The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-30
THE MoroRnAN AND ms oUID.

We are in receipt OF the following
communication. which. we feel. must
md q responsive chord in many
bosoms:
TO the Edjtor OF The News:
Cannot something be done about the nui.
sance encountered on many OF the open
trolley cars, whereby occupants OF the front
seat arc often annoyed by sprays of tobacco
juice from the splitting OF the motorman9
Indeed. in high wind I have often been
spsttered by discharge as far back as the
third seat. either ON my shirt bosom or In my
face. II this is annoying 20 q man, you can
imagine how ladies must look at Il. and
mud by talking with lady friends that they,
too, have suffered on the bloomer cars from
the same reckless scattering of tobacco Juice.
Can't something be done about 1t?
A READER OF THE NEWS AND A
RIDER on THE CARS.
Providence, August 20. 1888.
Since receiving the foregoing COM
plant we have taken particular occa-
sion to note the habits of the motor
man in respect to the use of his quid of
chewing tobacco, and once or twice we
have had the opportunity to appreciate
the force Of the complaint.
We don't know what can be done
about II. We dislike to recommend any
rule restraining what few privileges It
r. the lot OF the motorman to enjoy.
The motorman on Providence trolley
car is. ordinarily, a mighty good fellow.
He is one OF us. raised In the same
neighborhood. and we went to school
with him. He is a self-respecting fell
low. he is courteous. his habits are ex-
emplary and he attends to business in
way to delight the gods and win ap-
proval from men who rejoice in seeing
smart work smartly done. He makes
an art Of running mis- trolley car. 1t is
= positive pleasure to the uninitiated to
watch him manipulate the thing with
touch as gentle as baby's. yet ais firm
and confident as a descending pile
driver. He evidently takes a profess
sional pride in his work, which, not un-
reasonably, perhaps. he regards as the
most important in the whole trolley or
ganisation, and ne is just naturally su-
perior to the conductor whom he toler-
ates as an adjunct, desirable indeed for
taking up the collection from which |
salaries are paid, but otherwise not
really necessary to the OUTFIT.
In word, the motorman is all right. I
He faces the whitening blast in winter
and preserves his equanimity through
the humidity OF our summers. The
envy him and emulate him,
90 that our boys no longer are amb-
tious 10 be policemen. when they grow
up. as they used to be. but itch to stand
on the front platform and joggle the
motor apparatus and the brake. And
we children Of a larger growth repose
the most sbounding confidence In him.
trusting our lives TO his care and rely
ing upon him implicitly to reach our
destinations on time-which means a
good deal to those OF our fellow citizens
whose employers make practice Of the
docking wages OF the belated.
what rights. Il may be asked. has
the public over the personal habits OF
The motorman, None. OF course. so
|ons a. they do not conflict with the
,ubIIc's comfort and welfare. As to the
lse Of tobacco. that is topic for dis
assIon always but only on general
rfncipIer. We cannot seek to prohibit
d use By the motorman any more than
q can select any other class OF cIti-
me for special legislation OF a re-
|tIc(iye hind in respect to personal