Middletown Transcript

Written for the Middletown Transcript.

Thoughts as They Occur.

Riding in the street cars I find it quite a study to watch the actions of a majority of the ladies; if a car is full and one person gets out, instead of the ladies retaining the same positions, they most invariably "spread themselves," and the lately vacated seat vanishes. Perhaps a gentleman has thought to himself (as he endeavors to preserve the centre of gravity with the aid of the strap) "I will now have a seat," and not wishing to make a dive as if netting for crabs, he hesitates for a moment, faces about, and finds the coveted red cushion, which but an instant ago was visible, vanished like a fiery meteor, and with a sigh he will doubtless mutter "can such things be, and overcome us like a Summer cloud without our special wonder." Ladies do this almost unconsciously, and with countenances as bland as a Summer sky, but it is entirely wrong. For when a seat is vacated those standing should demand it, be they men or women.

Then again in regard to expecting gentlemen to resign their seats—if a lady gets into a crowded car she should expect to stand. Many of the gentlemen may be engaged in business that requires them to be on their feet, and are perhaps more in need of rest than the ladies swaying and sighing in front of them. Of course there are exceptions; say for instance old ladies, or those with babies in their arms. Then women should as quickly resign their seat as men are so very apt to do. Then ladies have a very unhealthy habit, to say the least of it, of sitting sideways, that occupies more than their allowance of room, to say nothing of gaping at one another's hair and neck paraphernalia. There is another subject which may be lightly touched on just now with propriety; it is stopping a car in the middle of a square. I have often seen ladies stand for several minutes some distance from a corner waiting for a car, when they could just as well have walked down to the crossing, for when it reaches there it generally stops for passengers to get out, who, by the way, could just as well have gotten out when the waiting ones got in. Then there will be some to get out half way up the next square, and who will probably exclaim, "I could as well have gotten out at the crossing if I had just thought." thus making these stops when one would have done "if I had only thought." This is a terrible strain on the horses, and ladies ought to "think" more than they do. If they could see these tired horses in their stables too tired to eat—too tired almost to lie down, and when down too stiff and sore to rise up again. If they could see them, as I have seen them in the country, when some farmer would bring down a lot to put in the field to work, they would not make life any harder for them. They nearly go crazy with joy, if such a thing could be. They will roll on the grass and stretch out as if dead, but only drinking in the pure air, the sweet smell of the grass, and feeling the cool sward under their tired limbs must surely think they are in horse heaven, sure enough.

Again another practice of the most of the ladies; if one of their sex enters, they will commence immediately a mental inventory of her entire dress, and with a glass pass judgment on every article in the plainest terms in their faces. Now, as a general thing, ladies do not dress to be criticized in this way, and though she flushed at her own examination, she will turn deliberately to the next comer and serve her the same way. Men generally give a rapid glance around, then ten to one take out a newspaper and are soon up to their eyes in the movements of the Turks, Russians, U. S. Senators, or some other such heathens. Then there are the children on their knees in the seats, perhaps the individuals next to them have on their best suit, and well knowing that children are not very particular where they step, the consequence is Johnny's or Tommy's footprints are left on the neighbor's clothes, and when the said neighbors make a feeble effort to save themselves, the mother, in all probability, will say, "sit still dear you will muddy the gentleman's or lady's clothes," as the case may be, then look at you with a complacent smile, as if to say, "isn't he a darling boy?" All street car passengers can acquire street car etiquette in a very few lessons by studying the golden rule—"do as you wish to be done by."

ROSALEINE.