The herald., 1895-07-21
her finger and If the motorman dosnt in

her finger and If the motorman dosn't in
stantly respond by moving his hand to-
ward the brake, she waves frantically at
him the bundle or parasol or whatever
happens to be in that hand, lashes the air
in wild alarm lest the Supplied idiot who
draws pay. from her point of view simply
to stop when and where she listeth to get
on. is neglecting his business.
The fact that she is on the wrong side
of the cross street never enters her head,
nor that the man that turns on the bat
terry is to obey the orders of the superin-
tedent as to stopping only IN the middle
of the block and on the farther side Of the
cross streets. rather than her imperious
signal from no matter where she happens
to be. Well, she finally chases the car and
gets on, sits down, and then eases her
alleged mind py expressing herself forci-
bly, and freely to the unhappy conductor
VINO also. obeying orders from his super
intendent goes to collect the fare.
She takes na it las as 1v insult and
a Maple aven lie cary. to be told when they
get to Hoover street. Instead she is
told Immediately that the car doesn't go
to Hoover street and she must take a
University car at the corner of Fifth,
whereupon she launches out again with
that this wasn't my carp" and what an
swer can the conductor MAKER
Or. boarding the same car, another
woman will wait till it is midway between
Fourth and Fifth and then rush to the
rear door and ask the conductor if he will
assure her on his word of honor as Chris
tian gentleman that the car will reach the
Arcade depot oy certain time.
The latter individual must perforce re-
mind the lady that his car doesn't 60 to
the Arcade depot but out Maple avenue,
and then, whoop-la! it's down brakes.
and off she gets With her bundles and Ter
birdcages (nothEg of which signifies that
she is to take train anywhere), casting
vindictve looks, if nothing more, at
the hapless and helpless conductor.
A large percentage of women signal the
motorman to stop, wait until the car
with its load is completely at standstill,
and then inquire politely where it is
going, and as nine times out OF ten it
isn't going her way, retreats to the side
walk again, with an aggrieved air. as
though the whole car system ought to be
thrown out that that especial car might
be put to her use for the time being.
One fatal and never-to- be forgotten day.
not long since, University car was used
OH the Pico street division. and having
been an unfortunate passenger. l know
whereof | speak in saying that from the
corner of Second and Spring streets to
where the car turned into Pico from
Flower. notwithstanding the fact that the
conductor had announced in stentorian
tones at every street corner and to every
passenger that boarded the car anywhere,
that that identical and particular car was
bound for Pico Heights, there were only
three passengers during the whole of the
distance that didn't get on under the de-
lusion that they were going elsewhere,
and didn't put the conductor to some
more or less discom fort or inconvenience
before they got off.
Even after the car was a good block
out on Pico street, one woman walked up
to the TACT that it had left Flower street,
and she rushed to the door and screamed: !:
Let me off. What are you taking me
out Pico street for? l live on Estrella ave-
nue.. Why didn't you say you were go
Ing to Pico heights?" And the conduct
or, after all the agony he had endured
still kept his tenn ,,er, patiently handed
her a transfer. aud remarked quietly that
he ''had mentioned the fact once or
twice.
Again, over all ana above all and
through all, at every hour of the day,
and in every season OF the year, going
toward any point of the compass that the
street car runs. has the conductor of each
car to contend against the evil result sure
to follow upon the graceful perform ance of
the woman who will get off backward.
Why they do this is one of the unans swered,
and apparently unansw cradle, pro blems
of this and every other age.
Just as sure as a woman is about to
leave a north bound car Just so sure will
she grip the rail with her leIt hand, if