Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-08
"UNHAND ME, VILLAIN"
Fair Remonstrant Pleads Against OficiOu
Street Car Conductors.

1
| Street Car Conductors.
| From the New York Sun.
There, my DEAR" said Mrs. Van Klevver to
Miss De Korus, "there goes dangerous
creaturer'
| "Wh-where?" asked Miss De Korus.
| "Riding on the back platform of that street
car, my DEAR There, Miss De Korus. goes the
man who well-nigh wrecked my domestic hap
piness. AS it is he has left me one mark
which can never be effaced.'
| (which man do you mean?" asked her
friend, stretching to see the departing car
The one in dark blue, with cap and visor, -
said Mrs: Van Klevver, solemnly.
| You don't mean the-the-"
''The conductor? 1 certainly do" replied
Mrs. Van Klevver, laughingly, dropping her
| tragical tone and returning to her salad.
They were at lunch in q Broadway restau-
| rant The day a sultry one and almost
every woman at the tables wore some kind Of a
| light shirt waist. Miss De Korus had a pink
and white affair which quite matched her
cheeks, but Mrs. Van Klevver was in dark blue
| from top to toe.
~ don't want to be inquisitive," said Miss
De korus, In an apologetic tone, but would
you mind telling me what you mean?"
| mot at all. / intended to pour the whole
sad tale into your ears, and here it is: Do you
| happen to remember a certain hot Wednesday
couple OF weeks ago? muggy, moppy,
melting day? You do2 Well, on that particu-
| lar afternoon / was seized with a sudden desire
for ice cream soda. You know there times
when the thirst for that beverage would make
| a woman slay her nearest and dearest friends
in order to crafty it. 1t was rather late. and
knew Jack was coming home early to dinner,
and We had planned to go to the roof garden
| afterward. But my thirst was one which would
not be denied, so put on the gown 1 expected
| to wear in the evening and sailed forth.
| ut was dainty white linen. the joy Of my
| soul, and gown Of which Jack was pleased to
express his approval 1t was freshly done up.
| and was as immaculate as an angels apparel.
stood on the corner aglow with temperature
! of SO degrees in the shade, and O sense of look
| ing my best. And then car came along. The
driver vouchsafed glance toward me and
| drew up for me to get on. II you have tears
| prepare to shed them now. had forgotten
| the ways Of conductors. We women are Of a
| forgiving nature and do not cherish resentment,
| 30 when the man took me with one hand by the
| elbow and encircled me with his other arm
placing his hand in the small of my white linen
back, was too much surprised to offer any
opposition.
| "He yanked-yes, my dear, yanked my I'M
resisting form on to the platform and pushed
me into the car, where / sank into place and
tried to collect my senses. l was indignant
Was a tottering octogenarian to be taken up
| bodily and deposited in my seat? As say.
| WAS indignant. But as yet had not thought
| OF the possibility Of an outward and visible
| sign Of the inward annoyance had received
When, however, the conductor came for my
fare. an awful thought occurred to me.
His was a grimy hand if ever saw one. 1t
was damp and dirty, and there was so much Of
it. Melancholy speculation to the possible
| effect such a hand would have on pure white
| linen took possession OF me- and by the time
| reached the soda water emporium l was very
unhappy l went way back to the end of the
| line and faced about so that no one could stand
he mo nd my hipp oil
then. But the soda water was refreshing, SO
drowned my sorrow in foaming glass, and
went back to the street quite gaiy.
"a car was coming and I signaled it, but not
without breathing vow to keep my eye on he
conductor. Twas well that did. for he was
waiting with open arms to receive me.
stopped short and glared at him.
"'Step lively! step lively! he said, reaching
out to lay hold of me.
81 require no assistance, thank you said
frigidly, and sailed the length of the car to
vacant seat. As l sat down l looked back and
observed perfect wake Of smiles behind me.
I merely thought that the passengers had
overheard the remark l had made to the con-
ductor and were smiling in admiration of my
dignity. and all that, you know. l had n self
satisfied feeling, very, and it had considerably
increased by the time reached home.
Jack was already there. He reading
the paper as l came in, but looked up and
said something very complimentary about my
appearance. Jack is awfuly nice about such
things.
"fHellov he said. That's the gown like.
Turn around and let's take it all in
II turned very, very slowly. l wanted to
prolong the sensation Of being admired as long
as I could. Round l went till l stood facing
him once more, and then looked up to see
how he liked it. My dear, he looked as il he
were going towel, he looked as black and angry
as q thunder cloud, and at the same time, If
you can understand it, was just on the point Of
laughing.
whats the matter, Jack2' said running
to him, but he pushed me away. He looked the
way men on the stage do when they say:
"'Woman! woman! Begone from me sightr
or something like that.
"Then he took me by the arm, marched me
up with my back to mirror and gave me a
hand glass. My dear, looming up on your
poor little friends back was the unmistakable
imprint Of a large hand 1t was a piece Of
circumstantlal evidence to make the least sus-
picious Of husbands jealous, but Jack and /
soon came to an understanding and he tried to
cheer me up when l cried about the gown. But
now, when we get on q car, he ga-es If the
conductor touches ME. I'd like to know what
right they have to take woman by the arm, or
jab her in the back, or literally embrace her as
many Of them do. l have seen women turn
around and tell conductor to let them alone
and I've seen plenty more that looked as if they
wanted to do so."
man simply wants 10 help you"
Yes, assented Mrs. Van klevver, who is
always ready to see both sides of the question.
II presume that's A woman always gets
on car as if she were the leaning tower Of
Pisa, and the jerk Of the when it starts
would send her over the back dashboard nine
times out Of ten. 1t isn't her fault OF course"
Mrs Van Klevver never will admit that any
thing is a woman's fault) 'She has to carry
her parasol and purse and bundles in one hand
and hold up her dress with the other, and Of
course she can't help herself.
But, after alrs said and done, )" she resumed
defantly, what am 1 going to do with that
gown of mine? And am l to go clad in somber
colors throughout the entire season of moist
and grimy hands? All, have it, If the con-
ductors must push and haul around in order
to save our precious necks let them wear gloves
as the policemen do. Oh, you just waltz she
said, as Miss De Korus about to offer an
objection. "Wait till one Of them has wiped
his hands on that dainty silk waist Of yours
The very next day the street railway super
intendent received a note. 1t was but single
line and was in Miss De Korus' handwriting.
1t read: