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officials； dozens of passengers being made to suffer for the
caprices of one of their number； or the taste of some captious
invalid。 In other lands the rights of minorities are often
ignored。 With us it is the contrary。 One sniffling school…girl
who prefers a temperature of 80 degrees can force a car full of
people to swelter in an atmosphere that is death to them； because
she refuses either to put on her wraps or to have a window opened。
Street railways are torture…chambers where we slaves are made to
suffer in another way。 You must begin to reel and plunge towards
the door at least two blocks before your destination； so as to leap
to the ground when the car slows up； otherwise the conductor will
be offended with you； and carry you several squares too far； or
with a jocose 〃Step lively；〃 will grasp your elbow and shoot you
out。 Any one who should sit quietly in his place until the vehicle
had come to a full stop； would be regarded by the slave…driver and
his cargo as a POSEUR who was assuming airs。
The idea that cars and boats exist for the convenience of the
public was exploded long ago。 We are made； dozens of times a day；
to feel that this is no longer the case。 It is； on the contrary；
brought vividly home to us that such conveyances are money making
machines in the possession of powerful corporations （to whom we； in
our debasement； have handed over the freedom of our streets and
rivers）； and are run in the interest and at the discretion of their
owners。
It is not only before the great and the powerful that we bow in
submission。 The shop…girl is another tyrant who has planted her
foot firmly on the neck of the nation。 She respects neither sex
nor age。 Ensconced behind the bulwark of her counter； she scorns
to notice humble aspirants until they have performed a preliminary
penance； a time she fills up in cheerful conversation addressed to
other young tyrants； only deciding to notice customers when she
sees their last grain of patience is exhausted。 She is often of a
merry mood； and if anything about your appearance or manner strikes
her critical sense as amusing； will laugh gayly with her companions
at your expense。
A French gentleman who speaks our language correctly but with some
accent； told me that he found it impossible to get served in our
stores； the shop…girls bursting with laughter before he could make
his wants known。
Not long ago I was at the Compagnie Lyonnaise in Paris with a stout
American lady； who insisted on tipping her chair forward on its
front legs as she selected some laces。 Suddenly the chair flew
from under her； and she sat violently on the polished floor in an
attitude so supremely comic that the rest of her party were
inwardly convulsed。 Not a muscle moved in the faces of the well…
trained clerks。 The proprietor assisted her to rise as gravely as
if he were bowing us to our carriage。
In restaurants American citizens are treated even worse than in the
shops。 You will see cowed customers who are anxious to get away to
their business or pleasure sitting mutely patient； until a waiter
happens to remember their orders。 I do not know a single
establishment in this city where the waiters take any notice of
their customers' arrival； or where the proprietor comes； toward the
end of the meal； to inquire if the dishes have been cooked to their
taste。 The interest so general on the Continent or in England is
replaced here by the same air of being disturbed from more
important occupations； that characterizes the shop…girl and
elevator boy。
Numbers of our people live apparently in awe of their servants and
the opinion of the tradespeople。 One middle…aged lady whom I
occasionally take to the theatre； insists when we arrive at her
door on my accompanying her to the elevator； in order that the
youth who presides therein may see that she has an escort； the
opinion of this subordinate apparently being of supreme importance
to her。 One of our 〃gilded youths〃 recently told me of a thrilling
adventure in which he had figured。 At the moment he was passing
under an awning on his way to a reception； a gust of wind sent his
hat gambolling down the block。 〃Think what a situation；〃 he
exclaimed。 〃There stood a group of my friends' footmen watching
me。 But I was equal to the situation and entered the house as if
nothing had happened！〃 Sir Walter Raleigh sacrificed a cloak to
please a queen。 This youth abandoned a new hat； fearing the
laughter of a half…dozen servants。
One of the reasons why we have become so weak in the presence of
our paid masters is that nowhere is the individual allowed to
protest。 The other night a friend who was with me at a theatre
considered the acting inferior； and expressed his opinion by
hissing。 He was promptly ejected by a policeman。 The man next me
was； on the contrary； so pleased with the piece that he encored
every song。 I had paid to see the piece once； and rebelled at
being obliged to see it twice to suit my neighbor。 On referring
the matter to the box…office； the caliph in charge informed me that
the slaves he allowed to enter his establishment （like those who in
other days formed the court of Louis XIV。） were permitted to
praise； but were suppressed if they murmured dissent。 In his
MEMOIRES； Dumas； PERE； tells of a 〃first night〃 when three thousand
people applauded a play of his and one spectator hissed。 〃He was
the only one I respected；〃 said Dumas； 〃for the piece was bad； and
that criticism spurred me on to improve it。〃
How can we hope for any improvement in the standard of our
entertainments； the manners of our servants or the ways of
corporations when no one complains？ We are too much in a hurry to
follow up a grievance and have it righted。 〃It doesn't pay；〃 〃I
haven't got the time；〃 are phrases with which all such subjects are
dismissed。 We will sit in over…heated cars； eat vilely cooked
food； put up with insolence from subordinates； because it is too
much trouble to assert our rights。 Is the spirit that prompted the
first shots on Lexington Common becoming extinct？ Have the floods
of emigration so diluted our Anglo…Saxon blood that we no longer
care to fight for liberty？ Will no patriot arise and lead a revolt
against our tyrants？
I am prepared to follow such a leader； and have already marked my
prey。 First； I will slay a certain miscreant who sits at the
receipt of customs in the box…office of an up…town theatre。 For
years I have tried to propitiate that satrap with modest politeness
and feeble little jokes。 He has never been softened by either； but
continues to 〃chuck〃 the worst places out to me （no matter how
early I arrive； the best have always been given to the
speculators）； and to frown down my attempts at self…assertion。
When I have seen this enemy at my feet； I shall start down town