The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-19
UNIQUE COLLECTION
Mark Twain's Experience in
Germany,

are neither artistic nor curious and
that they are devoid Of possible scien-
tifc interest, says a writer in the Chi
cago Post. But the information which
Henry H. Windsor has gained in the
process of making this collection, goes
far toward proving thar the subject of
his research is full of interest to an
who have occasion to use the poor
mans carriage"
Nearly every bit of pasteboard in
this exhibit suggests some fact that
has significant relation 10 the develop
ment of modern metropolitan life. From
the viewpoint of the sociological stu
dent, the collection mas peculiar inter-
est. 1t brings into clear relief the
American independence OF spirit, the
energy and activity of the people of
this country and the democracy upon
which American life and institutions
are based. In contrast TO tbs, it shows
the class distinctions which prevail IN
European and eastern countries and
the slow going pace Of the old world.
There is scarcely = pastebGard in the
exhibit that does not paca III marked
contrast American lrsh ana foreign
conservatism, the hearty democracy Of
the new world and the class and cast
distinctions OF those countries that
have been educated n the traditions Of
royalty.
In a quick survey of this collection
the eye of the observer S certain to be
first attracted to the spanish section
of the exhibit A llimsy square of
white paper, perforated at one end and
bearing a dashing picture printed in
solid blue, is the most unique type OF
street car coupon in the ColecuCn. This
comes from the stald GnI historic old
city of Barcelona. one OF these pie
torial tickets shows a gay senorila
holding an umbrella and joining in a
lively dance with young don.
Even more disGnctively Spanish is
the companion piece to this paste
board, which is decorated With a hunt
er and dog engaged in bagging birds,
while in the background is a bull beat
ing a wild retreat These tickets re-
semble miniature comic valentines and
are perhaps the most fanciful illus
trated street car tickets in existence.
Next in pictorial interest is = Mexican
pass, printed in blue and brown and
embellished with d large representation
of an old cathedral Tiny pictures of
cars are not unusual on foreign street
railway tickets. Melbourne, Australia,
and Monterey Mexico, afford examples
of this convenient type of Illustration.
The prancing Horses depicted on the
ticket from the latter city show that
electricity has not been adopted there
as motive power.
"A little study of this collection =
said Mr. Windsor 'discloses the fact
that there are two principal points of
difference between the street car sys-
TENS off this and other countries. The
first is/that here one price for all dis
tanceS prevails. While in continental
and Foreign cities generally a grad
uatej fare obtains. Next, the markings
of The tickets indicate that class dis
tiactions are drawn in foreign street
railway traffic. While in America such
lines are unknown. To the latter state
ment one exception must be made.
About ten years ago the aristocratic
portion of the population of New Or
leans made demand for class cars.
In compliance with this request one Of
the largest street railway companies
set aside a certain part of it's cars for
the exclusive use of the colored people,
and placed on such cars conspicuous
signs indicating that only negroes
would be permitted in them, All the
other cars of course, were reserved for
the whites.
The colored people kept closely to
their own cars, and seemed to enjoy
rather than resent the arrangement;
but before the rule had been in opera
ton a week. the white passengers be-
gan to crowd into the black cars, and
the company was forced to discontinue
the experiment after a few weeks. So
far as I am able to learn, this is the
only instance of an attempt to enforce
class lines in the management of an
American street car company.
Probably the only section of the
globe in which this distinction is neces-
I. 40
among WhCme caste divisions are mat
ters Of religion. In the cities of India.
for instance, the cars are so separated
by board partitions that the three
castles do not come in contact with one
another. This is an arbitrary matter
and not governed by the amount of fare
paid. The roads there could not be OPP
Grated successfully on any other plan
The people of hiSh caste simply will not
mingle with those beneath them, and
no amount of personal inconvenience
will force them TO do so.
Zone of the most curious features of
street railway management in the
World' is the lottery system which OBJ
tains In Calcutta. There the purchase
of ticket entities the passenger to a
numbered coupon to be retained against
the regular monthly drawing. The high
est prize is several hundred dollars
Is published in the local papers. When
the Calcutta resident feels the drawings
of the gambling instinct he takes a
chance by riding a block or two in a
street railway car. The lottery is under
municipal patronage and never fails to
pay its prizes. On the other hand, il is
not recorded that any passenger has
been too conscientious TO receive his
reward for the good luck that gave him
the winning coupon.
Cairo, Egypt, has a railway contain
ing a curtained compartment for the
exclusive use of women, who are sup
posed always TO be carefully guarded
from the pleolic gaze. This arrangement
TO meet the Social conditions and usages
of the country impresses an American
as strange sight.
Throughout Europe, and particu-
larly in Germany, the zone system OF
fare collection prevails. At uniform dis
tances from a central point in each
city are drawn imaginary circles or
zones, and each time one of these is
passed a new fare is collected This
keeps the passenger busy going down
into his pocket for pennies. But this is
not the only employment which the
street railway companies furnish their
patrons. The passenger is compelled to
act as check against the conductor.
a method that would not be tolerated
by the American public for a moment.
when the fare is paid in German
city, for example, the passenger is
given q zone check This he must
show TO the inspector, who goes
through the car at the end Of the
zone" for which the fare is paid. If
the check IS lost, the passenger is re-
CURED to pay twice for his ride.
Mark Twain once started out for a