Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-12

There are many things one shouldn't
do In public vehicles. Two of them,
smoking and splitting, are forbidden by
regulation which is generally OBJ
served.
There are at least eight others, how
ever, which might be banned. to the
great good Of the riding public, espe-
cially that portion of the p0pulace which
rides the buses.
DisaUreeahle actions in these vehicles,
| owing to their smaller size and more
| scientific packing of the human product,
become superdisturbing to many per-
sons.
Every passenger will have his own
little list of things which other riders
| do which he does not like. There are
some, too, which cannot be mentioned
| and which must be left TO the silent
discretion Of readers.
Our own private list Of actions which
we object TO In buses 10 as follows:
!. Clearing the throat"
2. Coughing In general.
5. SneeSins.
Z. Eating, especially peanuts. egg
! sandwiches and apples.
5. Loud talking.
6. Giggling
z. Whistling.
One can scarcely board a vehicle at
any time Of day or night without run
ming into one or the other of them. So
there Ii plenty Of field for observation.
II our No. 3. for instance, SlackenS In
Summer, our No. I takes on renewed life
as the holiday season beckons. And
always gay young blades want to whistle.
4 -
| The subtle action known AS Clearing
the throat" Is particularly irritating to
many, because II is so unnecessary. In
8 cases out Of 10 this peculiar noise Of
the vocal organs Ii nervous In char
acter. II 1t were necessary, the thing
might be tolerated by others, on the
human basis that II cannot be helped
and every person may at some time or
other suffer from 1t.
The truth seems to be, however. that
clearing the throat Is mostly q habit
which one falls into as the result of a
prolonged cold or cough, and which he
keeps up thereafter as a sort of nervous
reflex.
What man cannot remember as a bow
the time he fell into the disagreeable
habit Of splitting? This is one of the
easiest habits to acquire In all the long
list, and one which is the hardest to
break.
Small boys will 60 around splitting
far and wide, the wider and farther the
better, until they become nuisanceS
not only to their families and friends
but also to themselves.
Severely reproved. they will make an
| effort TO break themselves Of the habit
and by exercise Of will power succeed
so we'll that shortly the thing becomes
q memory.
The disasreeable fellow who insists
! on clearing his throat usually sits In
| the back seat, where the rear of the
bus affords him an excellent sounding
board. From there he can broadcast to
the entire AZ ttheoreticaD passengers at
| will.
His will is to cry out "A-hem!" with
| mathematical precision every two
blocks. 1t Is q duh, hollow sound. which
| gives him mental relief but irritateS
every one else.
This noise must not be confused with
the genuine cough, which we have
placed second on our list. Coughing
| often cannot be helped. The cough is
most out Of place in the theater, and
especially at the symphony concert or
| other musical event.
The greatest trouble with q cough is
! that 1t is infectious. No sooner does
the big man in the second seat cough
grandly than the little woman in the