The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-15
A HIGH-HANDED EDICT.

The superintendent of the Eastern divi-
sion of the Pennsylvania Railroad has is
sued an order to trainmen, gatemen and
other officials of the company at the Jersey
City station to forbid and prevent all ex-
change of kisses upon the arrival and de-
parture of trains. Startling and arbitrary
as the rule is, it is not the first time objec-
tions have been raised to this method of
expressing human affection. Fastidious
persons, who have no dislike to the rite
when administered in private with due dis
elimination, hold that it is in exceedingly
bad taste to bestow such marks of regard
in public, no matter what the provocation.
These self-contained. conventional persons
take leave of their nearest and dearest at
railroad station without osculatory activity
and profess to believe that all others can
be equally undemonstrative. Scientists look
at the matter from another point of view
and discourse learnedly and Extensively
upon the dangerous interchange of microbes
likely to take place during the progress of
the labial salute, however swiftly and eau
tiously it may be bestowed. There is also
that outspoken heather. Mr.. WI Tingfang,
who is quoted as condemning kissing as
one Of the customs of civilization not at all
nice.
Ii is not any Of these considerations, how
ever. that leads the Pennsylvania Railroad
superintendent to issue his edict. He does
not forbid OSCILLATION at the station gates
on the ground that it is in bad taste. or
that it is unsanitary, or that it is in itself a
practice in any way Objectionable. The
ground for his remarkable action is the I'M
sympathetic one that it hinders traffic and
causes unnecessary delay, loss of time and
consequent nervous irritation to the station
employees. The hard-hearted functionary is
not concerning himself with the possible
transit of foreign microbes, or with the
seemliness of public manifestations of do
nestle and other forms of affection. He
simply desires to get his trains out on time.
and is willing 10 tamper with the most
cherished customs in order to achieve this
end. But he enforce his rule? No mat
ter how rigid his orders, will any trainman
have the courage to nip kisses in the bud =?
about TO bestow upon his wife's cheek the
perfunctory peck common to matrimony OF
some years standing? VIII he venture to
thrust himself between the bride and her
spouse when she is preparing to say tear
full farewell on going to spend the day with
mother for the first time since her mar
riage? Can he have the heart to tear the
arms of the gushing maid from the neck of
her best young man at a moment when
neither of them cares if all the world is
looking on? Can he, if he tries, hinder the
mother from bestowing as many kisses as
she pleases upon her departing offspring,
even though the traffic of all New York be
blocked by her action? Can he prevent the
whole family from kissing the unfortunate
infant who is being taken somewhere? Can
he-can this railroad employee break in
Vulnerable home ties with his strong right
hand? Nay, nay: it cannot be done Kiss
ing at any time may be unsanitary. kissing
in public may be in bad taste; it may not
as Mr. WI says. be nice. but so lonS as the
people wish &c indulge in the custom they
will do so where and when they please
yea, even within the sacred gates of the
Jersey City station. Let the rash superin-
tendent bear this fact in mind and learn a:
he surely will, that to the public which
travels certain things are more important
than the convenience of train hands or q
minute or OF time In the starting OF a
train. Some reforms he may establish by
| force. but not this.
1t is definitely stated that NO attempt viii
be made to apply the rule west of Jersey
| City. which is well. westerners would not
submit to such interference with their per-