The Washington herald., 1910-01-17
Smoking in Street Cars.

Editor The Washington Head:
IN the light OF modern theory, the
street car company's mo smoking" no
tees outside and inside its ears evidence
genuine regard for the comfort OF all
passengers, and especially those 10 whom
cigar smoke IS rank poison.
It goes without saying that every one
cannot inhale cigar smoke without serious
results TO their normal condition.
This fact is not confined to Few people,
but every one. and especially every
smoker, by his own experience, knows 1t.
The mo smoking notices. SO conspicu-
ously displayed, should have borne perfect
fruitago from the start. i'm the silent &C
quiescence of respect for the desires OF
the street car company I'm guarding its
passengers from annoyance while IN tran
sit on its cars.
Those notices have a significance, the
same as Look out for the cars al the
crossing of steam railroads, which il is
not prudent 10 disregard
There is a class Of people who seem 10
defy fate and defy all danger 20 them
selves and all comfort to others in their
y
and OF speech as well
That class needs 20 be educated 20 the
fact that they are amenable TO society
for its most agreeable conditions, 20
which they are all equally entitled as
auxiliaries in human affairs, in fits differ
ent phases, including the freedom of
contact with cigar smoke IN the street
cars
We become alert through our knowledge
of conditions about US. and especially
whatever tends TO our discomfort, on the
negative side. with its inclination Of mar
rowing interests that would fain restrict
orr advancing civilization, If it is to be
marked by the effort required TO secure
amnesty from the presence of cigar
smoke in the street cars.
All moral elevation is the result Of edu-
cation, each IN its own sphere. The
smoker himself has felt the piercing
pangs OF his education on that line. in the
effort 10 perveTt nature and II IL Is a
pleasure TO him, # is a pleasure going
wrong.
: Ills previous deathly experience on that
line carries no reason why ne should at
! tempt TO force similar conditions upon
travellers in q street car, supposed 10 be
immune from smokers. especially with it's
posted notices against 1t in every car.
| Special delivery, when applied % bust
! ness transactions. Is the product Of solicit
/ tation by the casual recipient to his great
| delight in securing it.
! A special delivery Of cigar smoke 70
1 f-~ f+
( 10 all. distressing as il often is to others.
/ is "A special delivery unsolicited and I'M
/ called for. but actually forced upon a lot
/ Of people, without so much "as by your
/ leave or an apparent twinge Of con-
! science.
! Judging from the commonplace indiffer-
! ence manifested by the average individual
smoker IN street car. his only hope OF
reform Is TO quit riding till he can quit
smoking 10 the annoyance Of other people
/ who are not smokers.
! These notices, so cOnspicuousIy posted
i IN every street car, mean something or
they would not have been arranged with
such exquisite care for public observance.
The query drifts along. "Wen. what are
you going to do about it2''
! When known violations Of statute law
| occur, they fix their own penalty; but
when wholesome regulations for the gen
| eraI observance and benefit Of the people
are trampled under foot. by those who
| ignore regulations, there Is an educa-
| tionaI process Of more or less potency
which cannot be disbarred in its effects,
nor set aside as Intellectual
! That remedy is called public opinion
which, as an educator. is sustaining the
| correct balance, which, sooner Or later.
/ equallzes all cases pending on the life
line Of events for the general good Of the
people
| The street car smoker. While not sup
posed to be an apt pupil at reform. can
not expect 10 continue his annoying prac-
| tee without being told of its affront to
good manners, whether he intends it that
/ way or not
| The following incident occurred on
! street car recently, no matter where Or
when. A smoker boarded a car well
| filed with passengers. He carried n
lighted cigar in his fingers till he reached
! the inside VestlbuIe door, which he pushed
| bdth Atitb AA9 ACNh t4l ll4F upDIs dS he
! began talking 10 the motOrman he re-
| summed smoking and continued till he
| reached his destination and alighted, with
as much Indifference as though he hadn't
been doing anything.
| If the practice Of smoking IS 10 be oon-
| tInued in the street cars. regardless of the
rights and comfort OF nonsmokers, il Is
not a very credible asset, in our boosted
/ award Of ethical equality
Because a man has resigned himself to
| a slavlsh habit. which antagonizes good
conditions, it is no reason why he should
| be allowed 70 force the effects OF that
unsavory habit upon casual associates
| for a single block OF travel in street car.
! 4 smoker who cannot, or will not. refrain
from smoking in a street car, for the
| short time Of ride TO or from business
| or pleasure, for the comfort OF others. is
too far gone 10 be reformed by the casual
! Interpretation of individual rights that
does not carry penalty as a result.
The day for a one-sided nuisance OF the
street car smokers caliber is past. and
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