The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-17
STREET-CAR ETIQUETTE.
The GrumbIer Pays His Respects to
His NeighbOrs.

The conductor of College-avenue car
gave the Grumbler a gratifled smile when
ne jumped on the running board before the
car came to a standstill The conductor
was behind time and knew an inspector was
waiting at the Washington-street crossing
to reprimand him If he did not make up the
moments he had lost while patiently aiding
crippled old man to alight and get safely
started awey on his crutches But the
Grumbler, as he stood scowlign on the run
ming board, clenching the brass handholes in
desperation, was oblivious of the good will
he had earned by not keeping the car wait
ing, and glared omnously at the man in the
outer end of the seat, who failed to slide
over and make room for him. Instead the
man drew up his legs and turned half side
ways. Seeing that he must crowd in the
best way he could, the Grumbler began to
edge in, but paused when he came against
the legs of second passenger. who was
piacidly reading the last dispatches from
Santiago de Cuba. The Grurnbler gave him
an impatient dig with his knee frowning
down savagely as the passenger upturned a
pair of specialized, mild blue eyes, with a
faraway look in them. Reluctantly the
second passenger drew up his legs likewise
compelling the Grumbler who was fat and
rheumatic, to edge past him ALSO finally.
putting and blowing, the Grumbler dropped
into place on the far end of the seat and
leaned his elbows against the wire screens
placed on the trolley pole side Of the open
car to keep the careless passenger from
catching a dangerous whack on the side of
his head. Then the Grumbler delivered
himself to a sympathetic passenger on the
scat behind him who had just gone through
a similar performance.
It's mighty strange to me- said the
Grumbler In a loud voice, why some men
always drop down on the outer end of a
seat and compel every man and woman
old and fat or young and slender, to crowd
past them, when it would be such a simple
thing to slide over If the city fathers of
this place wanted to confer a lasting benefit
on suffering patrons of the greedy street.
car company a law would be passed making
it unlawful to hog the outer end of the seat
There are some people who have absolutely
no consideration whatever for the rights of
anybody else in the world"
He emphasized "some people viciously
and glared at the offending passengers The
man with the paper had resumed his read
ing, and smile that was exasperating
nlILeu over his face at some nonsense which
ms eye had fallen on just as the fat man
delivered himself of the TRADE. The man
on the extreme end of the seat was putting
away contentedly at a bad-smelling cigar,
totally unconscious, apparently, of the
words intended for his benefit, as he tried
to ffirt with a girl in a pink shirt waist in
the seat ahead. who was glancing at him
roguishly from beneath a clipper sailor
hat. The man in the back seat nodded ap-
prevail of what the Grumber was saying.
There is another matter of street car
manners that requires regulation" con-
tinued the fat man, raising his angry voice
peg or two, as though he were bent on
making everybody hear what he had to say
despite the changing gong and buzzling troll
ley. If you are cigar smoker you know
on the platforms of the closed cars / never
got aboard car with a good cigar in my
mouth but I found the platform jammed
with men, not half of whom were smoking
outside, 1t ought to be required of all other
passengers to go inside. No matter how
many old women, and young ones too with
babies in their arms, stop the car, the men
on the outside keep their places and compel
the women to run the risk of having their
clothes torn off them in trying to push to
the front. It's an outrage Here conduc-
tor he shouted, starting up suddenly
what do you mean by carrying me past my
corncr?'
The conductor pulled the bell. but the mo-
torman ran on to the next corner.
Il didn't see you signal apologized the
conductor.
Il didn't signal" pulled the fat man as
curled up his lips as the fumes of the cigar
enveloped him, but you ought to have
STOPPED anyway Every man on this line
knows where live! I've a notion to report
'sThe old gent seems mad about some-
thing" said the conductor with a grin that
was reflected on every face as he signaled
Ting, thing TO the motorman to go ahead.