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fade away and disappear。
To have discovered Europe and to rule as conquerors abroad is well；
but it is not enough； if we are led in chains at home。 It is recorded of a
certain ambitious captain whose 〃Commentaries〃 made our school…days a
burden； that 〃he preferred to be the first in a village rather than second at
Rome。〃 Oddly enough； WE are contented to be slaves in our villages while
we are conquerors in Rome。 Can it be that the struggles of our ancestors
for freedom were fought in vain？ Did they throw off the yoke of kings；
cross the Atlantic； found a new form of government on a new continent；
break with traditions； and sign a declaration of independence； only that we
should succumb； a century later； yielding the fruits of their hard…fought
battles with craven supineness into the hands of corporations and
municipalities； humbly bowing necks that refuse to bend before anointed
sovereigns； to the will of steamboat subordinates； the insolence of be…
diamonded hotel…clerks； and the captious conductor？
Last week my train from Washington arrived in Jersey City on time。
We scurried （like good Americans） to the ferry…boat； hot and tired and
anxious to get to our destination； a hope deferred； however； for our boat
was kept waiting forty long minutes； because； forsooth； another train from
somewhere in the South was behind time。 Expostulations were in vain。
Being only the paying public； we had no rights that those autocrats； the
officials； were bound to respect。 The argument that if they knew the
southern train to be so much behind； the ferry…boat would have plenty of
time to take us across and return； was of no avail； so； like a cargo of 〃moo…
cows〃 （as the children say）； we submitted meekly。 In order to make the
time pass more pleasantly for the two hundred people gathered on the boat；
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a dusky potentate judged the moment appropriate to scrub the cabin floors。
So； aided by a couple of subordinates； he proceeded to deluge the entire
place in floods of water； obliging us to sit with our feet tucked up under us；
splashing the ladies' skirts and our wraps and belongings。
Such treatment of the public would have raised a riot anywhere but in
this land of freedom。 Do you suppose any one murmured？ Not at all。 The
well…trained public had the air of being in church。 My neighbors appeared
astonished at my impatience； and informed me that they were often
detained in that way； as the company was short of boats； but they hoped to
have a new one in a year or two。 This detail did not prevent that
corporation advertising our train to arrive in New York at three…thirteen；
instead of which we landed at four o'clock。 If a similar breach of contract
had happened in England； a dozen letters would have appeared in the
〃Times；〃 and the grievance been well aired。
Another infliction to which all who travel in America are subjected is
the brushing atrocity。 Twenty minutes before a train arrives at its
destination； the despot who has taken no notice of any one up to this
moment； except to snub them； becomes suspiciously attentive and insists
on brushing everybody。 The dirt one traveller has been accumulating is
sent in clouds into the faces of his neighbors。 When he is polished off and
has paid his 〃quarter〃 of tribute； the next man gets up； and the dirt is then
brushed back on to number one； with number two's collection added。
Labiche begins one of his plays with two servants at work in a salon。
〃Dusting；〃 says one of them； 〃is the art of sending the dirt from the chair
on the right over to the sofa on the left。〃 I always think of that remark
when I see the process performed in a parlor car； for when it is over we are
all exactly where we began。 If a man should shampoo his hair； or have his
boots cleaned in a salon； he would be ejected as a boor； yet the idea
apparently never enters the heads of those who soil and choke their fellow…
passengers that the brushing might be done in the vestibule。
On the subject of fresh air and heat we are also in the hands of 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
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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
ex