KISSING ON RAILWAYS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10060, 4 June 1910, Page 3

KISSING ON RAILWAYS.

Vetos are the first to meet a passenger's eyes in a French rail way station. If you l3uk forth time of a tram, "It is forbidden to travel first with a third-class ticket," is all you find posted up. If you look for your platform, "This platform is forbidden to the public" is the only apparent announcement. A new interdiction is now to be placarded in stations of the lines managed by the State. The next time you hunt for the proper booking office you will read: "Defense de s'enlrasser." As may be you had not at that particular instant intended kissing anybody, though of course one never knows what may not-come into one's head, you will probably be surprised. Having at last % got you* ticket, found the right platform, and discovered your train, you will read once more in white on blue ground; "Kissing strictly foibidden." Why should kissing be forbidden? Why this infringement upon the liberties of the citizen in a free Republic? Is the State turned unco' guid, or has it caught the scare of bacterial infection? Surely the most respectable State in the world need not mind just one kiss, and the most grandmotherly legislation need not assume responsibility tor measles caught by a passenger through osculation. But a circular officially explains the purpose of the veto, "De fense de s'embrasser." The prohibition is not yet placarded, but the inspectors of the State railways strongly recommend the measure. When the notice is finally put up it will run something like this — 'Defense de s'Erabrasser. —lt is strictly forbidden to exchange kitases upon the platforms or in the waiting rooms, or upon the steps of the car riages of the State railways, owing to the delays frequently occasioned by the prevalence of this dilatory practice, which is calculated to disturb the proper running of the traffic upon the system by retarding the departure of the trains, and which is thus fraught with inconvenience and even danger to the public, as the first condition of safe, travelling is punctuality. Persons discovered kissing will be liable to prosecution." Now we know why every train on the French State railways is always late. There was so much kissing when it was due to start that it could not get off in time. But the idea then occurs to one whether it is only on the State railways that kissing is practised. What connection is there between State management and kissing? On certain other railways managed by private companies trains are, as a rule, up to time. One is driven to the conclusion that, on the Northern line for no one kisses any body, or at least hurries up about it. The discovery made by the inspectors of the French State railways may throw some light on the working of English lines also. We have alway wondered why the up trains on some railway systems invariably reach London late, while others are punctual. The explanation is that people who kiss good bye always travel by tne same company's trains.