The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-16

gentlemen friends these things-only Bill,
and he knows that his other lady friends
haven't the same interest in his failures
or triumphs as has Sadie. And they, too
while making these condolences, for that
is what they are, have the look-anI-
smile habit
ITO an observer they aren't as interest
ing to watch as the people who are much
more quiet and, apparently, so much
more in love. This is only in the closed
car period There's more to say about
this class when the open cars are rum
ming.
"The great majority of the mill people
don't ride in the cars. They walk. Be-
sides, they are usually so tired that they
haven't much desire to talk. They don't
care who sees them, and 1t makes little
difference whether the car is empty or
crowded. If the girl feels like it, she
leans against the man and he doesn't
hesitate to put his arm back of the seat
They aren't especially interesting to
watch. There is more pathos than amuse-
ment in it, and in any event they are
so seldom seen in the closed cars that 1t
is only by chance you happen on couple
now and then. The others are regulars
The look-and-smile is, of course, with the
mill people also, but it is tired affair
But it's In the summer time, the open
car period, when classes two and three
have 1t all their own way. People of the
first class have to sit up straight, and,
while they may use the look-and-smile,
they cannot murmur hap-doodle-every-
thing around and about is too open You
find out, however, that they can talk,
and talk to some purpose, too. They dom
discuss their friends or their business but
they can and do discuss books and other
things In which they are mutually inter-
ested.
There is joy, however, for the second
81 ,,1l. IT,. -.
business hours, for the girls want to
change their clothes and the men to
freshen up bit. Then a meeting at the
corner and On to Rhodesl' There is no
hesitation on the part of the man In
slipping his arm along the back of the
seat then, and no objection on the part
of the girl. One feels that she might
consider the man wasn't the real thing
if he omitted that little attention.
"And IL his hand slips down little
bit on the return trip, where's the harm?
Their talk is much the same-shop-but
tinged with a rosy glow, the light not
found on land or seat, and answers all
purposes satisfactorily She doesn't mind
If they happen to sit in one of the rear
seats, If heelights a pipe or cigar and
If he, almost holding her with one arm,
has the other arm and hand free to
manipulate his smoke, what greater joy
can he find?
almost holding her. but not quite.
That Is left for the third class. They
don't go to Rhodes They travel further
out and they don't have any nonsense
about arms on seat backs, going or COM
Ing. They start right in and get a good
grip on the young lady, who nestles up
against them and smiles in beatitude 1t
is their time, these summer evenings, and
while it may not look conventional it has
the merit of being natural.
What they talk about I've never been
able to discover-possibly because they
say very little, too full for utterance'
and all that sort of thing. But when a
man has his arm around a girl in a
trolley car and her head is on his shoulder
I should certainly call it counting. There
are the three classes-take your choice as
to which is the worst"
you seem to know a lot about It,"
said one of the group.
Yes" said the oracle, with a remi-
niscent smile. i've been there myself
and 1 know the sign. OF course there
wasn't the least doubt as to my class,
but I knew the two others from obser-
vation.'
mo doubt whatever" agreed the quiet
man in the corner. You were in the
third class.
Whereupon the observer signed check
for the drinks.