In Crowded Street Cars.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 189, 29 January 1887, Page 4

In Crowded Street Cars.

I have to day made a study in street cars* elevated and surface. I rise to defend the men who keep their seats. Who knows that the man who sits and compels a lady to stand is not the most wearied person in, tho whole oar ? So many women expend tboir strength in a round of shopping, much of it unnecessary, and indulged in to gratify a love of seeing pretty things and the latest styles. They count on sitting during the homeward ride, and then, if the car is crowded and no peafc relinquished for them, they grumble over the selfishness of men and bewail tho dearth of old-time gallantry. I hopo, gentlemen, when you are tired you. will keep your seats and teach us a lesson not to u?e needlessly the laat remnaut of strength. I caw a graceful acfc in a Sixth. Avenuo car. A lady in delicate health entered and took her place in the long line of stauders. A respectably dressed Irish woman in the row put her arm about her and said : '* Lane on me, mum ; it's a shame for the likes of yez to bo standiu'." The lady gratefully accepted the strong arm of tho womanly woman, whose homely face shone with kind feeling. I thought the act equally graceful in both. Later in Ihe day an old woman entered a car that was so full she could only get within the door and lean against the frame. A young lady rose quickly and said, "Take my seat, madam." The other refused, but she remained standing, insisting with so much pweetnosa that she gratefully accepted tho soat. The faces of these two women linger in my momory, and their courteous action! brought something into my life more helpful than rest. An episode of a different kind came to my notice soon after. I was sitting next a well- dressed man whose hair and beard wore quite grey. A pretty young girj, mod oat in look and manner, came in and stood quietly near the door. The seat theother side of the grey-haird man, from mo was soon vacated, and he motionod tho young girl to take it. She politely declined ; he rather officiously insisted ; again she declined, and another lady coming in took the seat. Other changes occurring, I moved away, and the man eagerly called the girl's attention to the vacant place. I heard her say firmly : ** I thank you, sir ; I prefer to stand ;" and this littla by -pi ay went on from time to time, as occasion offered, until the girl's annoyance wag apparent to all. It happened that she left the car at the same time I did, and I ventured to ask why she remained standing when she could have been seated. The tears came to her inodeet eyes as she said : U I have to work for my living, and I have to ride on the cars every night and morning. I have to decline every offer of kindness from gentlemen. I have found I must. They are not all gentlemen, and this one called|me ' My dear.')"

A Frenchman who had incurred the anger of hie wife, a terrible virago, sought refuge under the bed. " Come out of that^ you brigand, you rascal, you assassin P screamed his gentle oompanion. "N<fc madame," he replied calmly, (< I won't coma . out. I am going to show you that I shall do as I please in my own house!"