The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-19

were advised that rich and hitherto
unknown uncle had been translated
queathed them a street car load of
twenty dollar bills.
Men Are Grouchy.
The men are, as a rule. more
groUchy in the morning than the
women. The men do not seem to look
forward to a pleasant day down town.
The men on the car are classified and
stratified. as are the Women.
There is the professional man,
usually identified by a shiny overcoat
collar, shoes which show the result of
his own efforts in competition with
the polishing efforts of the descend
ants of Helen, a slight stoop, and a
look of deep introsp The pro-
fessional man gets on the street car
looking as if he were pondering the
fate of planets Probably he is trying
to figure how the gas bill got so high.
If he speaks to his Seatmate at all it
is usually to condemn.
The gas bill can result in declara-
tions of the most startling Bolshevist
tendencies on the, part of the most in
nceent appearing man on the street
car. There is no particular whack
intended at the gas company's rates.
Some times it is the water bill, or
sometimes the wearer of the look has
just installed a ton of alleged coal
in his basement.
There are few well dressed-men on
the street car. Using the term "well
dressed" to indicate sartoriaI magri-
ficence, and not ordinary, quiet bust
ness clothes.
The male business executives, who
display all the sartorial magnificence,
go down to work in their own motor
cars. If the motor car is not running
they wait until it is going. Street
cars are not for them.
There are male Intern ediatesS on
the street car, as well as women-men
whose occupation and whose status in
life is hard to determine from their
dress or carriage. Men who look as
if they were accustomed to taking Or
ders more often than to giving them.
Strangely enough. they are not as
quiet as the women of the same class.
They are more ready to interchange
morning greetings and comments, and
attempt jests. than the women.
Men Talk Most.
AS a matter Of fact, contrary to
public belief. it is the men who do
most of the talking on the street car.
Put two men in the close juxtapositfon
dictated by the dimensions of the
street car seat. and they will always
interchange a little conversation,
whether they are acquainted or not.
It is otherwise with women. Unless
they know each other they sit in stony
silence InruOuL Inc rae.
There are, foK course male flapperS,
too. They are the few well DRESSED
men, on the car. Their apparel is
in the latest mode and in the most
perfect condition. Their discourse is
of athletic events, girls. parties-cor-
plane on which the conversation of
the girls is based They are more
likely to be happy and good natured
than the older men.
Hope springs eternal in the human
breast. and the male flapper is not
old enough to have lost the Illusion
that possibly teday's job will be en-
joyable and interesting. At the least,
he waits for the days work till he
gets to it. Its shadow doesn't gloom
up his last few moments. spent on
the street car.
Then there are the unskilled labor
ers, half awake, sulIen, sodden, clump-
ing with tardy steps into the car or
gathering on the platform, going to
their toll as the slave is scourged to
his dungeon" They are, like the I'M
skilled women workers, silent.
Not a TaIkative Crowd.
It is, on the whole, not a talkatiye
crowd. Even on the~back platform,
where the smokers congregate when
the car is not crowded, and where the
| overflow is held near the end of the
line. there is little said.
Here and there the Weather-saving
topics either cursed or commended,
as the case may be. There is always
! the man who carefully explains that
he doesn't usually come down on the
street car, but my car is in the gar
age" An exchange of good mornings
is usually the limit of conversation
| between acquaintance
The newspapers which tradition has
| it are always read on the car in the
mornings. are seldom seen. as a mat
ter of fact. Most men settle into
their collars and stare straight ahead
| The worlds affairs do not intrigue
them in the morning Not one man
1 in twenty carries a newspaper with
/ him onto the street car.
The street car family in the morn
ing is not like the street car family