Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-29
Streetcar Etiquette.

IF some one would organize a club
for the promotion of etiquette in
streetcars. l would join it," said the
woman with the red cheeks.
DO you mean the question of men
getting up and offering their seats to
women" asked the woman in the low
rocker.
We'll, the men can keep their seats
for all of me-" said the strenuous wo-
man. I'm as well and strong as they
are. Let them Sit"
But there is a principle involved"
retorted the woman with red cheeks.
1T all rests with the mothers-the
fault does, l mean," said the woman
with the gray hair. Until mothers
learn the wisdom OF bringing up their
sons to have respect for women. men
will continue to retain their seats. |,
too. think there is a principle involved"
1T always provokes me to see a wo-
man argue with a man when he offers
her seat said the business woman.
when man offers me seat thank
him and accept it with as great show
of courtesy as he manifests in bestow-
ing it,
I'm glad you thank him for it," said
the woman who was making the
Renaissance lace collar
Thank him!" said the woman with
the red cheeks; Il Shrek Thank you
so that it can be heard from the engine
to the rear platform. The men have a
chronic grievance about that point"
Il have repeatedly seen women give
the only vacant seat to their children
and then stand themselves" said the
woman with the gray hair. Il shah
always maintain that the whole situa-
ton is the fault of the mothers, and
of no one else"
It's the most amusing thing to study
the men going home at night in the
elevated" said the business woman.
They all look so mad because the wo-
r1.en are all standing up around them"
The men are tired, and often that is
the reason why they do not give up
their seats" said the woman who was
always on the contrary side.
Il presume likely they are" said the
business woman, "and it is a remark
able coincidence that they are just as
tired when they go downtown in the
morning IS they are when they go
home at night. So far as I'm con-
cerned. | am willing TO stand. / like
TO study the men, anyway"
what do you discover that's new in
your study" asked the woman who
had not spoken before
We'll" said the business woman, Il
detect an absence of enthusiasm. for
one thing. and notice that most of the
men are very grouty. Many of them
feel SO uncomfortable when a woman
stands in front of them that they can
not read. but only pretend to do so.
AS a mind reader l peruse the usual
masculine mental organism and find
something like this:
First man chances up at the woman
who is standing and thinks, Well,
stand, then, il you insist upon going
home from your shopping when the
tired men go home from their days
work
Second man shifts his paper, looks
up and says to himself, oh, you're
young and strong-guess it won't hurt
YOU to stand
Third man buries his head behind
his paper-I got up this morning and
gave my seat to woman who didn't
thank me; guess I'll keep my seat
Fourth man glances up sidewise,
and reflects: She's homely enough
Let her stand! Any woman who looks
like that deserves to stand!
Fifth man, with scornful counte-
nance; You're so anxious to have
equal rights; now you've got them all
right! New York Tribune.