Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-10-09
chambers OF commerce have
been overlooking an easy and
o., extremely effective means


been overlooking an easy and
an extremely effective means
of advertising their cities.
1t isn't often that the astute business
men who compose them overlook a
good opportunity for boosting the
Old home town, but the one that has
got by them is the lasting, favorable
IMPRESSION that may be given the
visitor by a courteous police force.
Luncheon-meeting spellbinders may
exhaust their lung power and dozens
of print shops may be kept engaged
overtime turning out brightly hued
pamphlets explaining, picturng and
+ laudrg this, that or the other COM
munitv renowned for its public
buildings, parks, water supply or in
dustrial activity, and yet this fever
ish endeavor may avail the city
fathers and their municipal children
nothing if an irate and obnoxious
personality is stationed i'll the main
square to heap insult and injury
upon the transient motorlst.
"Hey, there! Why the blank don't
you watch where you're going:"
may be great verbal relief for a
policeman's feeling when the new
conner turns contrary to local traffic
customs or ties up traffic on the
main thoroughfare, but it doesn't
leave pleasant memories in the mind
of the individual who has been sub
jected to indignities at the hands of
the city'S law enforcement officers.
1t is not infrequent for traveller
by motor car to have no personal
contact with any one other than
members of the police force of the
towns and cities through which he
passes. Thus his conception of the
ways of the townspeople is very
greatly influenced by the few words
that may be exchanged with the man
in uniform. Though it plainly is not
the fault of the men and women who
make up the population, there will
be scarcely an instance wherein the
tourist will not visit the policeman's
discourtesy upon their heads and in
his own mind believe the entire city
to be crude and ill-mannered.
There is one city in southern Nir-
ginia which prides itself for the I'M
portance attached to police courtesy.
. Members OF the force constantly are
urged to show the utmost Considcra
: ton for strangers. Their pectlations
are to be condoned within reason
+. and information is to be given cheer
fully and in a gentlemanly manner.
IL
and has women in the car, the officer
will approach cap in hand. The
members of this department have in
. structlons in case the destination re-
qures several turns to ask permits
, sion to ride on the running board
.and go with the car.
/. Courtesy on the part of the police
Is not confined to the Southland. In
a large New England city, visiting
motorist attempted to make left
turn back of the officer, and i'll so
doing miscalculated the distance so
AS to be unable to complete the turn
without backing. Expecting to be
given a sharp reproof for his slip,
the visitor was surprised when the
officer merely smiled and said. I'm
this State all turns are made i'll front
of the officer" At the next inter-
section in making another left turn
this motorist had a little personal
qualification when the officer re-
marked, That's right" as he made
the turn correctly.
Nor is the courtesy always to be
confined to motorists. A man who
wandered afoot with a friend into
the maelstorm of traffic in one of
the larger cities of the country still
has a pleasant memory of his stay
there as a result of the more than
ordinary consideration shown him by
traffic officer. In this city the op-
Grafton of the traffic lights provides
the use of red and green for vehicu-
lar traffic. while the amber is re-
served only for movement of pedes-
trians in any direction. This partic-
ular pedestrian, not sensing the
scheme, wandered out and was
stranded as cars shot by on both
sides of him and his companion. In
a moment a traffic officer was at his
side. and though expecting a repri-
rrand for their carclessness, the
stranded pedestrians instead were
greeted with an apology.
I'm very sorry this happened"
i