Monday, June 21, 2021

Reaping the Manners She Sowed


Maybe the heavier and dark colored clothing for the upcoming fall and winter would have fared better against this young woman’s selfishness, but light summer linens would not. – There was much dust and cinders and his light clothes and fresh linen got the benefit of all there was. He submitted to the shower for a few seconds, then took a folded newspaper and held it in front of him and close to the side of the car, so that all of the cinders that came in were blowing directly against the neck of the girl.


A little pantomime performance which was seen on an express train rushing into New York last Sunday evening, is worth recording. A young woman had opened her window, to her enjoyment, much to the evident annoyance of a young man seated directly behind her. There was much dust and cinders and his light clothes and fresh linen got the benefit of all there was. He submitted to the shower for a few seconds, then took a folded newspaper and held it in front of him and close to the side of the car, so that all of the cinders that came in were blowing directly against the neck of the girl. She edged away further and further, but uselessly, for a perfect cloud of dust and cinders settled all over her, instead of flying back on those behind her, as the open window nuisance has the right of precedent to expect. She finally could stand it no longer and put the window down; where upon the young man, having accomplished his object, shook out his newspaper, and quietly pursued his reading of it, while two or three passengers behind the pair exchanged glances of amused satisfaction. – The New York Times August, 1892



Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

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