The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-24
DOES POLIIENEsS PAT?
Polk Miller Tells Some Of HIS Northern
Experiences


The habit of jumping up out of your
seat when on street cars and Offering
the same to ladies as they come in is
so fixed in the southerner that he can't
help doing 1t when riding on street cars
in northern cities.
During my visit to New York and
Philadelphia lately l have been doing
that which was 'cordin' to my raisin.
and have had my fellow passengers OF
the male persuasion to look at me with
surprise as If to say, l wonder where
that fool came from, and | have been
no less surprised to md that the ladies
drop into my seat without even saying
thank-ee.
had a little experience with one OF
Philadelpha's retired merchants Il few
days ago. I had been spending few
DAYS with one of the accomplished ply
sicians Of that city, and during the severe
blizzard was perfectly comfortable and
happy in his hospitable home I'm West
Philadelphia. on Monday morning took
the street car for the Union depot; the
car was full OF people. and my hand
satchel, which took up only six inches
OF space was on the end Of The seat
near the front door the space occupied
10y the satchel could not have accommo-
dated a three-y ear-old boy. Just as the
seat: instead Of approaching the defer
ence ! had paid 10 Old age, he said: Il
was just wondering IL you were going
70 occupy two seats In this car
His remark was 50 unexpected and
uncalled for that / did not ;ake II in at
once, but the thing begun 10 dawn on
me and grow on me anti by the time
/ got ten niles out Of Philadelphia l
was red hot, and 1t would not nave
been safe for me to nave met up with
that old fellow.
/ think there are some people In this
world who take great pleasure in say
ing dsaGreeable things, and that old cod
ger was one Of them. Should l meet
him again, under similar circumstances,
| will give him the opportunity Of test
ing his ability TO squeeze n two hundred
pound maa into six inches OF street car
space.
on the same car a negro woman who
IS ioppos.te me dropped her pocket
book; / picked it up and promptly hand
ed IL TO her, and she did not even gay
thank-ee.
What a pity it Is that our negroes go
north after they have been taught good
manners down here and forget their
"raisin" Just as soon as they get up
there. Well what's the cause Of all Of
this difference between northern and
southern people when the question Of
good manners is up?
II is not because they are lacking in
those qualities which go TO make up
ladies and gentlemen; not at all IL 10
because they live IN densely populated
towns and are so crowded and Jostled
on public carriers that they are forced
to look out for self or get left. often
times they don't know their next door
neighbors and don't care 10 know 'em.
The ladies are self-reliant and are en-
tirelv independent Of the men: the men
are Independent Of the women too; Meth
er looks for assistance from the other
and any little attention from a strange
man to a lady creates the impression
that he is trying to ingratate himself
with her The better class OF ladies de-
spise a 'masher."
A stranger in the north Will have Il
lonesome time of IT, but when he is prop
erly introduced he will find that these
ladies and gentlemen who appear to be
lacking in the smooth, easy manners OF
our southern people are as refined and
elegant people az can be found on the
globe. and for hospitality in their homes
are not excelled anywhere.
In travelling in railroad trains I'm the
south / never get lonesome, for | can
wiring in" on some lady or gentleman
whom / never saw before, and pass away
the dull hours of the long and tedious
journey very pleasantly. but when in the
north. II / did such a thing the men
would at once think that | was bunco
stearer or three card monte man, while
the ladies would think | was a would
be-masher and call the conductor TO fire
me out of their presence.
SO If you don't want your "feelins"
hurt when you go north. get into your
seat on the railroad train or street car
sit there and SAY nothin" TO nobody
'cep'n you are introduced.
POLK MILLER.