Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-18

We took the street car the other
morning and rode downtown with our
old friend, Templeton Jones.
Saw your name in the paper, We
said.
Jones unconsciously took on that look
which most human beings assume when
some one speaks about seeing their
name in the paper.
saw where you had little repartee
with . fellow passenger" We continued,
although Jones, Of course, knew more
about that affair than any one else.
Il told him where to get off," said
Jones at last. He did not appear par
ticularly proud of himself, and we said
no more about 1t.
Jones was thinking hard, though; we
could see that. He looked out the win
dow for several blocks at the unfolding
panorama Of the avenue.
Then he turned back.
Did you ever stop to think" he said
that the perfect street car rider must
be the most tolerant person in the
world?
THE need for tact. patience and plain
everyday courtesy is more outstanding
on this vehicle than any place else In
the world
IT have been in all sorts of situa-
tons, even mobs, and have never found
| q one of them to compare with street
car for a cross-section Of human nature
as 1t is.
80 many places human beings are
on dress parade, or at least attended by
the company manners. as we say.
I'm church every one aims to be dig
| nified, reverent and quiet. At the the
alter the public wants to be pleased. and
Is so occupied with that idea that 1t Is
willing to overlook much.
"At the base ball park the attention
of every fan is on the field and the
players Unless you deliberately slap
somebody over the head with pop
bottle. or in some other manner arouse
the mob spirit, you can get along very
well, no matter how the game goes.
ION the street car, however, every
trod on.
Mostly this Is q mental trodding
The toes are the mental toes.
For every actual foot which sticks
out In the aisle and thereby gets cuffed
by good shoe leather there are hun
dred mental feet thrust forth.
Ordinarily we do not see them, or
even know we have stumbled over them,
because their owners do exercise consid-
cradle restraint.
That is why I believe there is nc
training ground in the world to equal
a street car in teaching a man toll
erance.
And teaching it to him, believe me-
when he is hardest to teach-when he
arrives at middle age or near unto 1t.
Then a man is sot In his ways, as
! they say back where I come from. He
has his own ingrained habits, both
, mental and physical, and has got past
the age of youth, when man never
notices anything.
Did you ever stop to think how little
! youth notices that is unple
| That Is one of the finest things
about being young.
You can sleep in a tiny hall beo
room, in your youth, without thinking
thing aboWt It, or feeling yourself
wronged by world conspiracy.
But just let you come to middle
age, and later and find yourself Jumped
of by life into small room, and you
will growl at all and sundry.
! When I was a kid I thought as 9
kid, and, what is more, I slept as q
kid. could stand any amount of noise
and confusion, without missing the
wink of an eyelid. Now ask for Gods
perfect silence before I can 60 te
sleep.
Il can recall a very little about &C
/ meny matters in my childhood. Sc