Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-01-12
ETIQUETTE OF
THE STREET CAR
What One May Take for
Rudeness May Prove to be
But Yelled Politeness

There is independently, almost
universal-noton that we have to put
up with indignities in our public con-
veyances-the subways. In fact, |
thought that myself until applied
my mind to it. To my establishment,
| discovered that the little things that
| had taken for lack of courtesy, were,
in fact, delicate attentions from per-
feet strangers, so if any of you are
laboring under the delusion that was
once my pet obsession, pray let me
enlighten you as to your mistake.
For instance, when train or a car
arrives, every one makes a wild dash
for it. Until studied their motives,
I thought them purely selfish, but
now l see that they are quite the op-
posite. People make this inconven-
lent haste to relieve the congestion,
so that there will be more room for
you on the cars that arrive later.
Once inside, how quickly every one
will make haste to find a seeat, so
that you will have more space to stand
comfortably! Take the cross-seats.
Each single passenger attempts to get
one of them, so that lady and her
escort or pair of ladies or two gen.
tlemen together may be separated.
On the face of it, this looks like a
lack of courtesy; but as the pair con-
tinue their conversation, across the
aisle, it gives the other passengers
an opportunity to listen, and so en-
livens period of travel that would
otherwise be dull. Think how often
this sore of thing has engaged your
own mind pleasantly. And if you are
one of the separated pair, note how by
this subtle expedient your conversation
at once gains, wit and brilliancy. l
myself have been so engrossed some
times that have ridden past my own
station, and SO no doubt have you, and
this would not have occurred but for
the consideration we casual travellers
have for one another.
There is the gentleman of the round
paunch and the spread-eagle legs. He
does not hold his paper widely spread
and steadily before him to avoid see.
ing that there is lady standing d.
rectly in front of him. Base accuse.
ton! He is a real philanthropist, and
one too seldom rewarded. The man
across the way may read the front
page while those on either side of him
peer over his shoulder. Thus he is
sharing the evening sheet with those
who would not otherwise know the
days news. 1t is a little thing, to
be sure; but life is made up of little
things.
Take the youth in bright raiment,
sitting with one leg across his knee,
like the cross bar of the figure four.
To be sure, he takes up considerable
room. but how otherwise should we
know the style in hosiery? Those two
ladies sitting on the long seat there.
The space they occupy gives room for
graceful gestures-room to arrange the
draperies of their skirts so that they
will fall most alluringly. 1t is a
pretty picture. 1T is art brought to
the masses We may stand and ad-
mire them, yes, station after sta
ton.
And so, l pray, look always for the
motive. There was a time when I
fastened to give up my seat to lady
who entered. Since then | have real.
lied that it is much better for her to
stand, specially in these days of ruff
files and drapery. Clothes are always
hung in a closet, not crushed in {
drawer; therefore, they should be hung
on the figure, for to be sat upon de-
strOys their lines. So, you see, even
have profited by my study of what
once considered the lack of common
courtesy.-Thomas Grant Springer, in
October Lippincott's.