Car
Absolute Control over tho Window
Adjacent His Seata-The Trip Be-
tween New Haven and Narraxansett
The Eli OF Fare at Watch HtH.
NARRAGANsETT PIER, July 10.
To the Editor Of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
It might have had a serious termination;
fortunately it ended peacefully. The first
thing those in the rear of the car knew
was that window had been shut with a
bang. They looked up and saw that the
slamming had been done by tall, middle
aged, athletic individual whose position
showed that he had not banged his own
window, but the window on a line with
the seat Immediately in front of him.
The seat in front of him was occupied by
a staid, elderly, benign colored aunty and
small equally colored boy. The boy was
next the window. Like the boy of whittier
skin, he wanted the window up; and in
some way he had succeeded in getting it
up. 1t was moreover evident from the
character of the bang that the window
had not been shut by the athletic individ-
ual at the request of the small colored
boy, or in accordance with his wishes.
On the contrary, it clearly appeared that
the athlete had acted on his own motion
and in disregard of the rights of the boy,
making his entire appeal to the law of su-
perior force. Following the act there was
pause, but everybody felt that though
the window was closed the incident was
not. After while there arose another in
dividual, older than the athlete, but, as
well as could be perceived from the end of
the car, quite as athletic and of determined
expression. He advanced towards the
athlete and folks began to settle back in
their seats with the pleased expectancy of
witnessing free exhibition Of pugilism.
He elevated a finger. He pointed it at the
athlete, and he evidently made use of en-
phatic language; but he didn't touch him,
nor did he raise the small boys window
The athlete remained quiet, perfectly sat
isfied with his case as it stood. After a
| while the elderly party, having exhausted
his vocabulary and tired his finger, re-
tired; and it began to look as If the fun
were over. Back of the elderly individu-
al and on his side of the car were three
young ladies whose souls were being
stirred within their virgin bosoms. Two
| sat in one seat behind the one who had a
| seat to herself. Suddenly the solitary QUE
| sprang up, opened her window with an
| upward bang nearly as resonant as the
original downward bang, few over to the
| colored aunty and her boy, yanked them
| out of their seat, planted them in her own
seat with the boy next the window, and
then threw herself down in the vacated
seat with an annihilating glance at the
athlete and covered all over with the sym
pathetic and applsuding gazes of her two
companions The spirit of Uncle Toms
| Cabin is not dead yet. The athlete con-
tinued to remain as calm rs a local news
paper. Finally he did give signs of life.
He slowly arose from his seat and ad-
vanced towards the elderly individual.
| Now at last it is eoming-was in every
body's thoughts. But nothing came. He
turned and most politely took off his hat
to the elderly individual disclosing in the
turning that he was foreigner. Any en-
terprising newspaper would have given
ducats per word for their colloquy. But,
| alas, no reporter was within ear-shotl
| There was evidently an explanation, and
it was equally evident that the explanation
was not fully satisfactory. The ire of the
elderly gentleman was modified, but only
semi-appeased. He still moved about in
his seat as if he thought he had been re-
creant to duty in not inflicting punish
ment. He was left in an undecided state
| of mind, and this state of mind seemed to
impart itself to the whole car; for as sta
tions were reached and people got out they
continued to talk the matter over and
were evidently laboring under the weight
of an unanswered question
| The question considered generically
would seem to resolve itself into this:
Has passenger in an American railroad
car absolute control over the window ad-
/ jacent his seat? Can he raise it and lower
| 1t at will, and must all those near enough
to be affected by his action recognize the
right and submit to its exercise without
murmur, remonstrance or oppositiona In
presenting the question, personal benevo-
lence and circumstantial consideration
cannot be weighed. Law does not regard
individual notifications. 1t is made fol
the mass and only recognizes the individu.
al as constituent of the mass.
At the first view there would seem to be
but one side. A window means a wind
eye and is an opening for the admission oil
air and light It is made to open an6
shut-except of course in the case of tht
Consoldated's self-superheaters- thu
opening and shutting are confided to tn,
party nearest it. No other theory can b,
propounded. The window NAV be regard
ed as part Of his seat for which he pais
when he bought his ticket. When b
| wants air he may open 1t. When be hs