The Washington herald., 1913-04-08
Il Protest Against Street
Car ThOughtleSSneSS
by FRANCES sHAFFER.

On a home-bcund car as We turned
a corner an evening or so ago. wom-
an stepped on and was promptly given
a seat by a man who plainly bore the
marks of his trade. The car was not
crowded, but he took his place in the
aisle and stood there without a word OF
objection, while some of the occupants
calmly spread themselves out with their
newspapers, occupying twice as much
space as they should, and others, who
might have made room had they wanted
to, showed not the slightest disposition
to move.
And then a young woman, without a
single audible word, managed to express
herself quite eloquently and forcefully
if one were disposed to watch a bit.
She slipped along as best she could, but
the man on her right and the woman
on her left stirred not a peg-it never
occurred to them to stir. Her eyes were
the softest. prettiest blue in the world,
but as they swept up and down the
aisle past men luxuriating with their
papers and women with their bundles,
they were rather fiery ard eloquent in
deed.
And somehow they inspired folk to do
their bidding, and as she leaned trifle
forward for a longer more eloquent
look, they accomplished just what she
wanted them to. They said-"There' s
room enough if you'll only move up, and
it's piggish not to move"' And some
how, such was the force of those speak
ing eyes and the might of the message
they sent. newspapers came down.
bundles were gathered together, every
body moved up" and there was room
for four or five, if there had been so
many to sit down.
simple Protest.
In the telling, it sounds a bit aggres-
sive: but, indeed, il was not at ALL 1t
was simply a protest against thought
lessness made by young woman who
apparently did not take her seat and
then proceed TO forget that it was a
public conveyance, pleasant only as it
was made so by the grace, forbearance,
and thoughtfulness of the crowds that
come and go.
Most of u.s. if quite snug and comfort
able, will not make ourselves conspicu-
Gus, even in so mild way, for the sake
of an extra degree OF comfort for
stranger who does not assert himself or
look for his rights. But one must ad-
mire that young woman. her notion OF
the right of things. and, more than that,
her readiness to help make them right
II was not the fact Of one man stand
ing Wnen ne OUGHT 10 nave DttIl SilliuS
down; il was not that that disturbed
her-it was the indifference of the thing.
Sometimes il takes a very little thing
TO tell which way the wind veers, and
as some of the passengers on that home
bound car watched those pretty, flashing
eyes We were quite sure that they lighted
up the face of young woman who
would be right comfortable as a friend
or companion.
Because often and often our friends
and companions are comfortable, and
very pleasant to live and to talk with
because they always remember to be
fair TO do the little things that make
life go by with song. and just TO
move up" when occasion requires
just Because He Thought.
On a city street the other day a
heavily-loaded wagon was stuck, hard
and fast. between two car tracks and
the horses were vainly Juggling at the
load. making no impression at ALL And
while they were straining every nerve.
with the driver urging them on a huge
motor-truck whizzed along. 1t passed,
but had not gotten far, when the chauf-
feur turned and looked at those strug4
Cling horses. then quickly wheeled about
The powerful truck backed up against