The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-01
Tho Lady and the Conductor.

The Boston and Lynn Railroad Company
has deserved we'll of the republic by In.
%structing its motormen and conductors to
address all female passengers. irrespective
Of age and appearance, as Madam" Some
authorities give the prescribed form as
Madame" The latter spelling may be
used toward the Lynn end of the road, for
Lynn prides herself upon her proficiency in
the modern tongues, while Boston Is salts.
fed with the ancient and Volapuk. BE
that as 1t may. the introduction Of a con-
ventional formula for the use of railroad
employees in their speech to woman passen-
gers was necessary and Is welcome. 1t Is
necessary and would be as welcome in these
parts. The STANDARD synonym here, as in
Boston and other cities, for a passenger OF
the really ruling sex is Lady" An excel.
lent word In its way, but misused nine times
out OF ten. Not a word to be thrown, with
however much of good intention, by either
the Sinking or the superior conductor. Mt
the traveller in petticoats. Undoubtedly
there are some travellers in petticoats
whom 1t ~latters and some whom custom
has benumbed to it, but there are others
whom 1t causes to shudder. An excellent
word, as we have said, but when coming
from the lips of conductors, there is or
seems to be something Of grotesque famil.
iarity about it. 1t seems to be an irregular
feminine Of "young %feller," that too com.
prehenslve phrase OF fraternity and equal.
ity. A conductor who adjures the traveller
In petticoats to "Step lively, lady" is
liable to confuse the timid and to raise even
In meek bosoms a strong and just longing
for his blood. Why does the captain of the
car have to roll lady 30 often as a sweet
morsel under the tonguel Probably be-
cause he regards the expression as the
supreme elegance of address. Evidently it
gives him a happiness to pipe out Lady !"
And yet
ITO mako q sweet lady sad Is q sour offence"
And 1t does make many a sweet lady sad
TO be hailed in this strange and barbarous
fashion by the CLARION of the car.
10 be sure, there are Sir PHILIP SIDNEYs
on the stern platforms, men who say
Madam" or "Ma'am" with absolute
courtesy. 1t is dangerous to generalize, but
IL does seem as If there were more Of these
correct conductors on the horse cars than
on the trolley OF the cable lines. There is
something especially magnificent about the
latter means of torture. VAsCo DA CANA
or COLUMBUS at his prOudest moment Of
discovery was a lamb compared to a cable
car conductor, who feels his vocation and
Into whose blood the rapid motion and the
plare OF the gong carry some warlike and
naughty reminlscence or foretaste. ALEX
AMBER would never have sighed II he could
nave commanded a cable car.
Then there are the conductors who risk
their young lives, for they are usually of the
downy kind, no older than the present pre-
vaiiing baby policeman. the youngest thing
that walks. These tender Juveniles take
their lives In their hands, and address the
wearers OF the gown as "Missis" or Miss"
at haphazard. Grinning fate sees to it that
never the unmarried woman Is styled
Miss" by the conductor, and never tho
married woman "Mrs." Hence discom-
fort; sometimes wrath and words winged
with nre. "Young man." said a stout
woman who knew her own mind and was
attended by two small children and one in
arms, to the unfortunate conductor of a
Columbus avenue car, who inadvertently
saluted her last Friday afternoon with
Transfer for Flfty.ninth street, Miss4'
Young man, I'll trouble you to mind your