New-York tribune., 1904-10-06
THE CIVILIZATION OF BOSTON.


IN common with the rest Of the American race
outside OF Massachusetts said the woman, just
lack from Ter vacation. II had always laughed
gently az Boston and the Bostonians, and poked
fun a. them place and people dwelling re-
uoteIy on stilts
7 thought their superiority was Joke resting
solei- upon their own opinions and the necessities
OF the professional humorist But on my way 70
my vacation grounds IN Nova Scotia visited Bos-
for the hIst time. We made tho city our head
quarters for some time while trolleynE over the
surrounding country and, $ a result, l ready
20 that Boston civilization ~ superior 20 the
brand furnish under the Statue OF Liberty.
Ny judgment IS based in general OF the manners
OF Bostonlans and IN particular on their treatment
OF strangers. And I don't know any more reliable
test When people are extremely uncivilized they
kin strangers and eat them Slightly less savage
they merely Kill them One grade higher, they
enslave them A little more civilized. they are
simply very rude O. them Judged by this ascend
ing scale Boston civilization Is superior 20 any TO
which have been accustomed.
For instance. one Iay my sister and I stood
at the entrance 70 the subway, debating how 10
reach desired point. n our absorption, We were
blocking the way. We stepped aside. but. far from
pushing impatiently by. the woman Just behind us
said pleasantly. Can I help you"
We told her where we wanted Z and she
stepped aside and gave US full directions Seeing
still puzzled looks. she deliberately escorted Us
10 The proper car. saw rs on and told Us where 70
get Of.
ALoLLeT LsLle He boarded an elevated IRAN A1A
South Station. supposed Pretty soon the
conductor called North station We looked at
zach other n dscouragement. We can't be on
our way to South Station II THIS IS North Station
I muttered helpiessy. woman opposite leaned
over and said pleasantly. You reach II eventually.
The road circles around And when she 10
leaye the car she remembered Us aud said in pass
ing: Yours IS the next station but one The Bos-
ton railway system. with its combination OF sub
way. elevated and surface all transferring 70 one
rl-~ he mos ar
maticaI mind. but the Boston people certainly
tighten its difficulties.
We did stand IN a during the entire time
We were in Boston. Some man always offered his
seat. Tie first time il happened l was almost
stunned But after time. such Is the adaptivity
OF Americans, got so I could accept the courtesy
without staring dumfoUnded in the mans face
The men not only give Up their seats 10 WonleIi'
but they rise and step out the raj! and hang on
TO let max" their exit from open cars
saw IL done Think q such shocks as thar for
two lone New YorkeTs. We saw only one end seat
hog IN Boston. and laid bet with my sister that
he was from New-York, the loser 10 pay for the
dinner that night. So IN leaving the car. l said
sUeetIv- Beg pardon. but are you from New
Yorkg He stared at me in justihable amazement'
aad said curty No. I n from Chicago So lost
my bet.
but this isn't all The L. train started with
Jerk one day and an old swayed and grabbed
for a strap A little girl more than six years
old without any prompting from her mother leaped
up and called out. Here. Mister. you can have my
seat Mister looked around for manifesto
ton OF establishment approval some admiTins or
smiling locks. but there none. Evidently It
was q matter OF course in Boston for children to
give up their seats 70 older persons: We tound
This so everywhere Boarding car tat out III l1S
country we found It packed. little boy and
gin Immediately rose and their mothers very oTl-
6ary middle class looking women. moved promptly
along and made room for Us; Another time i saw
a mother take her little girl into her lap 70 MAKE
room for a 10 sit down, and he Nfteo MS nat
and declined take the seat We watched such
,Lt1gg IN q KIND OF stupefactou.
aI6 all our blind trolleying in ana around tne
city as far as Worcester ana salem WIFI an @ Iile
0,festinns strangers would naturally ma II heCes
ssrv 70 ask. found the conductors so klno,
obllgfng and courteous that u threw us itp iatp
daZed condition Not once orc We Iheet W.. q
tasfv or impatient reply. Twice when conductors
were busy al the moment they returned atter"aId 9
sn5 gave Us full directions In THIS strange anu
aIE-1teSSul arc atmosphere We found our own New-fork
Sa1S1ner tnsensiby modifying. We grew asnaTneo
OF H. fsSes melting away lines OF fatigue melt
Under a warm bath We could see an eAPtessIUi. III
~ pleased confidence IN the WoFld growing III ou'
nT iT,osfon civilization ramihes in every grade Of
-iSyv started morning IN pursuit OF
soetsttSS b,Ieiress firm which I wanted 10 md. NY
Cooaa-cb took me down into the puEzLng, region
around Faneu Hall s5sPped a52 52.s out I OF his
800 and walked clear around the corner 20 point
s,t the building was IN search Of ne was ,a an
sI1eriean and / had begun to get uSec 20 ms hiha
g. Boston. But found the building nas ~. ~
~ nm Of foreigners. all engaged In elotnihx nanS- ]
ss~ture poked up dark wooaGsl Al 49,
sFfer another till reached the top .llio-t M
a. arm was after. Then I asked q man if ne
tLs "a W1,ytbing - about the people. He didn't know
iST heard some one calling me-. The foreigner
GOV o,a and got another who spoke little Eng,
iiSh re asked what wanted ana eisis 43s.Ss u
white was ia the region {tp3stt 9aIptet H. NJ
parasoI little Italian boy passing P S5..S1sS - ~
and hanGea u 20 M t5 anu s, rs don't know how
Size does e, but this Is the spirit 5os'oN Sits -
infgse through nfr . @ tS4o1ighout the region.