New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-12
Washington. March Z. 1903.
ESPECIALLY RESERVED FOR LADIES'"

TO the Editor OF The Tribune
sir: In your STRAY Notes. March 4, notice
q statement made that ION almost all trains III
France smoking is allowed in every car which Is
not snec,oy reserved for ladies', and II" the man who
is fond Of his cigar wonders why the French custom
l. not nd pied I'm this country Permit woman
md "A daily traveller boats and trains, 10 make
a few remarks pertinent to the subject from her
standpoint.
Under present conditions cnehab practically Two
thirds including deckroom and wagon-wayS VI 'i'e
accommodations on ferryboas are especially reserved
for the masculine sex. There Is one caoih' however
over the entrance to which may DO seen inc "o'"
Womcn- but one strange to our customs entering
4, during the morning early evening hours. anu
seeing seat after seat occupied by what huiS surely
Ia termed here the wrong, gender, would De apt
10 give backward glance, under the impression 'h"
he had misread the inscription over the door-ou'' no.
Advancing to the first cabin he Is liable 70 meet
n few women blocking up the passageway Dc'"e.n
leaning for support against the WALL ana "ou'N
nrohobly saw TO himself they are an overflow from
the 6rst cabin, where doubtless the hdl'f are
ssated but rs he enters he Is transhxed OH u'o
threshold by a sight that might Well amaze even
those long accustomed to It. Down the long length
OF the cabin on either SIDE he sees TO" OIL news
na,ers beh hgh) the holders OF them being dressed
with great unanimty In trousers, ana ueep9 Ia
teres,ed in the news. Hero and there lazy
CHR, breaks the monotopy, but these are mostly
! oroudcd together near the outer door, from whlch
tho presumption arises that the wearers nave "aiAeo
the length Of the cabins. and being unapie " ~
further have made a pause their hummer o.o
constantly augmented by later COmers' uuui '"e'
form quite q little colony, and some ie" seh'ie"i."
hive surrendered their seats TO some &c" VI VIC
ladies' (oucry-How many ladies' does IT take 70
make one gentleman
passng 70 the train, our stranger finds himself
particpator In game OF srau
GOOD earnest grab-nO sham Tor sn"u'e'
about f. and on entering car ~oulo uouov
Tess believe. but for his previous experience, 'hn'
,,ere was some one car on the train specially re-
served for ladies'" as the one he enters appears ~
be- specially occupied by gentlemen
Not the Cortlandt-st ferry alone, por L'oeN! 'S.'
40, vc, Rarclav nor Chambers. nor any one OF the
mnrous ferries outgoing from New-iork, but OH
all is this scene duplicated daily, not 70 men''on
tho crowding jostling. showing, pushing ana !
would like to add. "hogginS" that Is c"''''''','
s,.n on the u roads and the Bridge cars surely
This is a social evil" Our business "e" or
growing selfish. rude,-losng that fine courtesy FOR
women that distinguishes the American ana I"
which Americans away from homo are so !us'is
rrord and our youth are easy learners, and are
,, srrn,s snc those who should be their superiors'
our women--business women especially-are peco"'-
ting aggressive taking right what Is theirs ohy
nv courtesy losing that finer sense 'hA' n'p'.'
while II compes respect. surely there Is ie"'us
Cornorat,ons should be compelled to provide sup
,, accommodations for their patrons, mothers
should teach their sons that courtesy to other
women Is a tribute TO themselves ana every n,,
na everv woman who form part ol-shouiu
also realize that they owe duty 'o-"'
travelling public a. ., .vor thosa who
h,sapnroye the thing isef-would assent 10 the
Justice OF smoking being allowed on every car NOV
lmia,,v reserved for ladies'" could they be con,
St.ni thai enough cars would be especially reserved
t ladies, 70 insure them accommodations but per
haps they cannot fully apprecate tn ed ne'e'' VI
Nil not The Tribune and Its readers 'ahe h Lno
"woman's part and agtate tnis MAYER nu ~ e
bchalfl - ,oo,
New-YOrk, March o, 1893