The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-29
STREET-CAR OBSERVATIONS
Human Nature as Displayed on the Rear
Step of the Luxurious BObtail.
Baskets Of Dirty Clothes That Are e General
Nuisance-P Political Discussions On the
F~ly-Various Incidents.

"I saw q fine illustration of the two great
world" said the philosopher. land it was
shown from the step of a bob-tail street
carr Here the philosopher stopped. as if
he had finished the subject. His auditors
knew better. They understood the philos-
opher, and that he had this method of
trifling with their feelings. He. on his
part. knew that the curiosity of the
hearers would impel them 10 plead with
him to 60 on. He was not mistaken With
gracious smile he proceeded: THESE two
great forces" he resumed. ARE the philan-
thropic, which holds 10 the golden rule. and
believes in that best and purest spirit OF
communism, while the other Is the barbar-
ic. that of the strong and selfish, the auto
cratic, the me"
You mean the p" said the school
teacher dIdactIcally.
The philosopher made no reply to this.
"As | said. the illustration was given from
the step of a bob-tail car" he continued.
The car was encountered by q crowd of
small boys. seven or eight In all. Two of
them jumped upon the step. while the
others ware running along trying to get a
footing. One of these two having a secure
hold. as the Others tried to get on
lie even tried to push OFT the other
occupant OF the step. He was very much
III earnest. He wanted all that step for
himself. and the more anxious the bows
were to get on the more determined he was
in his eDdeavor to keep them off-not so
the boy on the other side of the step. He
encouraged the boys in every way TO con-
tinuet their effort and tried to help them
OH. He had succeeded in getting one boy
to a foothold on the step when the atten-
ton of the driver was attracted TO the con-
test. He started for the rear OF the car
and then both the friend of humanity and
n haA " 1n& nth
AS the car rolled on the boys gathered
around the latter with significant hostile
demonstrations. and later on, looking back
there was q cloud of dust and q confused
tumble of legs and arms in the track. from
which l inferred that the masses were taxi
ing IL out of the ~monopolist's hide"
The woman whohad been shopping was
little late in getting home. and happened to
have q seat on an open car just behind two
young women who had waited on her in
one of the dry-Goods stores. Both the
young women were chewing gum and ex-
changing condolences of the same personal
character that so many of their employers
customers are compelled to hear when
standing before the counters. The shop
per looked at them with cold disapproval.
II read In the Journal last Sunday" she
said to her companion. "a paragraph relat-
ing TO the wearing of so much jew
elry by female clerks in which q
merchant was quoted as saying that
he objected to the fashion but could
not we'll speak to the young women about
it. i should like to know why. In some of
the large dry-goods stores in New York and
Chicago the women clerks are required To
wear black gowns when on duty. This
idea is to rid them of the tawdry appear
Rnce that cheap materials IN SOlors are
likely TO give them. and thereby to add to
NhA orfato anaarnhla nf rhn chnn nf
course the girls object at first. but they
presently discover that when surrounded
By mnlti-coloreu dry goods they look much
better in black, and are soon reconclled 10
the change. The rule would hold equally
good as to cheap jewelry. and see no rea-
son why its use should not he forbidden.
But whether a merchant interferes with
the dress OF his enpioyes OF
enough consideration for his customers
TO forbid the chewing of gum by his clerks.
Half the girls in the shops are addicted to
the habit and 1t is a very offensive one TO
many patrons of the places. A little more
discipline in this and some other directions
would work to the benefit of the girls and
their employers" The car stopped ut that
moment. the girls with the Overactive
face cleared. -
There's Que thing in street-railway traf-
fc of which i have never seer any CON-
plant in the newspapers" remarked an
elderly gentleman.
Whats thatf" inquired the reporter. not
believing it possible anything could have
been omitted.
Its the practice Of carrying baskets
filled with dirty clothes. on the way to
the wash-tub, There's more or less OF this
on all the lines. but the line upon which L
travel happens to have more. To I'M
g&rr ~ ootA--b
the odors diffused from these baskets. espe-
cially in damp weather, is extremely disa-
~greeable. There is a further objection TO
this CLASS of freight-the danger of dlssem-
inatlon of disease. i have no doubt that
many of the numerous cases of diphtheria
and scarlet foyer that this community has
entertained have come from these GERM
distributing baskets. Many persons fail TO
iberia. and protect themselves by
unmindful of the infection they
may thus be the means of distributing. It
may impose a hardship on the poor washer
women to prohibit the carrying of dirty
clothes in the street cars-the prohibition
should not extend TO washed clothes-but
IL would be no moro than right to do so
as q protection to the thousands who
travel upon our street railroads. / think
this IS q matter to which the attention of
the Board of Health should be called. We
are all the time talking about infectious
diseases and yetneglsct simple and obvious
means or protection"
Political no~n-combatants. of whom there
are O few in Indianapolis. derive much en-
tertainment from street-car conversations
and controversies just now The prevail
ing warmth of political feeling renders
such conversations yocifeIous and the
loudest talker has the advantage. IL is
noticed that snti-Harrison men are show
ing q much more retiring disposition than
was the case O few weeks ago. and the
Harrison supporters are cO~rrespondingly
aggressive and confident. A North Meri-
dian-street gentleman CT positive convic-
tions and ardent Harrison sentiments has
80 intimidated "sore-heads" who travel on
Illinois and Pennsy lvania-street lines by
his vigorous and public exposure OF their
little political weaknesses that they have
been known to walk home. thereby depriv-
ing expectsnt passeE gers of much enjoy
ment at their expense. Democrats carry
on much less lively in conversation and
botray on indifference TO their party pros
poets that. while edifying in a way, offers
little entertainment To those who Overhear
them.
IL the men who persist in keeping posses
sion of the end seats in open street cars
had the ~faintest conception of the hatred
of themselves that they inspire in the
breasts of the women whom they compel to
climb over them when getting on and Oft.
they would make haste to mend their man