Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-28
TO UNCOVER OR NOT.
Should Man Remove His Hat in an
Elevator

II note that in one Office building in
Washington the managers have decided the
question. SO much discussed at present,
whether gentlemen shall take off their hats
in an elevator car when lady enters" said
Mr.. F. A. Cromwell Of New York at the
New Willard this morning to a Star man.
my practice brings me before the differ
ent departments in the capital and among
Its attorneys, and in one Of the large new
Office buildings I observed the other day
this sign tackled up in all of the elevator
cars:
This Is public elevator. Gentlemen
need not remove their hats
Now, we have decided that question in
New York long ago, and decided it thus:
First. We do not remove our hats in
public elevators as in office buildings, de-
partment stores. ferry and elevated railroad
lifts, etc.
Second We do take off our hats In the
presence Of ladies in the elevators Of hotels,
private houses and apartment houses.
Third. We consider a man who takes off
his hat in the first instance to be either a
cad. or man ignorant of the true princi
pies of the obligations due the fair SEX and
that the man who does not take off his hat
in the second instance Is not a gentleman.
LAS to the fair sex, those with whom I
have talked in my little town seem to be
sensible enough to note, to appreciate and
to differentiate in the two situations re-
CARDS the private and public courtesy due
them, and as for the remainder who cannot
differentiate, they may be passed by as not
worthy Of consideration on the part Of the
considerate.
IT should think that the question would
be an acute one in Washington, where there
are so many public government buildings
filled with good share of women employees,
who are more or less bobbing in and out of
the elevators all day long. 1t would seem
to me that If Westinghouse take off their
hats in these government public buildings
upon entering the elevators In the presence
of women they should remain uncovered
while they are walking In the corridors, as
counter female clerk in the corridors
every twenty steps; and If she Is entitled to
be uncovered to in the elevators she Is en-
titled to the same courtesy In the corridors.
II have noticed in my tours of the depart
ments that while some men take off their
hats in the elevators others very evidently
keep theirs on through an observance of the
principle suggest, and not from ignorance
of the so-called rules of etiquette. In some
of the department elevators. especially at
certain hours when they are running full,
I have noticed, as others have, no doubt,
and not without amusement, the violent eff
forts some men make to get off their hats
in the jam, pokfng some of the occupants
of the cage In the eye, or fitting the hats of
the lady clerks over their noses, to their
intense disgust, and making everybody I'M
comfortable, especially the would-be polite
one.
1.-The amusing incongruity of these alb
surd situations ought to appeal to even the
most hardened uncover advocates, who
claim that men should uncover in the street
cars railway trains and ferry boat cabins.
and go bareheaded in the street because
women may be found there"