Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-19
STREET CAR MANNERS.
Some Washington Peculiarities No
ticed by Visitor From New York.

Being interested in street car lines in
New York" said a railroad man from that
city to Star reporter in a downtown hotel,
L notice the customs of patrons of these
lines in other cities from force of habit
Il observe in the capital great deal OF
unnecessary confusion on the part of the
street car patrons as a great class, and es-
pecially at the different transfer intersec-
uons-intending or boarding passengers do
not wait for those leaving the cars to alight
before attempting to get Into the cars.
. i have noticed this habit in individual
instances, but 1t Is particularly noticeable
at busy street intersections and at the end
of the car lines There are two main cLn-
tributing causes responsible for this confu-
sion and crowding, and which is very an
noying to the passengers who are alighting
The first Is that the conductors do not as
rule, call out, passengers off first please,
and wave the intending passengers on the
ground back until those who are leaving
the cars have done So and the second is
because the car patrons do not themselves
follow the rule and give those on the car a
chance to alight before crowding In.
This Is largely q matter of education on
the part of the public The rule is very
rigidly enforced in the metropolis, and were
II not so, by reason of the crowded streets
the fast schedule time and the great volume
OF hurrying passengers. confusion and many
accidents would ensue. The car companies
should issue strict orders to the conductors
TO make in all cases the call / have sug-
gested, while the car patrons themselves
should remember that their boarding the
cars is facilitated by waiting for the out
going passengers to leave the cars first
1t is the usual rather than an unusual sight
10 observe two lines of struggling patrons
hghting for ingress and egress on the back
platforms of the cars in this city.
Upon the whole l have noticed that the
car lines of the capital handle the crowds
very nicely, and that disputes among the
passengers or with the conductors are rare.
l have noticed that the much mooted ques-
ton of gentlemen arising and giving ques-
dies their seats is well observed here and
especially in the instances of the aged and
the feeble; it Is frequent sight to OBJ
serve ladies arise and offer their seats to
their elders of the same sex, and have
often seen women arise and offer their seats
to aged men. AS rule politeness and con-
sideration obtain
II have noticed. however, during the
crowded hours In the morning and evening,
which you call here the department hours,
that the lady patrons seem to be less con-
siderate in this regard, and that they are
less inclined to acknowledge, by word or a
motion of the head, the act of courtesy on
the part of gentlemen when the latter arise
and give them their seats, seeming to take
this act as a matter OF course and of duty
rather than of favor. Why this Is so on
the part of the feminine clerical patrons
of the street car lines 1 cannot say, but
the fact remains that the lady patrons at
other hours appear more appreciative of the
courtesy on the part of the gentlemen, and
are more willing to acknowledge 1t in the
customary manner 1t Is a very small mat
ter of public courtesy on the part OF the
gentler sex to incline the head. even If the
usual thank you be not forthcoming, when
a seat is proffered and there Is a sort of
strained and panied feeling on the part OF
the other passengers. which Is plainly visi-
BILE when seat Is accepted without the
slightest notice being taken of the man
who has vacated it. who Is often fatigued
from a hard day at his business. This ac-
acknowledgement imposes no obligation on the
part of either as to future notice or recos-
milton, and is purely the observance of a.
well-regulated and pleasing public custom"