The evening times., 1896-08-15

sopeE caIEc-b, tudb Deiiu Stuceys the
actress. daughter OF Col. Stacey. U. q
A., whose home is In Washington, d. e..
smoked cigarette on one of the Broadway
cars yesterday and succeeded in obtaining
great deal OF not altogether pleasant
Eotoriety between Forty-first and Four
tecnth streets
Miss Stacey with Herbert ]. Meyer and
Sam Freedman, both well known in thea
trical circles. were seated In a tox on u
roof garden Thursday evening. when the
conversation turned upon woman's priyi-
leges.
Miss staeey's views on the subject, as
etnphaticaliy expressed, were extremely
radical She contended that women were
an1ustly deprived of many pleasures. She
was ready. she declared. to head a move
meDt Of any kind calculated to free her sex
from the bondage OF Gust ON.
She wound up by deciariug her willing
ness 70 smoke a cigarette in any public
place 1t may he remarked In passing that
Miss Stacey had, up TO yesterday, smoked
only four cigarettes in the course OF her
entire life.
"wen.' retorted Mr.. Meyer, .1li bet
you SO you don't dare smoke cigar
ette in one OF the open cars OF the Broad
way iine.'
As the actress had already committed
herself 10 the proposition. she agreed To
the terms. th1ukiag- perhaps, Mr.. Meyer
would forget about 1t by next day. He
has been theatrical "suget," manager
and advance agent, however. and does not
easily forget He returned to the subject
later, and clinched mattcrs by appointing
the hour and spot for the fulfillment of
the wager
THE ORDEAL.
1t was shortly after 5 o'clock yesterday
afternoon when Miss Stacey nervously hail
ed a southbouna. open car at Forty-first and
Broadway. New York. The car was flied,
Z but Ia one seat the passengers squeezed
Extraordinarily toaiiow her to sit down.
Clinging TO the rear platform was the party
Of friends who had boarded the car ON the
blockabove to see as fair.
7, After paying her fare Miss Stacey swai-
lowed lump which had gathered in her
throat, drew dainty case. borrowed for
the occasion, from her pocket, and extract
ed a cigarette. A portiy, elderly lady be-
side her gave gasp Of surprise and eyed
her csiriously. The men sitting on her right
nudged each other and awaited develop
ments.
Turning to q slender, pale-faced youth
standing behind her, she smiled as well as
her nervous condition would permit, and
said:
''win you kindly give me a match?"
She did not intend to speak loudly. but
her voice was heard above the din OF eIang-
ing bells and rattle of the cable. Men in
front or her swung around in their seats
and looked at her cur.Ously. One enthusi-
astic individual stood ON the seat to get a
better view. The pale-faced youth looked
at her in a puzzled q way and stafnmered:
IL beg pardon?''
PLEASE gr.e me "a MATCH she repeated.
b'ushing scarlet at the attention she was
attracting. The young man dived into his
nd
timidl handed To her.
She struck one against the back of the
seat in front OF her. 1t flickered and went
out. The second met with a like fate while
the rortly lady beside her showed signs of
apoplexy. A third match rendered by the
young man proved effective, and Miss
Stacey. leaning hack in the seat, puffed
away as though she enjoyed il.
SCARED THE CONDUCTOR.
Conductor No. 33s happened along to col
lect a fare. He took one lock at the actress
and turned the color OF an unripe water
melon. lie was so fiustered that in making
change several coins slipped through his
fingers and fell upon the iloor Of the car.
The pordy lady, with one whitening
glance. arose and signs lied for tie car to
stop. saying as size left: Well, rever."
BY this time every passenger on the car
was aware or what was going on Men
itit SCiiiCtt2Dit 10 III tut dIlu
stood up in front TO get better look at the
woman who dared violate the prophecies
in this public fashion. A newsboy ran up
to the car to sell his papers. He got IS far
as "Wuxtree. then stopped in blank
management. When he recovered he yelled
to his companions: "Hully gee, fellers!
Git ODter de sal smokin'r'
From that time on Miss Stacey's ride was
in the nature Of g procession. Truck driv-
ers passing slacxencd speed to get better
look az her, passeDgers behind her discussed
the matter pro and Con; some admired her
independence, while others declared 1t to
be an outrage. One gray-haired old man
was loud i'll his denunciation aud insisted
that the conductor should stop her.
'She isn't breaking any rule of the COM
pauy,' he replied, .'and have no right to
put her off,"
I'D ike to see my sister doing that"
declared dudish looking chap; I'D break
her neck"
Isn't it just as well for her to SMOKE in
public as in private?' asked his neighbor,
Il really admire the young woman for her
pluck
ENJOYED THEsITUATIO
Meanwhile, Miss Stacey having recovered
her sangfroid somewhat, began to enjoy
the novel siiu;rtion. shc puffcd away with
evident relish, sending the smoke in clouds
about her head, smiling meanwhile in a
quiet, satisfied way.
At Eighteenth street the cigarette having
burned down to q stub, she tossed 1t away,
much to the disappointment OF those who
were watching her. She opened the cigar
ette case again. rs though to select another.
and five match boxes were thrust iu her
face. She declined them with a smile and
left the ear at Fourteenth street, followed
by nu rmur of voices that sayored some
what of mild cheer.
When the parties to the wager approached
they found her almost on the verge OF tears.
Wasn't it q horrible thing to do?" she
cried. Il never felt so mortified in my
life. I'll never make such foolish wager
again." Then as the righteousness of the
affair struck her, she burst out laughing
.'At any rate, have started q fashion,
and perhaps others will take it up. But
never talk to me again about the privileges
OF woman. They are welI enough in theory,
but the praeticeis something entirely differ
eDt."
Miss Stacey's mother, who had heard OF
the wager, is very much wrought up over
her daughters action, and talks about dis
inheriting her; but when she learns that
her daughter has generously given the
money earned through her little escapade
TO deserving charity perhaps she viii
forgive he-.
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