The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-11
THOUGHTS SUGGESTED
By the Recent Trolley Strike.

Hereafter New 13aHe4 can l0Aa up her head among her sister cities. she has q strike" The boy next door can't lord jt over us anymore, because he has the humps" and We haven't. Of course, our strike" is small, and as becomes a university town. 1t is unag- gresslve and orderly; the members have been decorated with badges. and their word given to assist In preserving order and protecting the property of the Fair Haven and Westville com pany. This is an unusual condition, but only adds to the uniqueness of the situation; the men have modestly stated in brief their wishes and no threats uttered.
 The streets of our city present a re- markable sight. As early as eight o'clock a. III. the number of pedestrians equals that which throngs Chapel street on a Saturday night. Other means of locomotion display a degree of ingenuity and a good-natured dispo- sition to make the best of an incon- venient situation, which is certainly commendable. Tt is an excellent exer- else, is walking" said q gentleman yesterday, and the ladies, bless them, they shoulder their parasols and march bravely to their shopping, as if they rather enjoyed the unusual sensation of carrying themselves, instead of be- ing "toted" We are all aware of the tendency of the times to laud old-fash- toned methods. The pendulum of mod ern life is swinging back to the coun- try; it's unconventuality, its simplicity, its freshness, its quiet, sleepy jogging gait. in fact, it's sensible and haste ridden way of doing things. Our city now has the opportunity to enjoy these conditions in a small degree. Said one man. in the hearing of the writer, II am glad we are without the trolley, it is better for me to walk to business, only I feel I haven't time," this rue fully"
 That is the great evil of these days, we haven't time" to use our time properly and wisely. We hurry and rush: wear out nerve-power in a fierce haste that is destructive to body and soul, ambition gripes honest pride and the race is entered to outstrip our neighbor in wealth and position.
 The changing bell, the continuous rumble and thfobhing of the cars, the rushing atmosphere engendered by the rapid transit through the city, all these are now suppressed and we are rested in the silence Of course, they will re- turn, we must not be satisfied without them, but their cessation is not without advantages, and not a thing to reptne over: if nothing more. it is very good discipline for such pampered people as we are, and that we are not entirely spoiled by our luxuries is proven by our amiable acceptance of the circunl- stances.
 I wonder if any body has taken ''time" to observe how nature always lets out a tuck when she finds a strain on the fabric? We don't. find this wise old mother pestered with "strikes." The hickory trees don't insist that she dress them up in geranium leaves, some spring and show stubborn bare branches at her refusal to yield to their wish; we don't see the potato crop fail because Nature will not allow that plant to grow tassels and wave in the sunshine like corn, and when peo- pie get presumptuous or landed condi- tions overcrowded, she sets Mount Pelee at work to drive folks down to a proper level, and the cities breed their own conditions of desolation. haven't the slightest doubt that if the Strike" of the motormen and conduc- tors can hold long enough and tie up the trolley cars that rheumatism, apoplexy. Bright's disease. to say noth- ing of the mental snobbishness of our citizens will take course of treatment in the way of daily walking exercise and patient endurance of the unavoid- able which will give us an unusually clean bill of health.
 Perhaps this is what wise old dame Nature is planning, after so many suc- cessful thousands of years running this little earth, we may surely trust her for continuing safe and beneficial methods
 There is a degree of. consideration in the time chosen by the men for the strike, which would indicate that they are not ''real mad" only politely in- sistant upon having their requests granted. St. Swithin has made himself very unpopular this season, but to pad dle about our streets during the reign of Jack Frost would be more trying.
 There has been considerable said and written at different times about the ''slowness" of New Haven, but we are adding to our modern improvements" and the strike on the trolley lines is our latest advancement. It is small to, be sure, only a few hundred of day la borers immediately concerned, yet it's effect reaches travel and business in wife circle. There is no human life without its dependence and influence upon others; when five hundred lives unite upon a single aim. and that in op- position to long established conditions. there will be friction and suffering: there will always be leaders in any movement and to those in this position we lok for the settlement of the trouble which has reduced our city to much inconvenience and brings up a serious question for decision.
 KEITH SAINT JOHN.
 Aug. Sth, 1902.
 
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