Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-03-06
THE SWINGING DOOR.
Mary =, rsnns VIII Persist In Opening til
WrOHg One.

Mary +, rs"ns WIN Persist In Opening tho
Wrong Que.
In ol!'en times it was sad of the
inhabitants of cCr,u.n Hreat city
that large number of them did not
know their right hands from their
left. That was u lamentuble state
of things, and to read of it awakcna
an emotion of compassion in the
breasts of the men and women oi
the more favored nineteenth cen
fury. But there is reason to believe
that right here in New York city,
as the century is drawing to Il close,
there are a goodly number of peo.
pie afflicted in much the same way
as were those of Nineveh in the
long ago.
The number of swinging doors in
this town is legion, and it is Il rule
almost without an exception that
where one swinging door is there is
another also. That is to say the law
of the fitness of things prescribes
that swinging doors go in pairs, and
this is true generally no matter
whether the doors swing in one di-
rection or in both. Now, there is
well established rule of the road in
this country. 1t is that when people
meet they should turn out to the
right If that rule is founded in
common sense, as it seems to be, it
follows that when ono starts to pass
through pair of swinging doors
he should take ihe ono on the right
hand rather than the other.
Observation shows, however, that
there arc hundreds, yea, thousands,
of men in this city who consider
this rulemJre hOnored in the breach
than the observance. Nor are IL I
the only offenders. Many women
arc employed in office buildings in
all parts Of the city, and they, too,
often manifest lamcntable i9no-
rance of the principle that oneshould
keep to tho right instead of the left.
Why this is thus might be an in
tercsting question for the psy cholo-
gist. The thing now under consil-
Grafton il the salient fact, which
has innullo"a ble illustrations on ev-
cry day OF tho week.
1t seems easy enough to do the
RIGHT thin. as easy as the rule laid
down by Spurgeon for getting to
heaven, "Tuin to the right and keep
straight on The trouble with
many people is that they persist in
turning to the left when they core
face to face with pair OF swinging
doors. A plain duty is incumbe,5
on those who know what ought
be done in such circumstances Let
them never depart from the estab-
lished rule. never take the left ha1
door, even if it is swung alluringly
open at the right moment by some
one coming in the opposite direc-
ton.
That is tho only path of safety.
By walking in it unswervingly
those who have learned the lesson
will be able to exert some elucative
influence upon those who go astray
as often as the opportunity pre-
sents itself. Let the former not be
discouraged if the influence is small.
The cumulative force of the right is
mighty, and one hazards little in
saying that in time the use of the
right hand door will become univer
sal. The present generation may
not live to SEQ tho day, but those
who lend Il hand in the accomplish
ment of this reform may rest as
surcd that the triumph of the cause,
though long delayed, will he sure.
Keep to Inc right in meeting peo-
pie on the sidewalk Above ALL keep
to the right when entering build
ing or an apartment provided with
swinging doors. New York Trih.
une.