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Story
May 5, 1897
Waterbury Democrat
Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
A young athletic woman in Chicago recounts using her hat pin to jab a 'crowder'—a man who squeezes into occupied seats on crowded elevated trains—causing him to yell and flee the car.
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Full Text
NEW USE FOR HAT PINS.
Women Find Them Very Useful in
Suppressing "Crowders."
"That hat pin," said a young woman
on the elevated, as she arranged her
headgear, reports the Chicago Times-
Herald, "has been steeped in gore!"
"How awful!" whispered her friend.
"Was it employed on a burglar?"
"No; on a crowder."
"A what?"
"A crowder is a creature who is pe-
culiarly a Chicago product. I certain-
ly never met him in any other city.
He is the man who gets into a car where
every seat is occupied and crowds him-
self into the merest scrap of room be-
tween two persons; generally two wom-
en, who dare not resent his imperti-
nence.
Then he coolly reads a news-
paper."
"I've met the specimen often, but
what can you do?" inquired the friend.
"Well," said the athletic young wom-
an, "if I had been a man I would have
bounced him from the car. But in that
case he would not have crowded. I dare
say I looked as meek as Moses, but I
had a scheme to get even and I worked
it. I took out my hat pin and gave Mr.
Crowder a jab."
"Did he jump?"
"Not at first, so I jabbed again. The
car gave a lurch and he yelled 'Mur-
der!' in the first degree and rushed out
and off without asking the conductor to
stop. I'm glad I saved the hat pin, as
I may need it again," she concluded,
sweetly, as she impaled her head with
the vicious thing.
Women Find Them Very Useful in
Suppressing "Crowders."
"That hat pin," said a young woman
on the elevated, as she arranged her
headgear, reports the Chicago Times-
Herald, "has been steeped in gore!"
"How awful!" whispered her friend.
"Was it employed on a burglar?"
"No; on a crowder."
"A what?"
"A crowder is a creature who is pe-
culiarly a Chicago product. I certain-
ly never met him in any other city.
He is the man who gets into a car where
every seat is occupied and crowds him-
self into the merest scrap of room be-
tween two persons; generally two wom-
en, who dare not resent his imperti-
nence.
Then he coolly reads a news-
paper."
"I've met the specimen often, but
what can you do?" inquired the friend.
"Well," said the athletic young wom-
an, "if I had been a man I would have
bounced him from the car. But in that
case he would not have crowded. I dare
say I looked as meek as Moses, but I
had a scheme to get even and I worked
it. I took out my hat pin and gave Mr.
Crowder a jab."
"Did he jump?"
"Not at first, so I jabbed again. The
car gave a lurch and he yelled 'Mur-
der!' in the first degree and rushed out
and off without asking the conductor to
stop. I'm glad I saved the hat pin, as
I may need it again," she concluded,
sweetly, as she impaled her head with
the vicious thing.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Personal Triumph
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Justice
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Hat Pin
Crowder
Chicago Elevated
Self Defense
Public Transport Impudence
What entities or persons were involved?
Young Woman
Her Friend
Mr. Crowder
Where did it happen?
On The Elevated In Chicago
Story Details
Key Persons
Young Woman
Her Friend
Mr. Crowder
Location
On The Elevated In Chicago
Story Details
A young woman on the Chicago elevated train uses her hat pin to jab a 'crowder' who squeezes into her limited seat space, causing him to yell and exit the car abruptly.