Evening journal., 1903-06-18

TO try TO tell anybody why a woman
does anything. We know, OF course,
Just why women take these seats that
are the only ones in the ear on which
a man can ride and smoke. but we are
not going to tell. Some people think
women do not know that these rear
seats are reserved for smokers. but that
is wrong Women know IL all right
Again, some people think women take
these seats without thinking, but that
is also wrong. Women do not do any
thing without thinking. They know
these are the only seats on which gnok-
ing is allowed, and they stop car and
see four empty benches at the front
and three smokers on each Of the last
two seats, and then they crowd right In
there and when the first and most
daring Of the three smokers takes a
tmid pun they glare around with such
an annihilating glance that the poor
devil either jumps Off and smokes as he
walks or rams the lighted cigar down in
his pocket and tries to look pleasant
We know why women do this, but
we won't tell.
The Charlotte Observer takes up the
matter without shedding any new light
on the subject as follows;
II the Newport News editor won't
answer his correspondents question, he
win perhaps tell a contemporary why
four women VIII walk abreast on n mar
row pavement--so narrow that they
touch shoulders and can then hardly
keep on it-and compel every man that
they meet to get off in the mud or the
gutter? We wish he would suspend his
rule Of life for a minute and explain
this.
The Washington Post follows suit,
but leaves the subject as dark as ever
II says.
Men who take off their hats to
strange women in public places-eleva-
tors especially-have no right TO eN-
pect anything but the contempt and
contumely of the judicious. Women
know what they are about They can
distinguish between true and false
courtesy-between a really respectful
Difference and its shallow travesty-and
the men who have offended them by
the absurd, stilted, and dime-novel pre-
tensions involved i'm hat-doffng in ele-
vators have embittered them against
the sex. II is perfectly safe to assert
that women who get into the rear seats
when there IS a plenty Of room else
where do not object to smoke at all.
What they have in mind is an exhibition
Of their contempt for men generally,
and smokers in particular.
Not one OF these papers has hit upon
the true solution. We give it with the
perfect assurance that the women will
declare that we are right, and then who
viii have the temerity 10 gainsay IL?
Women crowd into the rear seats with
the smokers because Of a natural affin-
| ity for the other sex. They like to be
where the men are. We see II cropping
out everywhere They demand an en-
trance into our colleges and universi-
ties. not because these are better than
female colleges. but because there they
may see an occasional mustache.
They 20 into law and medicine for the
same reason Women are takins on the
habits OF men IN order TO chum with
them. This IS the origin of Bohemia.
They smoke, although it is repulsive to
them; they tipplc, although they don't
enjoy it, but it puts them on footing
with their brothers.
SO we must not feel agrieved, but
complimented, In the smokers seats
in the class rooms. ana everywhere
the women will obtrude, bless theml
because we are there.