The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-10
A Few Words to the 'Timid Soul" Q the Editor of The Age-Herald:

ITO the Editor of The Age-Herald
 I was much interested in reading the article published in todays issue of your paper Hats On In Elevators Edict Strs Brming. ham Dispute" While I overlooked bet and didn't read MT. w. H. Parkers letter doubtless, we and many others hold some views in common on this subject, which might strengthen the "Timid Soul if but expression were given.
 First of all, believe politeness is beau tiful thing, and hope to never see the day when southern chvalry is thing of the past However, it is high time that we learn to distinguish between chivalry and courtesy, be. tween politeness and sentimentaity. and be- tween common sense and propriety. When the citizenship of Birmingham are confronted with an lnadequacy of office buildings, and when the elevators in our up-to-date office build ings are frequently taxed beyond their carry ing capacity in carrying people to and from their daily tasks; and when the doffing of hats tends to spread scalp diseases, limits the carrying capacity of the elevators, and, with folded arms, requires that others stand near the elevator doors, thus imperiling human life and limb, 1t is time to put sentimentality aside and apply common sense and reason.
 can see no valid argument for the pre- vailing custom of tipping lids in our elevators, although, like many others l have been at times won over by the popular applause We
 
 the man, who recently attended one of our prominent luncheon clubs, when there was a Question up for decision. A rising vote was taken, and carried almost unanimously. This man said that he also arose, as he did not wish to be conspicuous, although he knew at the time that he would not support the meas ure for which he voted. It's all wrong For conscienceS sake, it is not right. Further more, etiquette demands that introductions in elevators should be under rarest circum- stances. On such occasions, however, doff of the hat would be quite proper, when in troduced to lady.
 It has been quite correctly observed that men do not lift their hats in crowded street cars. They shouldn't, except under unusual conditions. Street cars are public carriers. and so are elevators. There can be no more good sense in tipping hats in elevators than in street cars, railroad coaches, or department stores which crowded. Of course should a gentleman tender a lady a seat in d street car, a touch of the hat would be most ap- propriate.
 For my part, when it comes to courtesy and chivalry, l had much rather man would keep his hat on in an elevator than to enter an elevator and promptly emit a great mouth full of strong tobacco smoke, or take his hat off and at the same time get so confused as to make mincemeat of my great toe with his boot, or make a golf ball of my eyeglasses with his elbows or with his hat in the pro. cess of removal.
 I can see very we'll why some take the stand that they do. People like to get or the band-wagon. Some are politicians; others have political potentialities. Ma Ferguson be came the governor of Texas. Just remember that the women can vote in Texas as well as in Alabama. Thus. However, l believe tn, majority of our good citizens are against tho custom.
 For several months, our elevators in the several most up-to-date buildings carried placards in protest against the practice oi hats off, stating among other things the pos sible spread of scalp diseases, the crowding oi the cars, and 1 regretted the fact that oul people refused to place first things first anc thus allowed sentimentality to outweigh req son and good judgment
 In conclusion, let me say that the "Tmid Soup may still doff his lid in an elevator regardless of sound judgment and reason, re gardless of scattering scalp diseases regard less of taxing elevators to capacity, and re gardless of the thus peril to human life and limb, but I for one am in favor of distin- gushing between courtesy and sentimentality between chivalry and politeness.
 Yours for hats on in elevators,
 R. D. ALGEE.
 Birmingham, Ala, Dec. s, 1924.