The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-17
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& HER POINT OF VIEW 8:
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

TT was a Providence car filled to the
brim. that is, inside and out. The
snow was falling heavily and
woman who got on at Linden street
decided to risk pneumonia by stand
ing on the platform rather than brave
the germs and microbes of the inter-
iOr, which was shut up as safely as
the traction company's safe. At any
rate all the straps were taken, so she
leaned up against the door and pom
dered. The conductor came and re-
monstrated. you can't stand on this
PLATFORM" he remarked in a decided
tone. But l can and I WILL" she re-
torted, for she felt in a quarrelsome
mood. "'Gainst the rules" he de-
clared belligerantly. mo such thing"
she replied with equal firmness. THE
regulations say No standing on the
platform when there are vacant seats.
Might as we'll be no such regulation,
for there isn't any such occasion"
"Well," he responded meekly. women
can't stand on the platform" "Oh,
yes they can." she answered with
promptness; ''but I've no desire to
stay out here in the cold. I'll COM
promise on this. If you'll go in there
and push those people round. SO I can
get standing room, open some of the
ventilators so that can breathe with
out being asphyxiated and find me a
strap to cling to, I'll go inside; other
wise I'll stay out and freeze or fall
off,"
So the poor conductor in self defense
went in and gave a mighty shove to
the swaying multitude in the aisle. and
as the car was just going round the
curve at the Dickson works there was
a good deal Of mix-up in which the
seated passengers who had been look
ing snug and comfortable, suddenly
took on a simultaneous expression of
doubt as to the complete felicity of
their condition. In the melee a strap
was left vacant and the conductor
viciously jabbed open a ventilator or
two and the bothersome woman went
in. She was the only woman standing
In the car. A clergyman nearby was
the only man seated. He wasn't tired
then, whatever he might have been
later. He wasn't poor working man,
| with a dinner pail as it was in the
middle of the afternoon. Hes~was just
| a ruddy, comfortable looking, selfish
man, and he tried not to see the wo-
man dangling from the strap. She
seemed possessed with an impish freak,
however. and like the Ancient Mariner
fixed him with her glittering eye until
| he writhed with annoyance but was
| still compelled to meet her glance, and
| behold her sarcastic smile. Then, .oi
| course. she had only precarious sup
| port, and whenever the car gave a
lurch she proceeded to dance on his
| toes. profusely apologizing for her
| clumsness. He was an obstinate indi-
vidual and probably had been reared
with a lofty fdea Of his own calling
| and a correspondingly low one of wo'
men. So with flush on his cheek and
a sitting expression Of the eye he en-
dured the amused glances of the people
on all sides who had been watching
the scene. There Is no sort of doubt
he was silently saying things tina
were not prayers and that both he ant
the conductor breatbed a sigh Of relie
when that woman reached her corner
and left the car.
There are two sorts of men whom
women In general seem to regard al
bats or wooden men. They are sleep
ing car porters and photographers
The amount of arranging of appare
and the frankness with which 1t Il
done in the presence Of both these per
sonages would be appalling under an!
other circumstances. The photograph
man Is quite accustomed to beinl
asked to powder the back of girl
neck or to straighten her low Gu
bodice SO that 1t will take" well. Tn
porter in the sleeping car is apparently
equally undisturbed by any OF tn
revelations which are continual,
meeting his gaze.
She was a petite person and as sh
suddenly emerged from her berth Int
the aisle she was truly a sight. He
raiment was apparently a solitar
garment, a soiled gray flannel bath
robe, and she was laden with an as
sortment Of impedimenta. She looke